The Law for Carrying Firearms in Public in Every State

Special Report

Published: May 25, 2023 8:01 am

Last Updated: June 9, 2023 2:08 pm

The right of American citizens to keep and bear arms is guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. While there are several federal gun laws, the legal details surrounding gun ownership in the U.S. are largely left to state governments – and across the 50 states, approaches to gun control vary widely.

While debates over gun regulation at the federal level have largely centered around assault-style rifles in recent years, the largest and most impactful changes in gun control policy have happened at the state level – particularly in laws regarding the right to carry firearms in public places. (Here is a look at the states that have banned assault rifles.)

Using historical data on state-level legislation, 24/7 Wall St. determined the laws for carrying firearms in public in every state. We reviewed laws for both the open carry and concealed carry of firearms.

In the vast majority of states, open carry of firearms in public – generally defined as carrying a gun that is either partially or fully visible – is allowed without a permit, though rules around open carry can vary by firearm type and local jurisdictions.

Meanwhile, in half of all states, concealed carry of a firearm in public, whether in a purse, backpack, or under a garment, is permitted for legal gun owners. In the remaining states, concealed carry generally requires a special permit.

Notably, in nearly every state where permitless concealed carry is allowed, legalization has occurred only within the last two decades. In a dozen states, permitless concealed carry was authorized in 2019 or later, and two more states – Florida and Nebraska – are set to join their ranks later this year.

While the rapid expansion of permitless concealed carry laws augment gun rights, such laws often eliminate any mandated safety and live-fire training, possibly driving up rates of gun violence and accidental shootings. Data on 2021 firearm deaths from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that of the 10 states with the highest gun death rates, eight have allowed legal gun owners to carry a concealed firearm in public without a permit. Meanwhile, permitless concealed carry is illegal in nine of the 10 states with the lowest firearm fatality rates. (Here is a look at the states where gun-related crimes are surging.)

Click here to see the law for carrying firearms in public in every state.

Click here to read our detailed methodology.

Alabama
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2023
> Gun deaths in 2021: 26.4 per 100,000 people – 4th highest of 50 states (1,315 total)

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Alaska
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2003
> Gun deaths in 2021: 25.2 per 100,000 people – 6th highest of 50 states (182 total)

ALSO READ: The States That Have Banned Assault Rifles

Arizona
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2010
> Gun deaths in 2021: 18.3 per 100,000 people – 17th highest of 50 states (1,365 total)

Arkansas
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2013 (strengthened in subsequent years)
> Gun deaths in 2021: 23.3 per 100,000 people – 8th highest of 50 states (698 total)

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California
> Open carry of handguns: Prohibited
> Open carry of long guns: Prohibited
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 9.0 per 100,000 people – 8th lowest of 50 states (3,576 total)

Colorado
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 17.8 per 100,000 people – 18th highest of 50 states (1,064 total)

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Connecticut
> Open carry of handguns: Permit Required
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 6.7 per 100,000 people – 6th lowest of 50 states (248 total)

ALSO READ: These 13 States Have Multi-Billion Dollar Gun Economies

Delaware
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 16.6 per 100,000 people – 23rd highest of 50 states (158 total)

Florida
> Open carry of handguns: Prohibited
> Open carry of long guns: Prohibited
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal, effective July 1, 2023
> Gun deaths in 2021: 14.1 per 100,000 people – 17th lowest of 50 states (3,142 total)

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Georgia
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2022
> Gun deaths in 2021: 20.3 per 100,000 people – 14th highest of 50 states (2,200 total)

Hawaii
> Open carry of handguns: Permit Required
> Open carry of long guns: Permit Required
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 4.8 per 100,000 people – 2nd lowest of 50 states (71 total)

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Idaho
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2016
> Gun deaths in 2021: 16.3 per 100,000 people – 25th highest of 50 states (309 total)

ALSO READ: States With the Most Gun Sales per Person

Illinois
> Open carry of handguns: Prohibited
> Open carry of long guns: Prohibited
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 16.1 per 100,000 people – 25th lowest of 50 states (1,995 total)

Indiana
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2022
> Gun deaths in 2021: 18.4 per 100,000 people – 16th highest of 50 states (1,251 total)

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Iowa
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2021
> Gun deaths in 2021: 11.2 per 100,000 people – 11th lowest of 50 states (364 total)

Kansas
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2015
> Gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 per 100,000 people – 21st highest of 50 states (503 total)

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Kentucky
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2019
> Gun deaths in 2021: 21.1 per 100,000 people – 13th highest of 50 states (947 total)

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The City in Every State With the Most Gun-Related Crimes

Louisiana
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Residents with military service only since 2022
> Gun deaths in 2021: 29.1 per 100,000 people – 2nd highest of 50 states (1,314 total)

Maine
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2015
> Gun deaths in 2021: 12.6 per 100,000 people – 14th lowest of 50 states (178 total)

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Maryland
> Open carry of handguns: Permit Required
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 15.2 per 100,000 people – 22nd lowest of 50 states (915 total)

