Guns and Hunting

Don’t Get Caught Open Carrying Your Gun in These States – or Else

By Jessica Lynn Updated Feb 14, 11:39AM EST · Published Feb 11, 9:10AM EST

Follow 24/7 Wall St. on Google

This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them.

Don’t Get Caught Open Carrying Your Gun in These States – or Else — © Glasshouse Images / The Image Bank via Getty Images

While citizens in Florida are allowed to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, the laws around open carry are different. In fact, open carry is surprisingly illegal in the state, considering its support of gun owner rights. But that could soon be changing. Governor Ron DeSantis recently shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he would undoubtedly sign legislation allowing the open carry of firearms should that legislation ever pass his desk. DeSantis has expressed his interest in, and support of, open carry in the past few years. However, DeSantis might be at odds with sitting Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez; Albritton has been an outspoken opponent to open carry, saying that he believes it could put policemen at risk of increasing violence. Whether DeSantis makes any headway into open carry in Florida has yet to be seen. (We bet you can’t answer these questions about American gun laws.)

Each state has its own set of laws governing gun ownership, including who can own a gun, under what circumstances, and where they are allowed to carry their weapon. Some states, like California and other liberal states have stricter rules regarding firearms than other more gun-friendly states, such as Mississippi. Using data compiled by gun control advocacy group Giffords Law Center, 24/7 Wall St. identified the laws for carrying firearms in public in every state. States are listed in alphabetical order. The strength of each state’s control laws is expressed in letter grades ranging from “A” for the strictest gun control policies, to “F” for the most permissive. All data is from the Giffords Law Center.

Why This Matters

gun+Georgia | No guns allowed on planes sign, TSA checkpoint, Atlanta International Airport, Georgia, USA

While gun laws have changed little at the national level in recent decades, most of the 50 states have meaningfully expanded gun rights in the last 15 years. Because of these changes, legal gun owners in most states can carry firearms in public — openly or concealed — without a special permit or license. It is important to note that in many of these same states, firearms are restricted from certain public areas, like schools or courthouses.

According to the Giffords Law Center, firearms in public places can increase the risk of avoidable, deadly confrontations — a claim substantiated by firearm mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 10 states with the highest gun death rates, nine have permitless concealed carry laws on the books, and all impose little or no restrictions on the open carry of firearms. (Here’s the gun law grade for every state.)

These are the laws on open carry of a firearm in each U.S. state:

Alabama

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Some restrictions
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 25.9 per 100,000 people (4th highest of 50 states)

Alaska

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 22.7 per 100,000 people (7th highest of 50 states)

Arizona

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 20.5 per 100,000 people (12th highest of 50 states)

Arkansas

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 22.1 per 100,000 people (8th highest of 50 states)

California

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Prohibited
Open carry of a long gun: Generally prohibited
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A
Gun death rate: 8.7 per 100,000 people (7th lowest of 50 states)

Colorado

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A-
Gun death rate: 17.3 per 100,000 people (19th highest of 50 states)

Connecticut

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Prohibited
Open carry of a long gun: Generally prohibited
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A
Gun death rate: 7.0 per 100,000 people (6th lowest of 50 states)

Delaware

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: B+
Gun death rate: 12.1 per 100,000 people (12th lowest of 50 states)

Florida

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Prohibited
Open carry of a long gun: Generally prohibited
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: D+
Gun death rate: 14.4 per 100,000 people (20th lowest of 50 states)

Georgia

Georgia | Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 20.0 per 100,000 people (14th highest of 50 states)

Hawaii

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Permit or license required
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A-
Gun death rate: 4.5 per 100,000 people (3rd lowest of 50 states)

Idaho

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 17.5 per 100,000 people (18th highest of 50 states)

Illinois

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Prohibited
Open carry of a long gun: Generally prohibited
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A-
Gun death rate: 14.4 per 100,000 people (19th lowest of 50 states)

Indiana

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: D-
Gun death rate: 17.6 per 100,000 people (17th highest of 50 states)

