Introduction
Even though the Second Amendment protects the right to bear arms, states still have laws on the books that limits who can possess a firearm. One type of law used by every state regards the concealed carry of firearms.
While each state’s concealed carry law will differ slightly, these laws fall into one of three categories: ‘shall issue’, ‘may issue’, and ‘constitutional carry’. Shall issue states are those where the state must grant the applicant a license so long as they meet all requirements for obtaining a license (such as passing a background check); may issue states are those where the state may still not issue a license even if the applicant meets all the statutory requirements. Finally, constitutional carry states are those where one does not need a license to carry a concealed firearm.
Nearly every state has also enacted some sort of law relating to concealed carry reciprocity. This is when a person who has obtained a concealed carry license in another state is allowed to carry a concealed firearm in that state. The reciprocity status of other states is at the discretion of the individual states and their legislature.
Learn more about concealed carry reciprocity states by exploring the data in the charts.
| State | Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status | Open Carry Laws | Concealed Carry Laws | Gun Ownership Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 57.2% |
| Arizona | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 36.4% |
| Arkansas | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 51.8% |
| Idaho | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 57.8% |
| Iowa | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 38.5% |
| Kansas | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 42.3% |
| Kentucky | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 52.5% |
| Maine | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 47.7% |
| Mississippi | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 54.1% |
| Missouri | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 52.8% |
| Montana | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 65.7% |
| New Hampshire | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 46.3% |
| North Dakota | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required for Residents | 53.3% |
| Oklahoma | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 54.9% |
| South Dakota | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 55.6% |
| Tennessee | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 46.9% |
| Texas | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 35.5% |
| Utah | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 39.7% |
| Vermont | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 50.3% |
| West Virginia | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 60.6% |
| Wyoming | Constitutional Carry | Allowed | No Permit Required | 60.7% |
| California | May Issue | Prohibited | Permit Required | 16.3% |
| Connecticut | May Issue | Permit Required | Permit Required | 18.8% |
| Delaware | May Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 38.7% |
| Hawaii | May Issue | Permit Required | Permit Required | 9.1% |
| Maryland | May Issue | Permit Required | Permit Required | 16.7% |
| Massachusetts | May Issue | Permit Required | Permit Required | 9.9% |
| New Jersey | May Issue | Prohibited | Permit Required | 8.9% |
| New York | May Issue | Prohibited | Permit Required | 14.5% |
| Ohio | May Issue | Allowed | No Permit Required | 41.9% |
| Alabama | Shall Issue | Allowed | No Permit Required | 52.8% |
| Colorado | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 37.9% |
| Florida | Shall Issue | Prohibited | Permit Required | 28.8% |
| Georgia | Shall Issue | Allowed | No Permit Required | 37.7% |
| Illinois | Shall Issue | Prohibited | Permit Required | 22.6% |
| Indiana | Shall Issue | Allowed | No Permit Required | 42.4% |
| Louisiana | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 52.3% |
| Michigan | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 38.9% |
| Minnesota | Shall Issue | Permit Required | Permit Required | 39.1% |
| Nebraska | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 39.2% |
| Nevada | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 32.9% |
| New Mexico | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 35.9% |
| North Carolina | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 37.1% |
| Oregon | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 41.4% |
| Pennsylvania | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 40.2% |
| Rhode Island | Shall Issue | Permit Required | Permit Required | 13.9% |
| South Carolina | Shall Issue | Permit Required | Permit Required | 45.5% |
| Virginia | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 35.3% |
| Washington | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 32.1% |
| Wisconsin | Shall Issue | Allowed | Permit Required | 47.1% |
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status by State
Alabama
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
52.8%
Ranked in the US
#10
Alaska
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
57.2%
Ranked in the US
#5
Arizona
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
36.4%
Ranked in the US
#35
Arkansas
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
51.8%
Ranked in the US
#14
California
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Prohibited
Permit Required
16.3%
Ranked in the US
#45
Colorado
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
37.9%
Ranked in the US
#32
Connecticut
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Permit Required
Permit Required
18.8%
Ranked in the US
#43
Delaware
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
38.7%
Ranked in the US
#30
Florida
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Prohibited
Permit Required
28.8%
Ranked in the US
#41
Georgia
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
37.7%
Ranked in the US
#33
Hawaii
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Permit Required
Permit Required
Ranked in the US
#49
Idaho
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
57.8%
Ranked in the US
#4
Illinois
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Prohibited
Permit Required
22.6%
Ranked in the US
#42
Indiana
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
42.4%
Ranked in the US
#21
Iowa
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
38.5%
Ranked in the US
#31
Kansas
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
42.3%
Ranked in the US
#22
Kentucky
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
52.5%
Ranked in the US
#12
Louisiana
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
52.3%
Ranked in the US
#13
Maine
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
47.7%
Ranked in the US
#16
Maryland
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Permit Required
Permit Required
16.7%
Ranked in the US
#44
Massachusetts
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Permit Required
Permit Required
Ranked in the US
#48
Michigan
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
38.9%
Ranked in the US
#29
Minnesota
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Permit Required
Permit Required
39.1%
Ranked in the US
#28
Mississippi
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
54.1%
Ranked in the US
#8
Missouri
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
52.8%
Ranked in the US
#11
Montana
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
65.7%
Ranked in the US
#1
Nebraska
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
39.2%
Ranked in the US
#27
Nevada
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
32.9%
Ranked in the US
#39
New Hampshire
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
46.3%
Ranked in the US
#19
New Jersey
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Prohibited
Permit Required
Ranked in the US
#50
New Mexico
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
35.9%
Ranked in the US
#36
New York
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Prohibited
Permit Required
14.5%
Ranked in the US
#46
North Carolina
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
37.1%
Ranked in the US
#34
North Dakota
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required for Residents
53.3%
Ranked in the US
#9
Ohio
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
May Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
41.9%
Ranked in the US
#23
Oklahoma
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
54.9%
Ranked in the US
#7
Oregon
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
41.4%
Ranked in the US
#24
Pennsylvania
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
40.2%
Ranked in the US
#25
Rhode Island
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Permit Required
Permit Required
13.9%
Ranked in the US
#47
South Carolina
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Permit Required
Permit Required
45.5%
Ranked in the US
#20
South Dakota
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
55.6%
Ranked in the US
#6
Tennessee
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
46.9%
Ranked in the US
#18
Texas
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
35.5%
Ranked in the US
#37
Utah
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
39.7%
Ranked in the US
#26
Vermont
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
50.3%
Ranked in the US
#15
Virginia
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
35.3%
Ranked in the US
#38
Washington
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
32.1%
Ranked in the US
#40
West Virginia
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
60.6%
Ranked in the US
#3
Wisconsin
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Shall Issue
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
Permit Required
47.1%
Ranked in the US
#17
Wyoming
Concealed Carry Reciprocity Status
Constitutional Carry
Open Carry Laws
Allowed
No Permit Required
60.7%
Ranked in the US
#2
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