Massachusetts
> Open carry of handguns: Permit Required
> Open carry of long guns: Permit Required
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 3.4 per 100,000 people – the lowest of 50 states (247 total)

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Michigan
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 15.4 per 100,000 people – 23rd lowest of 50 states (1,544 total)

ALSO READ: The States Where Gun-Related Crimes Are Surging

Minnesota
> Open carry of handguns: Permit Required
> Open carry of long guns: Permit Required
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 10.0 per 100,000 people – 9th lowest of 50 states (573 total)

Mississippi
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2016
> Gun deaths in 2021: 33.9 per 100,000 people – the highest of 50 states (962 total)

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Missouri
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2017
> Gun deaths in 2021: 23.2 per 100,000 people – 9th highest of 50 states (1,414 total)

Montana
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2021
> Gun deaths in 2021: 25.1 per 100,000 people – 7th highest of 50 states (280 total)

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Nebraska
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal, effective Sept. 10, 2023
> Gun deaths in 2021: 10.3 per 100,000 people – 10th lowest of 50 states (200 total)

24/7 Wall St.
The States That Have Banned Assault Rifles

Nevada
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 19.8 per 100,000 people – 15th highest of 50 states (633 total)

New Hampshire
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2017
> Gun deaths in 2021: 8.3 per 100,000 people – 7th lowest of 50 states (123 total)

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New Jersey
> Open carry of handguns: Prohibited
> Open carry of long guns: Permit Required
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 5.2 per 100,000 people – 3rd lowest of 50 states (475 total)

New Mexico
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 27.8 per 100,000 people – 3rd highest of 50 states (578 total)

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New York
> Open carry of handguns: Prohibited
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 5.4 per 100,000 people – 4th lowest of 50 states (1,078 total)

24/7 Wall St.
These 13 States Have Multi-Billion Dollar Gun Economies

North Carolina
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 per 100,000 people – 20th highest of 50 states (1,839 total)

North Dakota
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2017
> Gun deaths in 2021: 16.8 per 100,000 people – 22nd highest of 50 states (128 total)

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Ohio
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2022
> Gun deaths in 2021: 16.5 per 100,000 people – 24th highest of 50 states (1,911 total)

Oklahoma
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2019
> Gun deaths in 2021: 21.2 per 100,000 people – 12th highest of 50 states (836 total)

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Oregon
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 14.9 per 100,000 people – 21st lowest of 50 states (670 total)

24/7 Wall St.
States With the Most Gun Sales per Person

Pennsylvania
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 14.8 per 100,000 people – 20th lowest of 50 states (1,905 total)

Rhode Island
> Open carry of handguns: Permit Required
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 5.6 per 100,000 people – 5th lowest of 50 states (64 total)

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South Carolina
> Open carry of handguns: Permit Required
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 22.4 per 100,000 people – 11th highest of 50 states (1,136 total)

South Dakota
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2019
> Gun deaths in 2021: 14.3 per 100,000 people – 18th lowest of 50 states (128 total)

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Tennessee
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2021
> Gun deaths in 2021: 22.8 per 100,000 people – 10th highest of 50 states (1,569 total)

24/7 Wall St.
The City in Every State With the Most Gun-Related Crimes

Texas
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2021
> Gun deaths in 2021: 15.6 per 100,000 people – 24th lowest of 50 states (4,613 total)

Utah
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2021
> Gun deaths in 2021: 13.9 per 100,000 people – 16th lowest of 50 states (450 total)

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Vermont
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 1791
> Gun deaths in 2021: 11.9 per 100,000 people – 13th lowest of 50 states (83 total)

Virginia
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 14.3 per 100,000 people – 19th lowest of 50 states (1,248 total)

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Washington
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 11.2 per 100,000 people – 12th lowest of 50 states (896 total)

24/7 Wall St.
The States Where Gun-Related Crimes Are Surging

West Virginia
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2016
> Gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 per 100,000 people – 19th highest of 50 states (319 total)

Wisconsin
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Illegal
> Gun deaths in 2021: 13.5 per 100,000 people – 15th lowest of 50 states (793 total)

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Wyoming
> Open carry of handguns: Allowed
> Open carry of long guns: Allowed
> Permitless concealed carry: Legal since 2011
> Gun deaths in 2021: 26.1 per 100,000 people – 5th highest of 50 states (155 total)

Methodology

Open carry of firearms is generally defined as wielding a firearm that is either partially or fully visible, though precise definitions can vary by jurisdiction and different rules can apply for different firearm types, such as handguns, or long guns, like rifles and shotguns.

Concealed carry of firearms is generally defined as having a gun on one’s person while in public that is not visible. Concealed carry firearms can be carried in backpacks, purses, or in a holster under a garment.

In addition, we also reviewed state-level firearm mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2021.

It is important to note that gun laws are nuanced and can vary at the local level and depending on one’s primary state of residence. Review all state and local firearm regulations before carrying a gun in public.

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