You Can Carry Your Gun Wherever You Want in These States

Guns are a huge part of American culture — and if you look at the way our nation developed, you’ll see that guns have always played a role. People enjoy carrying guns for hunting, for personal protection, or even for sport shooting. A similarly large number of people collect guns. Of course, with rising levels of gun violence across our nation, including school shootings at a higher rate than any other country nationwide, many people criticize American gun culture for its loose regulations — at least in certain states. Yet these states seem unconcerned about the critics. In fact, a North Carolina congressman even introduced H.R. 38 (the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act) that would allow gun owners to cross state lines with their gun. This is especially challenging for gun owners as gun laws vary from state to state. Just because concealed or open carry (with or without a permit) is legal in one state does not mean it’s legal in the next state over. Since North Carolina requires a permit, in the case of H.R. 38, gun owners from other permitless states might find it difficult to cross over. However, it’s unclear whether H.R. 38 will be written into law or whether it will die on the table.

Here, 24/7 Wall St. determined the laws for carrying firearms in public in every state by using historical data on state-level legislation. We reviewed laws for both open carry and concealed carry of firearms. In addition, we also reviewed state-level firearm mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2022, which we independently confirmed is the most up-to-date data at the time of publication. It’s also important to note that gun control laws are nuanced and, in addition to state-to-state changes, can also vary at local levels. Review all state and local firearm regulations before carrying a gun in public. (We bet you can’t answer these questions about American gun laws.) 

Why We’re Writing About Gun Laws

If you want to own and carry a gun, knowing and understanding the gun laws in your home state is vital. But you need to know more than that: you should be familiar with gun policies in any state you choose to visit. If you fail to observe the state’s laws, you can get into serious legal trouble — or even end up in jail. State gun laws vary drastically, and remaining aware of these differences will ensure your safety and your right to bear arms responsibly. Additionally, because state gun regulations can influence property values and insurance rates in certain areas, these laws may directly affect your decision to move to a particular state.

Check out every state’s law for carrying firearms in public:

Alabama

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 4th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 25.5 deaths per 100,000 people (1,278 deaths total)

Alaska

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 7th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 22.4 deaths per 100,000 people (164 deaths total)

Arizona

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 12th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 20.1 deaths per 100,000 people (1,535 deaths total)

Arkansas

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 8th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 21.9 deaths per 100,000 people (666 deaths total)

California

• Open carry: Prohibited for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 7th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 8.6 deaths per 100,000 people (3,484 deaths total)

Colorado

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 18th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 17.1 deaths per 100,000 people (1,036 deaths total)

Connecticut

• Open carry: Prohibited for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 6th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 6.9 deaths per 100,000 people (252 deaths total)

Delaware

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 12th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 11.9 deaths per 100,000 people (124 deaths total)

Florida

• Open carry: Prohibited for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: Tied with Wisconsin for 19th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people (3,232 deaths total)

Georgia

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 14th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 19.7 deaths per 100,000 people (2,163 deaths total)

Hawaii

• Open carry: Permits required for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 3rd lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 4.5 deaths per 100,000 people (66 deaths total)

Idaho

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 19th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 17.0 deaths per 100,000 people (338 deaths total)

Illinois

• Open carry: Prohibited for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: Tied with Oregon for 20th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 14.4 deaths per 100,000 people (1,798 deaths total)

Indiana

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 17th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 17.4 deaths per 100,000 people (1,211 deaths total)

Iowa

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 10th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people (367 deaths total)

Kansas

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: Tied with North Carolina for 20th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 16.8 deaths per 100,000 people (492 deaths total)

Kentucky

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 16th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 18.8 deaths per 100,000 people (840 deaths total)

Louisiana

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Concealed carry: Only legal for residents with military service
• Rate of gun deaths: 2nd highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 28.2 deaths per 100,000 people (1,266 deaths total)

Maine

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 11th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 11.7 deaths per 100,000 people (179 deaths total)

Maryland

• Open carry: Legal for long guns; permit required for handguns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 16th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 13.6 deaths per 100,000 people (813 deaths total)

Massachusetts

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 2nd lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 3.7 deaths per 100,000 people (263 deaths total)

Michigan

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 24th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 15.0 deaths per 100,000 people (1,504 deaths total)

Minnesota

• Open carry: Permit required for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 8th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 9.6 deaths per 100,000 people (561 deaths total)

Mississippi

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: Highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 29.6 deaths per 100,000 people (848 deaths total)

Missouri

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 5th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 24.2 deaths per 100,000 people (1,489 deaths total)

Montana

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 6th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 23.9 deaths per 100,000 people (274 deaths total)

Nebraska

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 14th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 12.2 deaths per 100,000 people (244 deaths total)

Nevada

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 15th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 18.9 deaths per 100,000 people (618 deaths total)

New Hampshire

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 9th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 10.1 deaths per 100,000 people (156 deaths total)

New Jersey

• Open carry: Permit required for long guns; handguns are prohibited
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 4th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 5.0 deaths per 100,000 people (468 deaths total)

New Mexico

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 3rd highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 27.3 deaths per 100,000 people (571 deaths total)

New York

• Open carry: Permit required for long guns; handguns are prohibited
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 5th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 5.3 deaths per 100,000 people (1,044 deaths total)

North Carolina

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: Tied with Kansas for 20th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 16.8 deaths per 100,000 people (1,831 deaths total)

North Dakota

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 22nd highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 16.4 deaths per 100,000 people (125 deaths total)

Ohio

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 25th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 15.6 deaths per 100,000 people (1,831 deaths total)

Oklahoma

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 13th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 19.8 deaths per 100,000 people (797 deaths total)

Oregon

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: Tied with Illinois for 20th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 14.4 deaths per 100,000 people (655 deaths total)

Pennsylvania

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 22nd lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 14.7 deaths per 100,000 people (1,941 deaths total)

Rhode Island

• Open carry: Legal for long guns; permit required for handguns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: Lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 3.1 deaths per 100,000 people (37 deaths total)

South Carolina

• Open carry: Legal for long guns; permit required for handguns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 9th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 20.8 deaths per 100,000 people (1,105 deaths total)

South Dakota

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 24th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 15.7 deaths per 100,000 people (141 deaths total)

Tennessee

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 10th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 20.5 deaths per 100,000 people (1,480 deaths total)

Texas

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 25th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 15.3 deaths per 100,000 people (4,630 deaths total)

Utah

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 17th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 13.7 deaths per 100,000 people (446 deaths total)

Vermont

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 13th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 12.0 deaths per 100,000 people (84 deaths total)

Virginia

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 23rd lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 14.9 deaths per 100,000 people (1,316 deaths total)

Washington

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: 15th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 12.4 deaths per 100,000 people (1,022 deaths total)

West Virginia

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 23rd highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 16.2 deaths per 100,000 people (311 deaths total)

Wisconsin

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
• Rate of gun deaths: Tied with Florida for 19th lowest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 14.0 deaths per 100,000 people (830 deaths total)

Wyoming

• Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
• Permit needed for concealed carry: No
• Rate of gun deaths: 11th highest in the U.S.
• Number of gun deaths in 2022: 20.4 deaths per 100,000 people (124 deaths total)

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