Prohibit Open Carry
Prohibit Open Carry
What is the problem?
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.
Myth & Fact
Myth
Regulating open carry would violate the Second Amendment.
Fact
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.
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The Gun Law Navigator is the largest historical database of modern U.S. gun laws.

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