They are trying and, if I were going to Hawaii, I would have to seriously consider whether I travel with a weapon because of their crazy gun laws. BUT, there is no question that LEOSA applies in all 50 states and US territories and supersedes state law.
There are similar issues in other states. Some states interpret LEOSA as to allowing only carrying the weapon you qualify with annually. NJ has an hollow point restriction ($1000 fine per cartridge) and even though LEOSA says ANY ammo legal under federal law is allowed, NJ says no. CA and other states have magazine capacity bans which they still enforce.
The key is to understand every states restrictions before you cross the state line.
Does USCCA have a guide to LEOSA? I know what the law says, but I can’t help but think that I’d still get in trouble if I strayed into Illinois, for example. I still reference the USCCA map for my state permit even though I have a LEOSA card in my wallet.
There is a section about LEOSA on the reciprocity pages. The info is good and most police, even in Chicago, recognize LEOSA. The thing to worry about wherever you go is to check on peculiar state laws, such as ammunition bans (no hollow point in NJ) and magazine capacity (10 rd in Chi., varying #s in CA, registering with chief of police in each jurisdiction in HI, …)
Thanks for assemblinging this multi-state guide. What I do is print out the “green” states and tape it in small print out on the back of each of my LTC.
I’m lucky to have a California, Utah, and a Florida LTC. That gets me into 36 states. I miss my old Massachusetts one!
For me, it’s easier to highlight those in which I CAN’T carry concealed:
Oregon (working on that)(open carry is okay)
Colorado
Minnesota
Illinois
South Carolina
Pennsylvania
New York
DC
Maryland
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
and of course NYC–if you want to call that a state.
I could be wrong, but one theory is when a state has more strict requirements to obtain a CCL, then other states are more apt to accept that other state’s licensee; but legal experts please chime in/help here. I was pleasantly surprised to learn so many states do honor an Illinois CCL. Always verify first, and double check with the state you plan to enter (never assume of course).
For maximum state CCL permit reciprocity out west, does an Arizona permit cover more states or have an advantage than does a Utah permit? Between these two states, which do you prefer to have a CCL permit in? Thank you.
Since I didn’t have any plans as yet to travel to an eastern state, I didn’t apply for a Florida permit. I chose Arizona over Utah. However, I wonder if that was the best choice; for when I’m due for renewal. I heard that for maximum reciprocity, Arizona or Utah, and Florida permits offer the most coverage, and if one does not yet have those permits, to apply now, so that once Spring and “April 2021” arrive, one has more coverage.
I was able to obtain CCL for Illinois and Arizona. Currently, I’m am working on obtaining for Florida. I thought about Utah, so that I can have better coverage in Washington state, but a cool instructor from a nearby gun-store provided me some free advice about the Washington laws and suggested I read up on their laws which I’m doing now.
If this map linked below is accurate, it’s unique in that it allows one to click every state you are CCL in, not just one at a time, and it maps out which ones you have reciprocity in, not just by clicking your CCL state in one at a time, but 2-3 at a time, however many you are licensed in.
Of course, check it out by reviewing other documents, to confirm, especially since some reciprocity states only have partial reciprocity and not full reciprocity:
I’m with you @TStheDeplorable. LEOSA is a privilege and in Kentucky it allows active and retired law enforcement to carry anywhere except correctional facilities unless you get permission from the warden.
I do hope SCOTUS takes up a case for carrying outside the home and does so soon. So far they have only ruled on possession in the home. If they take the next step to carrying outside the home, it will be a big step forward in national reciprocity either by the legislature or full faith and credit.
I don’t like the idea of the federal government setting the standards for training and licensing. Prohibiting the federal government from infringing on the right to bear arms predates the Civil War and 14th Amendment and is the core of the 2nd Amendment from its ratification.