Prohibit Open Carry

What does this solve?

Carrying firearms visibly in public, known as open carry, is a dangerous policy. It is exploited by white supremacists and opposed by law enforcement and the public. Members of hate groups regularly openly carry guns in a show of intimidation.

Research shows that the presence of a visible gun makes people more aggressive. Allowing guns to be carried openly in public also makes it very difficult to distinguish between the “good guys” and the “bad guys” during an active shooter incident. States should prohibit guns from being carried openly in public.

Which states regulate the open carry of firearms?

12 states have adopted this policy

Open carry is a threat to public safety.

Armed COVID-19 Protests Exploit Open Carry Loophole Fact Sheet

Open carry is a favored exercise by hate groups who regularly carry guns openly in a show of intimidation. In advance of a planned “Unite the Right” White Nationalist rally in Charlottesville, VA on August 12, 2017, a self-styled “militia group” descended on the city openly carrying handguns and military-style rifles. Later that day, one person was killed and 19 others injured when a white supremacist rammed a car into a crowd of counter- protesters.

In the July 2016 mass shooting of five police officers in Dallas, the work of police officers was made more difficult as they struggled to distinguish between people legally carrying guns openly and the gunman who opened fire. Afterwards, both the police chief and the mayor said law enforcement couldn’t tell “good guys with guns” from “bad guys with guns” because it is perfectly legal to walk around in public with an exposed handgun or rifle in Texas.

A small minority of states prohibit the open carry of firearms altogether, while others require a permit to do so. However, while many states require a permit to carry a concealed handgun in public, in the majority of states it is legal for civilians to openly carry handguns or long guns without a permit. This is often the result of the absence of state laws regulating the open carry of firearms in public, commonly known as the “open carry loophole.” Because responsible gun owners have not traditionally carried firearms openly, many state legislatures have not passed laws regulating the practice.

Regulating open carry would violate the Second Amendment.

Several states have laws prohibiting or otherwise regulating open carry, such as prohibitions on firearms at demonstrations, that are entirely consistent with the Second Amendment. Restrictions on public carry—including open carry—of firearms trace back to at least the fourteenth century, and have existed throughout the history of the United States.

Featured Resources

Armed protestors stand in a group on the steps of a building

Armed COVID-19 Protests Exploit Open Carry Loophole

Lawmakers should close the open carry loophole and regulate open carry, particularly at demonstrations held on capitol grounds.

Fact Sheet

Gun Law Navigator

The Gun Law Navigator is the largest historical database of modern U.S. gun laws.

Data Tracker

Stand Your Ground Laws encourage people to shoot first and ask questions later

A License to Kill: Shoot First Laws, also Known as Stand Your Ground

Shoot First laws distort the public perception of lawful self-defense and encourage people to shoot first and ask questions later.

Fact Sheet

Prohibit Open Carry

Road Rage Shootings Are Continuing to Surge

Reports of road rage shootings have increased significantly during the pandemic. With easy access to guns, road rage can turn deadly.

Everytown Research & Policy

Armed Extremism Primer: Oath Keepers

The Oath Keepers organize around conspiracy theories and propaganda about the reasonable regulation of firearms.

Fact Sheet

Armed Extremism Primer: Sovereign Citizens

Sovereign citizens fall under the umbrella of the wider right-wing anti-government extremist movement, which can include fixation on guns.

Fact Sheet

Armed Assembly: Guns, Demonstrations, and Political Violence in America

Armed demonstrations are nearly six times as likely to turn violent or destructive compared to unarmed demonstrations.

Report

Armed Extremism Primer: The Boogaloo

The boogaloo movement has risen to national prominence as a new and dangerous subset of the extreme right in the United States.

Fact Sheet

Members of the Last Sons of Liberty, of the Boogaloo Movement attend a second amendment rally during Lobby Day at the Virginia State Capitol on January 18, 2021 in Richmond, Virginia.

More Than Brawlers: The Proud Boys and Armed Extremism

Many far-right groups, including the Proud Boys, use fearmongering and conspiracy theories in an attempt to stop any reform of gun laws.

Fact Sheet

Pro-Trump protesters, including Proud Boys like Joe Biggs (in gray plaid, center) gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC.

The Role of Guns & Armed Extremism in the Attack on the U.S. Capitol

The attack on the U.S. Capitol is the latest demonstration of the danger armed extremism poses to our democracy.

Report

Protesters seen all over Capitol building where pro-Trump supporters riot and breached the Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. Rioters broke windows and breached the Capitol building in an attempt to overthrow the results of the 2020 election. Police used buttons and tear gas grenades to eventually disperse the crowd. Rioters used metal bars and tear gas as well against the police.

Armed and Dangerous: How the Gun Lobby Enshrines Guns as Tools of the Extreme Right

For decades, the gun lobby has enabled extremists to access guns through its opposition of common sense gun laws.

Report

Guns in Bars

Guns and alcohol don’t mix. There is strong evidence that people under the influence of alcohol are at an elevated risk of violent behavior.

Fact Sheet

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Prohibit Open Carry

What does this solve?

Which states regulate the open carry of firearms?

12 states have adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Alabama has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Alaska has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Arizona has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Arkansas has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

California has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Colorado has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Connecticut has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Delaware has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Florida has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Georgia has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Hawaii has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Idaho has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Illinois has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Indiana has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Iowa has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Kansas has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Kentucky has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Louisiana has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Maine has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Maryland has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Massachusetts has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Michigan has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Minnesota has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Mississippi has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Missouri has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Montana has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Nebraska has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Nevada has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

New Jersey has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

New Mexico has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

New York has adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

North Carolina has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

North Dakota has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Ohio has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Oregon has not adopted this policy

Open Carry Regulated

Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy