Last weekend I mailed off applications for PA, ME, and NH non-resident permits. Today, the PA permit arrived beating all my preconceived notions of how quickly any government agency could move. Now I've spent some time trying to consider my best options for the most coverage with the least amount of permits/ licenses. I thought I would share my findings for those with a similar interest.
First, a little primer. My reasons for multiple licensing is to not have to modify my behavior based on my geographic location. I travel a fair amount and want the choice to be mine as to whether or not i decide to carry when I do. Getting (or trying to get) licenses in all New England states is a priority. I'm very close to RI and CT and could end up in either without prior planning very easily.
Now, although MA does not recognize any reciprocity with other states, a surprising amount of states recognize the MA license. 20 actually:AK, AL, AR, AZ, ID, IA, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, and VT. So, when you got your MA LTC-A you became licensed in a total of 21 states out of a possible 50.
I chose to apply for the PA license now because its dirt cheap ($26) covers 9 states including PA and as of February, it looks Ike you may have to make an appearance in PA to get one. The application mailed on Monday and the license arrived Saturday. The PA license covers: GA, LA, ND, WV, VA, WI, WY.
I also sent off the easy applications for ME and NH. In addition to the 25 states covered with the previous two licenses, NH covers AL and MS while ME covers DE and NE. That gets you up to 31 states and covers more than half of New England.
CT gets you nothing extra except NE and requires the NRA Basic Pistol. After i take that in February, I'll apply for that license and should up the total to 33 states. RI is tougher, some say impossible.
That leaves me with the next choice of which of the popular big non-residents to apply for. All the cool kids are going for UT but I have some issues here. First, I have to take another class that frankly, isn't likely to give me a whole lot of useful or new knowledge for my $100. Second, I'm already licensed for UT with my MA license and three more of the 35 states it covers don't require a ccw. 4 states only recognize resident permits. 14 more will recognize a license from MA. So the 31 states a UT license is advertised to cover is practically much more like 15 for an LTC-A holder. Not as impressive. Finally, it still won't get me covered in FL, which being an east coast kind of guy, is a much more likely state for me to visit.
I'm going after FL. Price is nearly a wash when you consider the UT class. Not enough to argue over and it won't be until my second or third renewal when you amortize costs. But, with it I get FL, KS, NM, OH, OK, and WA. Those are the only other states that the FL or UT license cover that the combination of NH, PA, MA, and ME don't. I don't get MN or WI like UT would get me but I get NM. Plus, I get FL which does not recognize the MA permits and only has reciprocity with resident licensing.
The grand total at the end should be 38 states with a combo of MA, NH, ME, PA, FL, CT licenses/permits. The remaining break out as follows:
RI: Tough to get
MN: Could get with a UT
OR: Does not recognize other licenses. Non Res possible if in a neighboring state
NV: Could get a non-res after a class and in person app or will recognize RI (currently)
CA: Does not issue non resident permits
MD: Nearly impossible to get. Does not recognize other licenses.
NJ: Nearly impossible to get. Does not recognize other licenses.
NY: Does not issue non resident permits. Does not recognize other licenses.
CO: Only recognizes resident licenses. Does not issue non resident permits
SC: Only recognizes resident licenses and will not issue non-res to non property owners.
HI: Does not issue non resident permits. Does not recognize other licenses.
ETA: I have included IA's law change and a note about WI's new law. I now have non resident licenses in NH, ME, CT, PA, and FL. The total coverage for these is 38 states leaving out only those that are impossible or near impossible for me to be licensed in. I made the following cheat sheet that I keep in my wallet to remind me of where I'm actually licensed and with which license. Its listed below. The grayed states are the ones covered by the MA license. Feel free to use it or copy it.
First, a little primer. My reasons for multiple licensing is to not have to modify my behavior based on my geographic location. I travel a fair amount and want the choice to be mine as to whether or not i decide to carry when I do. Getting (or trying to get) licenses in all New England states is a priority. I'm very close to RI and CT and could end up in either without prior planning very easily.
Now, although MA does not recognize any reciprocity with other states, a surprising amount of states recognize the MA license. 20 actually:AK, AL, AR, AZ, ID, IA, IN, KS, KY, MI, MO, MS, MT, NC, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, and VT. So, when you got your MA LTC-A you became licensed in a total of 21 states out of a possible 50.
I chose to apply for the PA license now because its dirt cheap ($26) covers 9 states including PA and as of February, it looks Ike you may have to make an appearance in PA to get one. The application mailed on Monday and the license arrived Saturday. The PA license covers: GA, LA, ND, WV, VA, WI, WY.
I also sent off the easy applications for ME and NH. In addition to the 25 states covered with the previous two licenses, NH covers AL and MS while ME covers DE and NE. That gets you up to 31 states and covers more than half of New England.
CT gets you nothing extra except NE and requires the NRA Basic Pistol. After i take that in February, I'll apply for that license and should up the total to 33 states. RI is tougher, some say impossible.
That leaves me with the next choice of which of the popular big non-residents to apply for. All the cool kids are going for UT but I have some issues here. First, I have to take another class that frankly, isn't likely to give me a whole lot of useful or new knowledge for my $100. Second, I'm already licensed for UT with my MA license and three more of the 35 states it covers don't require a ccw. 4 states only recognize resident permits. 14 more will recognize a license from MA. So the 31 states a UT license is advertised to cover is practically much more like 15 for an LTC-A holder. Not as impressive. Finally, it still won't get me covered in FL, which being an east coast kind of guy, is a much more likely state for me to visit.
I'm going after FL. Price is nearly a wash when you consider the UT class. Not enough to argue over and it won't be until my second or third renewal when you amortize costs. But, with it I get FL, KS, NM, OH, OK, and WA. Those are the only other states that the FL or UT license cover that the combination of NH, PA, MA, and ME don't. I don't get MN or WI like UT would get me but I get NM. Plus, I get FL which does not recognize the MA permits and only has reciprocity with resident licensing.
The grand total at the end should be 38 states with a combo of MA, NH, ME, PA, FL, CT licenses/permits. The remaining break out as follows:
RI: Tough to get
MN: Could get with a UT
OR: Does not recognize other licenses. Non Res possible if in a neighboring state
NV: Could get a non-res after a class and in person app or will recognize RI (currently)
CA: Does not issue non resident permits
MD: Nearly impossible to get. Does not recognize other licenses.
NJ: Nearly impossible to get. Does not recognize other licenses.
NY: Does not issue non resident permits. Does not recognize other licenses.
CO: Only recognizes resident licenses. Does not issue non resident permits
SC: Only recognizes resident licenses and will not issue non-res to non property owners.
HI: Does not issue non resident permits. Does not recognize other licenses.
ETA: I have included IA's law change and a note about WI's new law. I now have non resident licenses in NH, ME, CT, PA, and FL. The total coverage for these is 38 states leaving out only those that are impossible or near impossible for me to be licensed in. I made the following cheat sheet that I keep in my wallet to remind me of where I'm actually licensed and with which license. Its listed below. The grayed states are the ones covered by the MA license. Feel free to use it or copy it.
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![[wink]](/xen/styles/default/xenforo/smilies.vb/002.gif "Wink [wink]")
). They have limited reciprocity with states like FL, but only recognize permits issued to residents. This is the basis for 
