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    Q&A

    What is the “open carry loophole”?

    6.22.2020

      While many states regulate the carrying of concealed guns including by requiring a permit to do so, most states do not regulate the open carry of guns. This is often the result of the absence of relevant state laws commonly known as the “open carry loophole.” Because responsible gun owners have not traditionally carried firearms openly, many state legislatures have not passed laws regulating the practice.

      Which states regulate open carry?

      12 states have adopted this policy

      AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY

      Open Carry Regulated

      Alabama has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Alaska has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Arizona has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Arkansas has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      California has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Prohibited for all firearms

      Open Carry Regulated

      Colorado has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Connecticut has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Prohibited for all firearms

      Open Carry Regulated

      Delaware has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Florida has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Prohibited for all firearms

      Open Carry Regulated

      Georgia has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Hawaii has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Permit required for handguns; prohibited for rifles and shotguns.

      Open Carry Regulated

      Idaho has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Illinois has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Prohibited for all firearms

      Open Carry Regulated

      Indiana has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Iowa has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Kansas has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Kentucky has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Louisiana has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Maine has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Maryland has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Prohibited for handguns; open carry not regulated for rifles and shotguns.

      Open Carry Regulated

      Massachusetts has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Permit required for all firearms.

      Open Carry Regulated

      Michigan has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Minnesota has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Permit required for all firearms.

      Open Carry Regulated

      Mississippi has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Missouri has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Montana has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Nebraska has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Nevada has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      New Hampshire has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      New Jersey has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Prohibited for handguns; permit required for long guns.

      Open Carry Regulated

      New Mexico has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      New York has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Prohibited for handguns; open carry not regulated for rifles and shotguns.

      Open Carry Regulated

      North Carolina has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      North Dakota has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Ohio has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Oklahoma has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Oregon has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Regulated only in Philadelphia

      Open Carry Regulated

      Rhode Island has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Permit required for handguns; prohibited for rifles and shotguns (unless unloaded)

      Open Carry Regulated

      South Carolina has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      South Dakota has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Tennessee has adopted this policy

      How is open carry regulated?
      Open carry not regulated for handguns; prohibited for rifles and shotguns (unless unloaded).

      Open Carry Regulated

      Texas has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Utah has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Vermont has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Virginia has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Washington has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      West Virginia has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Wisconsin has not adopted this policy

      Open Carry Regulated

      Wyoming has not adopted this policy

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      Did you know?

      Every day, more than 120 people in the United States are killed with guns, twice as many are shot and wounded, and countless others are impacted by acts of gun violence.

      Everytown Research analysis of CDC, WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death, 2018–2022; Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) nonfatal firearm injury data, 2020; and SurveyUSA Market Research Study #26602, 2022.

      Last updated: 5.7.2024