Which US States Practice Constitutional Carry
Unlike certain bureaucratic hoops that some states insist you jump through just to exercise your rights, constitutional carry means you don’t need a government permission slip to pack heat. Why? Because the Constitution of the United States should be the only permission you need.
What Is Constitutional Carry?
In the simplest terms, constitutional carry means you don’t need a permit to carry a firearm, whether openly or concealed. Constitutional carry refers to the absence of state laws prohibiting citizens who can legally possess firearms from carrying handguns, whether openly or concealed, without requiring a permit. Permitless carry, on the other hand, encompasses constitutional carry states as well as those that impose certain qualifications—like prohibiting individuals with recent DUIs from carrying—before allowing them to legally carry firearms. Some states permit open carry without a permit but require one for concealed carry, blurring the lines between the two terms.
The idea of constitutional carry is rooted in the fact that the Second Amendment is the supreme law of the land. Being the supreme law of the land, its precepts apply to every single one of its citizens. Therefore, when an honest man wants to buy a boomstick, there should be no paperwork. No fingerprinting. No “Mother, may I” from your local government.
This is how things were meant to be since the very inception of our nation before a few overly cautious states decided they needed to “regulate” who could protect themselves. Historically, the Second Amendment and the idea of constitutional carry both align with principles like the English Assize of Arms, which required able-bodied men to arm themselves for the defense of their community, and the Riot Act, which even sanctioned civilian colonists to fire upon rioters in support of the army if the need arose. Because, clearly, the Founding Fathers intended for you to hire a lawyer and wait 6-8 weeks for a permit every time you needed to defend yourself.
Why the Second Amendment is Not a Suggestion
The Second Amendment clearly states:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
Take note: “Shall not be infringed.” That means your right to bear arms shouldn’t depend on a background check, a weekend safety course, or whether your state governor has a personal vendetta against things that go boom.
Constitutional carry aligns perfectly with the Second Amendment because it assumes that law-abiding citizens don’t need the equivalent of a hall pass to carry a firearm. You’re not a criminal until you commit a crime, and no amount of licensing is going to stop bad guys from being bad. But hey, try explaining that to the states who think law-abiding citizens are the real threat.
Why Some States Hate Constitutional Carry
Now, not all states are on board with this concept. Some places—and we’re not naming names here, but they know who they are—seem to think the Second Amendment is negotiable. These states and their political overlords argue that constitutional carry is “dangerous” and “irresponsible,” conveniently ignoring that criminals don’t usually line up at the DMV to register their guns.
Instead, they make you take classes, pay fees, and prove you’re “responsible” enough to carry. Newsflash: If you can pass a federal background check to buy a gun, you’re already responsible enough to carry it. But, alas, logic isn’t their strong suit.
The States That Practice Conceal Carry
Now for the fun part. Here’s a list of all the states where constitutional carry is alive and well. Most of these states allow permitless carry for residents 21 and over because they actually trust their citizens and understand that self-defense is a right, not a privilege.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Florida (as of 2023)
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
That’s 29 states, more than half the country.
Constitutional carry is about trusting law-abiding citizens to exercise their rights without government interference. It’s freedom, plain and simple. If your state isn’t on the list, maybe it’s time to give your lawmakers a call and remind them that the Second Amendment shall not be infringed.