Q&A
How many states require a person to obtain a permit before carrying a loaded, concealed handgun in public?
7.16.2020
The states shown below require a person to have a permit to carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public. Most of those states require a person pass a criminal background check and take firearm training before getting a permit.
Concealed Carry Permit Required
21 states have adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
California has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Colorado has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Connecticut has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Delaware has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Florida has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Hawaii has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Idaho has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Illinois has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Indiana has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Iowa has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Maine has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Maryland has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Massachusetts has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Michigan has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Minnesota has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Missouri has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Montana has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Nebraska has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Nevada has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
New Hampshire has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
New Jersey has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
New Mexico has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
New York has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
North Carolina has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Ohio has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Oregon has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- No
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Pennsylvania has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- No
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- —
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Rhode Island has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- Yes
Concealed Carry Permit Required
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
South Dakota has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Tennessee has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Texas has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Utah has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Vermont has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Virginia has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- No
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Washington has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- No
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- —
Concealed Carry Permit Required
West Virginia has not adopted this policy
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Wisconsin has adopted this policy
- If so, does the state require training?
- Yes
- Does state training include firing an actual gun?
- No
Concealed Carry Permit Required
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
The Latest
What the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Has Accomplished In Its First Year
Q&A
What Is a Weekend of Action?
Action Guide
Polymer80 Is Morally Bankrupt—and Now It’s Out of Business
Q&A
How the Gun Lobby and Gun Industry Fan the Flames of Extremist Ideology
Q&A