Canadian resident/citizen carrying a concealed weapon in the US ( MN, WI, IL, NY, PA)

Question
Mr. Little, I read your response that you were not aware of any blanket permit for carrying a concealed weapon in the US.
Are you aware of any permits that will allow an Canadian citizen carry a concealed weapon?  As noted above, travel would be limited to MN, WI, IL, NY, PA.

Answer
Alice,

There are a few issues that we are going to have to deal with in your question.  

First, if you are a Canadian citizen, living in Canada, you probably know that handgun ownership requires either a "Possession Only" license or a "Possession and Acquisition" license.  If you don't have either of these, you will need one of them to even own a handgun in Canada.

Most US states require that anyone applying for a Concealed Weapons Permit needs to be a resident of the United States.  NY, PA, WI and MN will issue permits to residents only.  IL has no provision for issuance of Concealed Weapons Permits.

There is also the issue of transporting a firearm across a national border.

Canadian residents cannot, under any circumstances, import prohibited firearms newly acquired outside Canada.

So, if you travel outside Canada with your firearm, you must have the following documentation for re-entry with your firearm:

*Your valid possession-only licence or possession and acquisition licence with appropriate privileges;

*The valid registration certificate for the firearm;

*An import permit issued by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada (FAITC);

*A valid ATT issued by the Chief Firearms Officer of the province of residence.

If you are importing firearms that were previously exported from Canada, it is a good idea to carry proof that you purchased the firearm in Canada, or that duty was paid when you imported it. You can ask CBSA staff to document your firearm on Form Y-38, Identification of Articles for Temporary Exportation, before you leave the country or provide a copy of the export permit under which the firearm was exported.

As far as bringing a firearm into the US, nonimmigrant aliens are required to have an approved ATF Form 6NIA for entry into the states with firearms and/or ammunition.  These take about two months to get and will only be issued with good reason for bringing a firearm into the US (hunting trip, shooting competition, etc.).

Firearms and ammunition listed on the permit may be repeatedly brought into the states for twelve months from the date the permit is approved.

Regarding the states you listed, NY will not permit anyone to transport a handgun into the state unless you are licensed to have a handgun in NY.  This is a difficult process for anyone living in NY and permits are not issued to foreign nationals.  Also, there is up to a 7 year jail term in NY for illegally possessing a handgun.

MN and WI would allow you to transport the gun in your vehicle, but only unloaded and cased.

PA and IL require that anyone transporting a handgun must have it unloaded and cased, but the case must be securely locked and in the vehicle trunk or rear storage area.

The short version is this.  It would be very difficult for you to even enter the US with a firearm as a Canadian resident.  You could not legally carry concealed in the US.  Some of the states you listed have highly restrictive handgun laws.  In New York State, you must have a license to own a handgun.  In Chicago, you cannot legally possess a handgun at all.

Sorry I don't have better news for you...

Regards,

Doug