Iowa

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 11.3 per 100,000 people (10th lowest of 50 states)

Kansas

Sedgwick Kansas | Wichita, Kansas, USA Downtown Skyline

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 17.0 per 100,000 people (21st highest of 50 states)

Kentucky

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 18.9 per 100,000 people (16th highest of 50 states)

Louisiana

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 28.2 per 100,000 people (2nd highest of 50 states)

Maine

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: D-
Gun death rate: 12.0 per 100,000 people (11th lowest of 50 states)

Maryland

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Permit or license required
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A-
Gun death rate: 13.6 per 100,000 people (16th lowest of 50 states)

Massachusetts

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Permit or license required
Open carry of a long gun: Some restrictions
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A-
Gun death rate: 3.7 per 100,000 people (2nd lowest of 50 states)

Michigan

Michigan | Detroit Aerial Panorama

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: B-
Gun death rate: 15.1 per 100,000 people (24th lowest of 50 states)

Minnesota

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Permit or license required
Open carry of a long gun: Some restrictions
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: B
Gun death rate: 9.7 per 100,000 people (8th lowest of 50 states)

Mississippi

Mississippi | Jackson Mississippi Skyline

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 29.7 per 100,000 people (the highest of 50 states)

Missouri

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Some restrictions
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 24.4 per 100,000 people (6th highest of 50 states)

Montana

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 24.5 per 100,000 people (5th highest of 50 states)

Nebraska

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: C-
Gun death rate: 12.3 per 100,000 people (14th lowest of 50 states)

Nevada

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: B-
Gun death rate: 19.3 per 100,000 people (15th highest of 50 states)

New Hampshire

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: D-
Gun death rate: 10.3 per 100,000 people (9th lowest of 50 states)

New Jersey

New Jersey | Aerial panorama of Jersey City

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Prohibited
Open carry of a long gun: Some restrictions
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A
Gun death rate: 5.0 per 100,000 people (4th lowest of 50 states)

New Mexico

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: C+
Gun death rate: 27.5 per 100,000 people (3rd highest of 50 states)

New York

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A-
Gun death rate: 5.3 per 100,000 people (5th lowest of 50 states)

North Carolina

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: C-
Gun death rate: 17.1 per 100,000 people (20th highest of 50 states)

North Dakota

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Some restrictions
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 16.5 per 100,000 people (22nd highest of 50 states)

Ohio

Columbus, Ohio | Columbus, Ohio, USA Skyline on the Scioto River

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: D-
Gun death rate: 15.7 per 100,000 people (25th lowest of 50 states)

Oklahoma

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 20.1 per 100,000 people (13th highest of 50 states)

Oregon

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A-
Gun death rate: 14.6 per 100,000 people (21st lowest of 50 states)

Pennsylvania

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Some restrictions
Open carry of a long gun: Some restrictions
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: B
Gun death rate: 14.8 per 100,000 people (22nd lowest of 50 states)

Rhode Island

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Permit or license required
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: B+
Gun death rate: 3.1 per 100,000 people (the lowest of 50 states)

South Carolina

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Some restrictions
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: D-
Gun death rate: 21.3 per 100,000 people (9th highest of 50 states)

South Dakota

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 16.1 per 100,000 people (24th highest of 50 states)

Tennessee

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Some restrictions
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 20.9 per 100,000 people (10th highest of 50 states)

Texas

Texas | Downtown Austin - Texas (USA)

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Some restrictions
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 15.7 per 100,000 people (25th highest of 50 states)

Utah

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 14.0 per 100,000 people (17th lowest of 50 states)

Vermont

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: B-
Gun death rate: 12.2 per 100,000 people (13th lowest of 50 states)

Virginia

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Some restrictions
Open carry of a long gun: Some restrictions
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: B+
Gun death rate: 15.1 per 100,000 people (23rd lowest of 50 states)

Washington

Washington state image | Space Needle and Seattle downtown

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Some restrictions
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: A-
Gun death rate: 12.6 per 100,000 people (15th lowest of 50 states)

