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Strong Standards for Carrying Concealed Guns in Public

Strong Standards for Carrying Concealed Guns in Public

What does this solve?

Carrying guns in public is a tremendous responsibility. States should set strong minimum standards for carrying concealed guns in public to ensure that people who are too dangerous or irresponsible to carry guns in our communities are blocked from doing so.

This can include requiring that a person pass a background check, get a concealed carry permit, and undergo safety training that includes live-fire experience. States can also allow law enforcement to block people who pose a danger to the public from carrying concealed handguns in public. States also decide which out-of-staters may carry concealed handguns within their borders—and they should not allow the carry of guns by people with permits from states with standards weaker than their own.

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?
No

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?
No

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

By the numbers

Myth & Fact

Myth

More guns equals less crime.

Fact

This claim is unsubstantiated by any legitimate evidence. In fact, scientific research—and basic common sense—show the opposite is true: more guns make us less safe. A growing body of research shows that when it is easier for people to carry guns in public, violent crime rates go up. When states passed laws allowing concealed carry for the first time or limiting law enforcement discretion in issuing carry permits, violent crime rates rose by 13 to 15 percent.

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Strong Standards for Carrying Concealed Guns in Public

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