Don’t Open Carry a Gun in These States

Americans love guns. In fact, 32% of Americans own guns, and 44% say they live in a home with at least one gun. About 81% of gun owners say they feel safer owning their weapon of choice. However, we can all agree that guns are extremely dangerous, capable of killing in close to an instant. Semi-automatic firearms are even more deadly, since they can fire multiple rounds in a short timeframe. Though many U.S. citizens value their right to bear arms, roughly three in 10 Americans feel that guns pose a substantial risk to safety.

Each state has its own laws when it comes to carrying guns. The citizens most likely to be gun owners are Republicans, rural residents, and southerners. Indeed, some southern states are pro-gun, with relatively lax policies. These include Mississippi, Georgia, and Arkansas. Other states, such as California and Illinois, have much stricter laws regarding gun possession and transport, attracting residents who are weary of such powerful weapons being wielded in plain sight. In about half of all states, concealed carry of a firearm in public is permitted for legal gun owners. In the remaining states, concealed carry generally requires a special permit.

24/7 Wall St. determined the laws for carrying firearms in public in every state by using historical data on state-level legislation. We reviewed laws for both the open carry and concealed carry of firearms. Most states allow open carry of firearms in public without a permit, a practice generally defined as carrying a gun that is either partially or fully visible. Rules around open carry can vary by firearm type and local laws, however. 

In addition, we also reviewed state-level firearm mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for 2021. It is important to note that gun laws are nuanced and can vary at the local level. Review all state and local firearm regulations before carrying a gun in public.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of the 10 states with the highest gun death rates in 2021 allow legal gun owners to carry a concealed firearm in public without a permit. The rapid expansion of permitless concealed carry laws may strengthen gun rights, but such laws often eliminate any mandated safety and live-fire training and may increase the risk of gun violence and accidental shootings. 

Why We’re Writing About Gun Laws

If you want to own and carry a gun, knowing and understanding the gun laws in your home state is vital. It is also necessary to be familiar with gun policies in any state you choose to visit. If you fail to observe these laws, you can get into serious legal trouble and even end up in jail. State gun laws vary drastically, and remaining aware of these 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: Legal for long guns; permit required for handguns
• 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)

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