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Require Permits to Carry Concealed Guns in Public

Require Permits to Carry Concealed Guns in Public

What does this solve?

It is legal to carry a concealed handgun in public in all 50 states. States have traditionally required a person to have a permit to carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public. States should not allow the carry of concealed guns in public without one.

Although standards and processes vary, permits ensure that certain core public safety standards are maintained, such as requiring that a person has passed a background check and completed firearm safety training before carrying a concealed gun in public. Many states also authorize permit issuers to deny permits to people who pose a danger to the public. These laws promote responsible gun ownership and ensure fundamental public safety standards are preserved when people carry concealed guns in public places.

For over a century, states have recognized the public safety benefits of requiring a permit to carry concealed gunsYet over the last decade, the gun lobby has been pushing legislation to allow people to carry concealed guns in public places without a permit, background check, or safety training, dismantling the system of responsible gun ownershipSome states have passed laws loosening their permitting standards, and a handful of states have completely eliminated their concealed carry permit requirementPermitless carry laws lower the bar for who may carry hidden handguns in public and allow untrained and unvetted people to carry concealed guns in parks, shopping malls, crowded town centers, and other public places.

Which states require a permit to carry concealed guns in public?

21 states have adopted this policy

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Alabama has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

California has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Colorado has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Connecticut has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Delaware has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Florida has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Hawaii has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Illinois has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Indiana has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Iowa has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Kansas has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Louisiana has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Maine has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Maryland has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Massachusetts has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Michigan has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Minnesota has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Montana has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Nevada has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

New Jersey has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

New Mexico has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

New York has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

North Carolina has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Oregon has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
No

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Pennsylvania has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
No
Does state training include firing an actual gun?

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Rhode Island has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes

Concealed Carry Permit Required

South Carolina has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

South Dakota has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Tennessee has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Texas has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Utah has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Vermont has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Virginia has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
No

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Washington has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
No
Does state training include firing an actual gun?

Concealed Carry Permit Required

West Virginia has not adopted this policy

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Wisconsin has adopted this policy

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
No

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Wyoming has not adopted this policy

How it Works

Ensuring that only responsible gun owners can carry concealed guns in public.

Concealed carry permitting systems typically require training to carry firearms responsibly in public. Permitless carry laws strip away this critical safety component. Most states currently require a firearm safety course before a person can get a permit to carry a concealed handgun—many that require training that involves the live firing of a gun. This training ensures that permit holders are aware of responsible practices for handling and carrying guns in public.

Concealed carry permitting systems generally require a background check and set standards for who is too dangerous or irresponsible for a permit, ensuring that only responsible gun owners can carry concealed guns in public. Permitless carry laws and legislation remove these safeguards and often allow carry by irresponsible and dangerous people, such as violent criminals and weapons offenders, people who pose a safety risk, and teenagers.

Permitless carry legislation is part of the NRA’s broader agenda to weaken and repeal important gun safety measures, allowing more guns in public and undermining public safety. Emerging data shows that states that have passed permitless carry legislation are experiencing a substantial increase in gun violence.

By the numbers

Myth & Fact

Myth

Requiring a permit to carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public violates the U.S. Constitution.

Fact

No federal court has held that requiring a permit to carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public violates the U.S. Constitution.

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Require Permits to Carry Concealed Guns in Public

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