In 2022, four states — Alabama, Ohio, Indiana and Georgia — passed constitutional carry or permitless carry laws, bringing the total to 25 states. Florida and Nebraska followed in 2023, with Florida adopting permitless concealed carry rather than full constitutional carry.
Louisiana and South Carolina passed similar laws in 2024, bringing the total to 29 states allowing some form of permitless carry. Over the past two decades, more than 50 percent of U.S. states have passed laws allowing eligible individuals to carry firearms without a permit. Which states will be next?
Key Takeaways
- More than half of the U.S. states allow some form of constitutional carry or permitless carry.
- Constitutional carry and permitless carry allow eligible individuals to carry firearms without a permit, but qualifications and restrictions vary by state.
- Permitless concealed carry does not necessarily mean permitless open carry is authorized under the same conditions.
- Carrying without a permit does not eliminate firearm owners’ responsibilities to understand applicable laws and obtain proper training.
What Is Constitutional Carry?
When a state does not prohibit individuals who can legally possess a firearm from carrying handguns it is called constitutional carry. When a state allows constitutional carry but individuals must meet certain qualifications to legally carry, it is referred to as permitless carry.
For instance, Tennessee does not allow an individual to carry without a permit if he or she has received a DUI in the last five years or two or more in the last 10 years.
Over the last 20 years, there has been a notable surge in constitutional carry or permitless carry legislation across the United States. Alaska was the first state to repeal the need for a concealed carry permit in 2003.
This was followed by
- Arizona (effective 2010)
- Wyoming (effective 2011)
- Kansas and Maine (effective 2015)
- Idaho, Mississippi and West Virginia (effective 2016)
- Missouri, New Hampshire and North Dakota (effective 2017)
- Kentucky, Oklahoma and South Dakota (effective 2019)
- Iowa, Tennessee, Texas, Montana and Utah (effective 2021)
- Ohio, Indiana and Georgia (effective 2022)
- Alabama, Florida, Nebraska and Arkansas (effective 2023)
- Louisiana and South Carolina (effective 2024).a
Vermont has never required a permit to carry. Its right-to-bear-arms provision dates to the 1777 constitution. Vermont entered the Union in 1791, and State v. Rosenthal (1903) foreclosed local permit schemes. Vermont issues no permits at all, which is why Vermonters get no reciprocity anywhere. Fourteen of the 29 — nearly half — have adopted it since 2021.
How Are May-Issue and Shall-Issue States Different?
May-issue states exercise discretion when issuing concealed weapons permits. Residents in these states must fulfill all requirements, such as background checks and training, but the issuance of a permit is not guaranteed. Despite this uncertainty, many may-issue states have relatively straightforward processes for obtaining a concealed carry permit.
The June 2022 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen struck down New York’s discretionary “proper cause.” This effectively ended discretionary good-cause regimes in six states and D.C. However, despite this ruling, some states, like New York, are issuing criteria that don’t align with the decision.
On the other hand, in a shall-issue state, meeting all requirements ensures the issuance of a license. Although this process is generally easier than in a may-issue state, it still involves an application process and some waiting time.
Which States Allow Constitutional or Permitless Carry?
There are currently 29 constitutional carry or permitless carry states.
PC indicates the general minimum age for permitless concealed carry. This does not necessarily mean that permitless open carry is authorized under the same conditions. Age, military status, residency and other eligibility requirements vary by state.
Visit the USCCA’s state gun laws pages for additional requirements and restrictions.
- Alabama (PC-19)
- Alaska (PC-21)
- Arizona (PC-21)
- Arkansas (PC-19)
- Florida (PC-18)1
- Georgia (PC-21 and 18 for members of the military)
- Idaho (PC-18)2
- Indiana (PC-18)
- Iowa (PC-18)
- Kansas (PC-21)
- Kentucky (PC-21)
- Louisiana (PC-18)
- Maine (PC-21 or 18 for active-duty and honorably discharged military, with a duty to inform on any stop)
- Mississippi (PC-18)
- Missouri (PC-19 or 18 for members of the military)
- Montana (PC-18)
- Nebraska (PC-21 or 18 for members of the military)
- New Hampshire (PC-18)
- North Dakota (PC-18 duty to inform on any stop)
- Ohio (PC-21 or 18 for members of the military)
- Oklahoma (PC-21 or 18 for military)
- South Carolina (PC-18)
- South Dakota (PC-18)
- Tennessee (PC-21 or 18 for members of the military)3
- Texas (PC-21)
- Utah (PC-21)
- Vermont (PC-18)
- West Virginia (PC-18)
- Wyoming (PC-18)
1 Florida’s minimum age for permitless concealed carry is 18 following a court ruling. However, Florida Statutes § 790.06(2)(b) still specifies a minimum age of 21 for obtaining a concealed weapon or firearm license. The change resulted from a court decision rather than legislative action.
