“Constitutional Carry” — Americans In 29 States Can Now Carry Guns Without Permits. Here’s What You Need To Know.

Constitutional carry, also known as permitless or unrestricted carry, allows individuals to legally carry a handgun, openly or concealed, without needing a permit. This typically does not apply to long guns. Every state in the U.S. permits the carrying of concealed handguns, but each has its own specific regulations and restrictions governing the practice. The laws regarding the issuance of permits to carry concealed weapons fall into three categories:

1. “Shall issue”: If an individual meets all the specified criteria, the jurisdiction is obliged to issue a permit.
2. “May issue”: The jurisdiction has the discretion to issue a concealed weapon permit and is not required to provide one even if all criteria are met.
3. “Constitutional carry”: No permit or license is required by the jurisdiction to carry a concealed weapon.

These categories define the level of regulation around carrying concealed weapons across different states.

In the United States, the rules around constitutional carry—meaning the right to carry a handgun in public without a permit—vary by state, with each state’s legislature setting its own laws on the matter. Some states require a permit for carrying handguns publicly, while others do not.

Here’s what you need to know about each state.

Alabama – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 38.7 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Alaska – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 38.5 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Arizona – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 35.6 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

Arkansas – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 44.3 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

California – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Prohibited
• Registered Gun Rate: 10.4 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Colorado – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 25.7 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Connecticut – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Permit Required
• Registered Gun Rate: 20.8 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Delaware – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 6.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Florida – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Prohibited
• Registered Gun Rate: 23.8 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Georgia – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over or 18 for military
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 28.2 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

Hawaii – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Permit Required
• Registered Gun Rate: 6.4 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Idaho – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 40.2 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Illinois – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Prohibited
• Registered Gun Rate: 11.4 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Indiana – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 23.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Iowa – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 17 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Kansas – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 23.8 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Kentucky – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 24.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Louisiana – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 32.9 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Maine – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 15.6 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Maryland – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Permit Required
• Registered Gun Rate: 22.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Massachusetts – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Permit Required
• Registered Gun Rate: 6.5 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Michigan – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 10.9 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

Minnesota – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Permit Required
• Registered Gun Rate: 22.7 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

Mississippi – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 27.4 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Missouri – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 19 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 18.4 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Montana – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 33.2 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Nebraska – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 22 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Nevada – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 37.9 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

New Hampshire – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 52.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

New Jersey – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Prohibited
• Registered Gun Rate: 1.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

New Mexico – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 58.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

New York – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Prohibited
• Registered Gun Rate: 4.6 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

North Carolina – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 21.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

North Dakota – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 40 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Ohio – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 17.7 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

Oklahoma – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over or in the military
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 25.9 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Oregon – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 23 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Pennsylvania – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 26.9 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

Rhode Island – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Permit Required
• Registered Gun Rate: 4.5 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

South Carolina – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 23 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

South Dakota – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 72.2 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Tennessee – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 21.7 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Texas – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 34.1 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Utah – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 3.4 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Vermont – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 14.6 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Virginia – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 49 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

Washington – Constitutional Carry = No

• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 1.2 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Democrat

West Virginia – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 92.8 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican

Wisconsin – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 18 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 16.3 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Swing State

Wyoming – Constitutional Carry = Yes

• Permitless Carry Age: 21 and over
• Open Carry Laws: Allowed
• Registered Gun Rate: 245.8 guns per 1000 people
• Red or Blue State: Republican