Hey California! Open carry vs Concealed carry 😂😂

I honestly wish the best to all Californians, especially gun enthusiasts. Subscribe for gun videos before you click away. Here is information about how difficult it is to get a carry permit in California. I encourage everyone to make positive firearms decisions in their lives, even if that means not owning one.

## The Difficulty of Getting a Gun Carry Permit in California

California has some of the strictest gun laws in the U.S., and obtaining a concealed carry weapon (CCW) permit is a particularly difficult process. Unlike many states that are “shall-issue” (where permits must be granted if basic criteria are met), California is a “may-issue” state. This means local authorities—typically the county sheriff or police chief—have the discretion to approve or deny applications, even if all requirements are met.

Applicants must be at least 21 years old, pass a background check, complete firearms training, and show “good moral character.” The most difficult part is proving “good cause,” which means providing a specific reason for needing to carry a firearm for self-defense. In many urban counties like Los Angeles and San Francisco, vague concerns about personal safety often aren’t enough. These areas are much more restrictive, while some rural counties are more lenient.

The required training course ranges from 8 to 16 hours and must be state-approved. Applicants also face significant costs—application fees, fingerprinting, and training can add up to several hundred dollars. On top of that, the wait time for approval can take months, and some applicants are asked to attend interviews or submit more documentation.

Overall, the process is long, expensive, and heavily influenced by local politics. In California, your ability to carry a firearm in public often depends more on where you live than on your qualifications, making it one of the hardest states to legally carry a concealed weapon.

This video was filmed edited and produced by Chris Gomez of the Tennessee Pickers Firearms Show copyright 2025.