Constitutional Carry States

Constitutional Carry

Constitutional Carry
AlabamaAlabamaYes
AlaskaAlaskaYes
ArizonaArizonaYes
ArkansasArkansasYes
CaliforniaCaliforniaNo
ColoradoColoradoNo
ConnecticutConnecticutNo
DelawareDelawareNo
FloridaFloridaNo
GeorgiaGeorgiaYes
HawaiiHawaiiNo
IdahoIdahoYes
IllinoisIllinoisNo
IndianaIndianaYes
IowaIowaYes
KansasKansasYes
KentuckyKentuckyYes
LouisianaLouisianaNo
MaineMaineYes
MarylandMarylandNo
MassachusettsMassachusettsNo
MichiganMichiganNo
MinnesotaMinnesotaNo
MississippiMississippiYes
MissouriMissouriYes
MontanaMontanaYes
NebraskaNebraskaNo
NevadaNevadaNo
New HampshireNew HampshireYes
New JerseyNew JerseyNo
New MexicoNew MexicoNo
New YorkNew YorkNo
North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNo
North DakotaNorth DakotaYes
OhioOhioYes
OklahomaOklahomaYes
OregonOregonNo
PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaNo
Rhode IslandRhode IslandNo
South CarolinaSouth CarolinaNo
South DakotaSouth DakotaYes
TennesseeTennesseeYes
TexasTexasYes
UtahUtahYes
VermontVermontYes
VirginiaVirginiaNo
WashingtonWashingtonNo
West VirginiaWest VirginiaYes
WisconsinWisconsinNo
WyomingWyomingYes

Introduction

The issue of constitutional carry is one of the most contentious debates in the United States, stirring conversation on public safety, individual rights, and the interpretation of the Second Amendment. Constitutional carry, also known as "permitless carry," refers to the legislation that allows individuals to carry a handgun, either openly or concealed, in public without any permit or license. The regulations on Constitutional carry vary vastly by state, reflecting differing attitudes towards the balance between Second Amendment rights and public safety.

  • As of 2022, 21 out of the 50 U.S. states, including Alaska, Arizona, Utah, and Kansas, allowed constitutional carry, affirming the individual's right to bear arms without institutional prohibitions in the form of permits and licenses.
  • Conversely, 27 out of 50 states – including California, New York, Nevada, and Massachusetts, had rejected constitutional carry, imposing restrictions, licenses, and permits on gun ownership and carrying.
  • The data also reveals a regional pattern where Midwestern and Southern states including Missouri, Georgia, and Alabama tend to favor constitutional carry. Western states are divided, with states like Utah and Wyoming in favor and others like California, Colorado, and Oregon against it. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions are predominantly against constitutional carry policies, with Vermont and Maine as the notable exceptions.
  • Notably, there's somewhat of a pattern involving states traditionally recognized as "swing states" in US elections - these states, including Florida, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, currently reject constitutional carry.

By Region

Alabama

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Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Alaska

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Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Arizona

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Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Arkansas

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Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

California

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California

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Colorado

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Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Connecticut

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Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Delaware

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Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Florida

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Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Georgia

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Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Hawaii

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Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Idaho

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Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Illinois

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Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Indiana

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Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Iowa

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Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Kansas

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Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Kentucky

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Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Louisiana

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Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Maine

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Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Maryland

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Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Michigan

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Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Minnesota

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Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Mississippi

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Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Missouri

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Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Montana

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Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Nebraska

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Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Nevada

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Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

New Jersey

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New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

New Mexico

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New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

New York

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New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

North Carolina

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North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

North Dakota

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North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Ohio

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Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Oregon

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Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

South Carolina

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South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

South Dakota

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South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Tennessee

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Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Texas

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Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Utah

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Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Vermont

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Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Virginia

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Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Washington

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Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

West Virginia

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West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

No

Wyoming

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Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Constitutional Carry

Yes