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Constitutional Carry States 2024
In the United States, the phrase "constitutional carry," also called permitless carry, means that someone can carry a concealed handgun without a license or permit. The term was derived from the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which gives citizens the right to bear arms. As of 2024, there are 29 states with Constitutional Carry, the 29th being Louisiana, where CC goes into effect on July 4, 2024.
Aside from constitutional carry, states have concealed carry and open carry. In concealed carry states, a person can carry a legal weapon in their vehicle or on their person as long as it is hidden from sight. A permit is required in several states, and every state has laws about whether or not a permit will be issued to residents or non-residents. In open carry states, a person can legally carry their firearm in a holster or attached to a sling so that it is in the open and easily accessible.
As of mid-2024, twenty-nine states allow Constitutional Carry. (PC-xx numbers indicate the required age of the carrier)
- Maine (PC-21; also recognizes reciprocity permits)
- Mississippi (PC-21)
- Missouri (PC-19 or 18 for military)
- Montana (PC-18)
- Nebraska (PC-21)
- New Hampshire (PC-18)
- North Dakota (PC-18) HB 1339 enabled non-residents concealed carry under North Dakota’s permitless carry laws as of August 1, 2023
- Ohio (PC-21)
- Oklahoma (PC-21 or 18 for military)
- South Carolina (PC-18)
- South Dakota (PC-18)
- Tennessee (PC-18)
- West Virginia (PC-21)
- Wyoming (PC-21)
In many of these states, a person must be 18 or 21 years old to possess a firearm. Some states have an age requirement of 21 but allow military members to permitless carry at 18. It is important to check local laws to know the status of permitless carry.
Illinois, New Mexico, and Montana have a limited form of concealed carry that does not require a permit. In Illinois, a permit is not required to carry a handgun that is unloaded and fully enclosed. In New Mexico, it is legal to carry a loaded, concealed weapon while traveling in a vehicle, including cars, motorcycles, bicycles, and horseback. Montana does not quite make the cut for constitutional carry because it authorizes people to carry without a permit in restricted non-populated areas in Montana.
- Constitutional carry means that the state’s law does not prohibit citizens who legally possess a handgun from carrying it openly and/or in a concealed manner. Therefore, no state permit is required.
- Permitless carry includes not only constitutional carry states but also states where the carrier must meet certain qualifications in order to legally carry, such as having no DUIs for 5 years.
- Some states allow open carry without a permit but require a permit for concealed carry.
State | Constitutional Carry Status | Minimum Age | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Alaska | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Arizona | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Arkansas | Permitless Carry | 18 | |
| Florida | Permitless Carry | 21 | Effective as of July 1, 2023 |
| Georgia | Permitless Carry | 21 | 18 for military |
| Idaho | Permitless Carry | 18 | |
| Indiana | Permitless Carry | 18 | |
| Iowa | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Kansas | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Kentucky | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Louisiana | Permitless Carry | 21 | Effective July 4, 2024 |
| Maine | Permitless Carry | 21 | Recognizes reciprocity permits |
| Mississippi | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Missouri | Permitless Carry | 19 | 18 for military |
| Montana | Permitless Carry | 18 | |
| Nebraska | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| New Hampshire | Permitless Carry | 18 | |
| North Dakota | Permitless Carry | 18 | As of August 30, 2023, permitless carry allowed for non-residents as well as residents |
| Ohio | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Oklahoma | Permitless Carry | 21 | 18 for military |
| South Carolina | Permitless Carry | 18 | |
| South Dakota | Permitless Carry | 18 | |
| Tennessee | Permitless Carry | 21 | 18 for military |
| Texas | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Utah | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Vermont | Permitless Carry | 18 | |
| West Virginia | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| Wyoming | Permitless Carry | 21 | |
| California | Requires Permit | ||
| Colorado | Requires Permit | ||
| Connecticut | Requires Permit | ||
| Delaware | Requires Permit | ||
| District of Columbia | Requires Permit | ||
| Hawaii | Requires Permit | ||
| Illinois | Requires Permit | ||
| Maryland | Requires Permit | ||
| Massachusetts | Requires Permit | ||
| Michigan | Requires Permit | ||
| Minnesota | Requires Permit | ||
| Nevada | Requires Permit | ||
| New Jersey | Requires Permit | ||
| New Mexico | Requires Permit | ||
| New York | Requires Permit | ||
| North Carolina | Requires Permit | ||
| Oregon | Requires Permit | ||
| Pennsylvania | Requires Permit | ||
| Rhode Island | Requires Permit | ||
| Virginia | Requires Permit | ||
| Washington | Requires Permit | ||
| Wisconsin | Requires Permit |