Many regulations on carrying weapons are left up to the states and can be different even at the local level. Because of this, what's allowed for open carry of firearms will vary based on where you are in the country. Furthermore, some states require permits to carry a weapon in public, and others do not. How do the states stack up against each other on open carry laws? Let's find out.
24/7 Wall St. used historical data on state-level legislation to find the laws for carrying firearms in public in every state. We looked at legislation for open carry and concealed carry of firearms. We also took a look at firearm mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2021 by state. However, gun laws can vary at local and even county levels. This is why we recommend gun owners review all state and local firearm regulations before carrying a gun in public.
Why We're Writing About Gun Laws
State gun laws vary drastically, and remaining aware of the differences will ensure your safety and your right to bear arms responsibly. Additionally, because state gun regulations can influence property values and insurance rates in certain areas, these laws may directly affect your decision to move to a particular state.
Here is every state's law for carrying firearms in public:
Alabama
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 4th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 26.4 deaths per 100,000 people (1,315 deaths total)
Alaska
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 6th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 25.2 deaths per 100,000 people (182 deaths total)
Arizona
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 17th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 18.3 deaths per 100,000 people (1,365 deaths total)
Arkansas
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 8th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 23.3 deaths per 100,000 people (698 deaths total)
California
Open carry: Prohibited for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 8th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 9.0 deaths per 100,000 people (3,576 deaths total)
Colorado
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 18th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 17.8 deaths per 100,000 people (1,064 deaths total)
Connecticut
Open carry: Prohibited for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 6th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 6.7 deaths per 100,000 people (248 deaths total)
Delaware
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 23rd highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 17.8 deaths per 100,000 people (158 deaths total)
Florida
Open carry: Prohibited for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 17th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 14.1 deaths per 100,000 people (3,142 deaths total)
Georgia
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 14th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 20.3 deaths per 100,000 people (2,200 deaths total)
Hawaii
Open carry: Permits required for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 2nd lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 4.8 deaths per 100,000 people (71 deaths total)
Idaho
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 25th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 16.3 deaths per 100,000 people (309 deaths total)
Illinois
Open carry: Prohibited for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 25th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 16.1 deaths per 100,000 people (1,995 deaths total)
Indiana
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 16th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 18.4 deaths per 100,000 people (1,251 deaths total)
Iowa
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 11th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people (364 deaths total)
Kansas
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 21st highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people (503 deaths total)
Kentucky
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 13th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 21.1 deaths per 100,000 people (947 deaths total)
Louisiana
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Concealed carry: Only legal for residents with military service
Rate of gun deaths: 2nd highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 29.1 deaths per 100,000 people (1,314 deaths total)
Maine
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 14th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 12.6 deaths per 100,000 people (178 deaths total)
Maryland
Open carry: Legal for long guns; permit required for handguns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 22nd lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 15.2 deaths per 100,000 people (915 deaths total)
Massachusetts
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 3.4 deaths per 100,000 people (247 deaths total)
Michigan
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 23rd lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 15.4 deaths per 100,000 people (1,544 deaths total)
Minnesota
Open carry: Permit required for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 9th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 10.0 deaths per 100,000 people (573 deaths total)
Mississippi
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: Highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 33.9 deaths per 100,000 people (962 deaths total)
Missouri
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 9th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 23.2 deaths per 100,000 people (1,414 deaths total)
Montana
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 7th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 25.1 deaths per 100,000 people (280 deaths total)
Nebraska
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 10th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 10.3 deaths per 100,000 people (200 deaths total)
Nevada
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 4th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 19.8 deaths per 100,000 people (633 deaths total)
New Hampshire
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 7th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 8.3 deaths per 100,000 people (123 deaths total)
New Jersey
Open carry: Permit required for long guns; handguns are prohibited
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 3rd lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 5.2 deaths per 100,000 people (475 deaths total)
New Mexico
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 3rd highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 27.8 deaths per 100,000 people (578 deaths total)
New York
Open carry: Permit required for long guns; handguns are prohibited
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 4th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 5.4 deaths per 100,000 people (1,078 deaths total)
North Carolina
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 20th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people (1,839 deaths total)
North Dakota
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 22nd highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 16.8 deaths per 100,000 people (128 deaths total)
Ohio
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths:24th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 16.5 deaths per 100,000 people (1,911 deaths total)
Oklahoma
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 12th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 21.2 deaths per 100,000 people (836 deaths total)
Oregon
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 21st lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 14.9 deaths per 100,000 people (670 deaths total)
Pennsylvania
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 12th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 14.8 deaths per 100,000 people (1,905 deaths total)
Rhode Island
Open carry: Legal for long guns; permit required for handguns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 5th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 5.6 deaths per 100,000 people (64 deaths total)
South Carolina
Open carry: Legal for long guns; permit required for handguns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 11th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 22.4 deaths per 100,000 people (1,136 deaths total)
South Dakota
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 18th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people (128 deaths total)
Tennessee
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 10th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 22.8 deaths per 100,000 people (1,569 deaths total)
Texas
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 24th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 15.6 deaths per 100,000 people (4,613 deaths total)
Utah
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 16th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 13.9 deaths per 100,000 people (450 deaths total)
Vermont
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 13th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 11.9 deaths per 100,000 people (83 deaths total)
Virginia
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 19th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 14.3 deaths per 100,000 people (1,248 deaths total)
Washington
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 12th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people (896 deaths total)
West Virginia
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 19th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 deaths per 100,000 people (319 deaths total)
Wisconsin
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: Yes
Rate of gun deaths: 15th lowest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 13.5 deaths per 100,000 people (793 deaths total)
Wyoming
Open carry: Legal for both handguns and long guns
Permit needed for concealed carry: No
Rate of gun deaths: 5th highest in the U.S.
Number of gun deaths in 2021: 26.1 deaths per 100,000 people (155 deaths total)
