There are no
federal laws governing whether a state requires individuals to obtain concealed carry permits or how any state concealed carry permitting is conducted. Therefore, each state has jurisdiction over how it regulates open and concealed carry. State gun regulations vary significantly.
However, the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968 and the Federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 does establish categories of individuals prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving or possessing firearms or ammunition. These laws prevent a state from issuing a concealed carry license/permit, as it would be illegal for people who fit in these categories, by federal law, to own or possess a gun. Categories of
federally prohibited persons include unlawful users of narcotics or other controlled substances, illegal aliens and those who have been convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, to name a few.