Concealed Carry Permits Delayed, Denied, and Derailed – By Design

According to constitutional attorney and Second Amendment expert Mark W. Smith, some states are turning concealed carry licensing into an obstacle course – on purpose. In a recent Four Boxes Diner episode, Smith outlined a detailed list of choke points that certain blue states use to deny or delay Americans’ right to carry. These aren’t random bureaucratic hiccups. Smith says they’re carefully constructed roadblocks designed to wear people down.

From Operation Choke Point to Permit Chokeholds

Smith begins by drawing a parallel to the Obama-era “Operation Choke Point,” a federal program that pressured banks to cut off services to gun businesses. Today, Smith argues, states like New York, California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and New Jersey are replicating that strategy at the local level – but this time, it’s not just about finance. It’s about blocking access to carry permits by flooding the process with red tape, delays, and hidden costs.

Bottleneck #1: Staffing Shortages

One of the first tricks, Smith says, is the staffing bottleneck. States claim their licensing offices are short-staffed or underfunded, blaming delays on vacations, maternity leave, or scheduling backlogs. But Smith sees through it. “They say they don’t have enough resources – but it always seems to be the offices tied to issuing gun permits,” he observed. In one example, a California Uber driver told Smith his carry permit interview was scheduled six months out, long after his application had been filed.

Bottleneck #2: Office Hours That Work Against Workers

The second tactic? Inconvenient office hours. Smith explains that many licensing offices are only open during standard work hours. That means applicants have to choose between keeping their job or taking time off just to apply. “If you’re working a 9-to-5 job, good luck getting your fingerprints done at 10:00 a.m. on a Tuesday,” Smith said. It’s a quiet but effective way to reduce permit applications without saying no outright.

Bottleneck #3: Over-Complicated Applications

According to Smith, the next major hurdle is the application process itself. In many states, applying for a CCW permit feels more like filling out college admission paperwork than exercising a constitutional right. Smith describes the forms as “labyrinthian,” requiring unnecessary details like employment history, notarized character statements, and references. “It’s like trying to get a date with the state,” he joked – but the implications are serious. These complex forms are meant to frustrate and discourage applicants.

Bottleneck #4: Excessive Documentation Requirements

Then there’s the demand for supplementary documents. Smith says many states now require letters of explanation, justifications for why you want to carry, and personal references. It’s not enough to prove you’re law-abiding – you must prove you’re worthy. “You already filled out the form. Why do they need extra homework?” Smith asked. He compared it to the federal Form 4473, which only asks a few yes-or-no questions. “Why can’t a carry permit be just as simple?”

Bottleneck #5: Hidden Rules and Secret Standards

Perhaps the most troubling choke point is what Smith calls “unpublished requirements.” These are rules and conditions that aren’t posted online or even explained clearly during the process. Some applicants are asked to come in for multiple interviews. Others get phone calls months later requesting more information. These hidden steps, Smith argues, are a form of legal ambush – rules you can’t prepare for, but that can still block your application.

Bottleneck #6: Fee Stacking as a Financial Barrier

Smith also shines a light on the financial side of suppression. Some states charge hundreds of dollars just to apply, with fees for fingerprinting, classes, ID photos, and more. “This is a regressive tax,” he warned. Wealthier applicants can pay it without blinking. But for younger workers, single parents, or low-income Americans, the price becomes a deal-breaker. Smith points out that charging for gun rights contradicts how we treat voting rights, which can’t be taxed under federal law.

Civic Rights vs. Personal Rights

In one of his most thought-provoking points, Smith compares the right to carry to other rights protected by the Constitution. He divides rights into two types: civic rights like voting and jury service, and personal rights like free speech and self-defense. “If it’s unconstitutional to charge someone to vote, a civic duty, how can we allow them to charge to exercise a personal right like self-defense?” he asked. That’s not just opinion. Smith backs it with precedent from Supreme Court cases like Harper v. Virginia Board of Elections.

An Intentional Design, Not a Bureaucratic Accident

Here’s the thing: this isn’t sloppy governance. It’s a deliberate strategy. What Smith outlines isn’t the result of budget issues or logistical errors. It’s a blueprint for discouraging carry without banning it outright. When you can’t say no, the next best thing is to make the process so exhausting, expensive, and confusing that people give up. And that’s exactly what anti-gun states are doing.

The Danger of Death by Delay

One of the most fascinating aspects of Smith’s analysis is how subtle the strategy is. There’s no big law that says “no carry allowed.” Instead, it’s a death by a thousand cuts. And it’s working. These delays mean months, sometimes years, where citizens are unarmed and vulnerable. It makes you wonder: how many people never even apply because they know what they’ll have to go through?

A Call for Legal Pushback

Smith closes his video with a message for viewers: speak up, share your stories, and challenge these systems. He encourages people to comment if their state is using similar tactics. “The Supreme Court said you have the right to carry. These states are just trying to slow-walk that decision into irrelevance.” Until courts or lawmakers take action, public pressure may be the best weapon gun owners have.

For extra info, watch The Four Boxes Diner’s video here.

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