West Virginia

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 16.4 per 100,000 people (23rd highest of 50 states)

Wisconsin

Concealed carry of a firearm: Permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: C
Gun death rate: 14.1 per 100,000 people (18th lowest of 50 states)

Wyoming

Concealed carry of a firearm: Allowed, no permit required
Open carry of a handgun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Open carry of a long gun: Generally permitted for legal gun owners
Overall strength of gun control laws grade: F
Gun death rate: 20.6 per 100,000 people (11th highest of 50 states)

About the Author Jessica Lynn →

Continue Reading

Firearm Carry Laws: A Guide for Every State

Sam Stebbins | Jan 21, 2026 at 6:00 AM EST

Firearm Carry Laws: A Guide for Every State

24/7 Wall St. : State-level gun laws have changed considerably in much of the country in recent years. Less than…

Open Carry, Concealed Carry: What are the Laws in Each State?

Jessica Lynn | Jun 18, 2025 at 8:32 AM EDT

Open Carry, Concealed Carry: What are the Laws in Each State?

Compared to other high-income countries, the United States has one of the worst rates of gun violence in the world.…

The States With the Loosest Gun Laws

247patrick | Dec 31, 2022 at 7:21 AM EST

The States With the Loosest Gun Laws

Firearm background checks, commonly used as a proxy for gun sales, surpassed 18 million through the first seven months of…

The Laws for Carrying Guns in Public in Every State

Sam Stebbins | Sep 27, 2023 at 8:00 AM EDT

The Laws for Carrying Guns in Public in Every State

All American citizens are subject to the same federal firearm regulations. However, most gun control laws in the U.S. are…

Every State’s Gun Law Grade

Sam Stebbins | Sep 15, 2023 at 9:35 AM EDT

Every State’s Gun Law Grade

Though the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. But exactly how far those rights extend –…

Laws for Carrying Firearms in Public in Every State

Sam Stebbins | May 20, 2024 at 10:13 AM EDT

Laws for Carrying Firearms in Public in Every State

Many Americans carry a firearm for personal protection, but the laws for doing so vary drastically by state. Although the same…

States With the Most Freedom for Gun Owners

Sam Stebbins | Feb 16, 2024 at 8:10 AM EST

States With the Most Freedom for Gun Owners

Gun control continues to be a highly contentious issue in American politics. A recent survey by the Pew Research Center…

Gun Restrictions Barely Exist in These States

Jessica Lynn | Oct 29, 2024 at 7:10 AM EDT

Gun Restrictions Barely Exist in These States

Recently, a federal judge in Albany, New York struck down a portion of the 2022 Concealed Carry Improvement Act as…

Gun Law Grades for Every State

Sam Stebbins | Jan 29, 2024 at 11:31 AM EST

Gun Law Grades for Every State

Deadly gun violence, including both suicides and homicides, has been increasing for years in the United States. Despite the escalating…

Top Gaining Stocks

Akamai

AKAM • Vol: 21,556,944

+$31.02

+26.58%

$147.71

Micron Technology

MU • Vol: 65,135,624

+$100.18

+15.49%

$746.81

Intel

INTC • Vol: 227,504,426

+$15.30

+13.96%

$124.92

Monster Beverage

MNST • Vol: 15,284,847

+$10.32

+13.58%

$86.29

Dell Technologies

DELL • Vol: 12,167,525

+$30.19

+13.11%

$260.46

Top Losing Stocks

Mettler Toledo International

MTD • Vol: 539,266

-$194.83

14.77%

$1,124.46

Motorola Solutions

MSI • Vol: 3,101,643

-$49.21

11.36%

$383.99

Expedia

EXPE • Vol: 4,189,786

-$22.81

9.02%

$229.98

Coterra Energy

CTRA • Vol: 73,319,495

-$3.07

8.62%

$32.56

Fidelity National Information Services

FIS • Vol: 11,468,820

-$3.76

7.96%

$43.49