2 Idaho’s permitless concealed carry provision applies to eligible individuals who are U.S. citizens or current members of the U.S. Armed Forces and meet the other requirements of Idaho Code § 18-3302(4)(f). Lawful permanent residency alone does not satisfy the citizenship or military-service requirement.
3 In April 2021, the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) filed a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee challenging the constitutionality of prohibiting 18- to 20-year-olds from carrying a concealed firearm in public or obtaining a permit. On Jan. 23, 2023, attorneys for the state of Tennessee reached an agreed order with the FPC in federal court. The final order, issued March 27, 2023, declared that the state’s restrictions were unconstitutional and would no longer be enforced. The order took immediate effect. In May 2025, Tennessee enacted Public Chapter 356, lowering the minimum permit age to 18 for state residents without changing its permitless carry provisions.
Do You Still Need a Concealed Carry Permit?
Living in a constitutional carry state doesn’t necessarily mean a permit has no value. Learn why obtaining one may still be worthwhile, especially when traveling across state lines, and what requirements and responsibilities still apply.
Does Tennessee Have Constitutional Carry Restrictions?
Tennessee Firearms Association Executive Director and Attorney John Harris discovered that Tennessee’s 2021 constitutional carry law may not be as unrestricted as initially thought.***
Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-1307(a) prohibits firearm possession “with the intent to go armed,” even on a resident’s property or in his or her home, even with a permit. On April 8, 2021, Gov. Bill Lee (R) signed House Bill 786 into law, effective July 1, 2021. This bill introduced a statutory “exception” to Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-1307(g) and (h), creating an affirmative defense to the criminal charge of carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed. Therefore, residents must prove to law enforcement or a jury that their conduct meets all the conditions outlined in Tennessee Code Annotated Section 39-17-1307(g) and (h). This means that, alarmingly, an individual carrying a firearm with the intent to go armed is presumptively considered to have committed a crime under current Tennessee law.
Additionally, law enforcement officers have the authority to ignore affirmative defenses when deciding to detain, arrest or charge an individual, allowing them to stop and question a responsibly armed citizen simply because he or she is armed.
***Read John Harris’ article titled “Tennessee Does Not Have Real Constitutional Carry — The Talking Points” by clicking here.
What Responsibilities Come With Constitutional Carry?
Constitutional carry grants the right to carry a gun without needing a permit, but it doesn’t exempt you from the responsibility of firearms ownership. Remember, you are accountable for every action you take and every round discharged from the muzzle. Constitutional carry doesn’t relieve you of this responsibility. Therefore, ensure you receive proper training and are well-versed in the relevant state gun laws to act responsibly and lawfully. Ignorance is never an excuse.
What State Will Be the Next to Adopt Constitutional Carry?
Over half of the U.S. states have embraced constitutional carry or permitless carry, with the majority passing such laws in the last decade. What state will be next? You can advocate for change by writing to your legislators and expressing your support through opinion pieces in local newspapers. We all have a role in influencing these laws.
Check back for updates on the introduction of constitutional carry legislation in other states.
Endnotes
(a) Arkansas’ permitless carry status developed through several legislative and judicial actions. Act 746 of 2013 amended Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-120 to require proof of unlawful intent to employ a handgun as a weapon against a person. In Taff v. State (2018), the Arkansas Court of Appeals affirmed that mere possession of a handgun does not constitute a criminal offense under the statute. Act 777 of 2023 further clarified that a concealed carry license is not required to carry a handgun in Arkansas.
2026 Constitutional Carry Updates
Florida (last updated September 15)
On June 17, 2026, the Fourth DCA held § 790.06(2)(b)’s age-21 criterion facially unconstitutional as to 18- to 20-year-olds. Because § 790.01 keys lawful permitless carry to the § 790.06(2) criteria, striking the age criterion drops the permitless floor with it. The Attorney General declined to seek further review and no DCA has held otherwise, so it governs statewide.
North Carolina (last updated August 11)
On July 29, 2025, the state Senate voted 30-19 to override Gov. Josh Stein’s (D) veto of SB 50, which would allow permitless carry for eligible adults 18 and older. However, the House has repeatedly postponed its override vote. The House has not overridden the veto, so North Carolina is not currently a permitless carry state.
Michigan (last updated March 6)
On March 3, House Republicans introduced HBs 5653–57, which would remove the requirement for Michigan residents to obtain a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) before carrying a concealed handgun. HB 5653 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee on March 4 and has not advanced. The package is unlikely to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate this session.
