Navigating Gun Laws — A State-by-State Guide to Carrying Firearms in Public

Only four states in America and the District of Columbia prohibit open-carrying of a loaded gun in public. Nine more require a permit to carry a handgun. But even in states that allow firearms to be carried in public, many prohibit them in certain places such as schools and churches. While carrying a loaded weapon is legal in many parts of the country, brandishing a weapon is seen as an act of violence, and is against the law everywhere. Because states vary so widely on gun laws, 24/7 Wall St. created a state-by-state guide on the laws regarding carrying firearms in public. (Also see the most popular pistols sold in America.)

24/7 Wall St. found 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. Most states allow open carry of firearms in public without a permit, a practice generally defined as carrying a gun that is either partially or fully visible. Rules around open carry can vary by firearm type and local laws. In addition, we reviewed state-level firearm mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2021.

Why We’re Writing About Gun Laws

Knowing and understanding gun laws is vital not only in your home state but also in any state you visit. If you fail to observe these laws, you can get into serious legal trouble and even end up in jail. State gun laws vary drastically, and understanding these differences will ensure your safety and you’re right to bear arms responsibly. In addition, state gun regulations can influence property values and insurance rates in certain areas, as well as the social values and political climate of each state.

Here is every state’s law for carrying firearms in public.

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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