Constitutional Carry States

Any non-prohibited adult 19 or older, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun concealed or openly in Alabama with no permit.

• age 19, not 18 (Ala. Code § 26-1-1 age of majority; § 13A-11-72(b) bars pistol possession by a "minor")
• 18-year-old service members/veterans can only get the optional permit (§ 13A-11-75), not clearly permitless
• private property of another requires a permit or the owner's consent (§ 13A-11-52)
• place restrictions still apply (§ 13A-11-61.2)

Ala. Code § 13A-11-73 repealed by Act 2022-133, eff. Jan. 1, 2023; § 13A-11-50 (as amended by Act 2022-133) now penalizes concealed carry only when "in violation of this article"; optional permit remains under § 13A-11-75

Any non-prohibited adult 21 or older, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun concealed or openly in Alaska with no permit; tell any officer who stops you.

• must be 21+ (AS 11.61.220(a)(6) makes concealed carry under 21 a class B misdemeanor)
• duty to inform peace officer on contact and allow securing (AS 11.61.220(a)(1)(A))
• no concealed carry inside another person's residence without an adult resident's express permission (AS 11.61.220(a)(1)(B))
• no loaded firearm on the person where liquor is sold for on-premises consumption (AS 11.61.220(a)(2))
• off-limits: schools, courthouses, licensed child care facilities, state-funded DV/sexual assault shelters
• must not be prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law

AS 11.61.220(a)(1) and (a)(6) (misconduct involving weapons in the fifth degree); permitless carry enacted by HB 102, ch. 62 SLA 2003. Optional permit under AS 18.65.700-18.65.790.

Any non-prohibited adult 21 or older may carry a handgun concealed or openly in Arizona with no permit — visitors included; open carry needs only age 18.

• must answer accurately if an officer asks whether you are carrying concealed (13-3102(A)(1)(b))
• no carry in furtherance of a felony (13-3102(A)(1)(a))
• prohibited possessors excluded (13-3101, 13-3102(A)(4))
• under 21 concealed only in own dwelling/business/property (13-3102(B)(1))
• standard off-limits places (K-12 school grounds, secured airport areas, etc.)

A.R.S. 13-3102(A)(2) (carrying concealed is misconduct only "if the person is under twenty-one years of age"); permit statute A.R.S. 13-3112 is optional/shall-issue. Enacted by SB 1108, 2010 Ariz. Sess. Laws ch. 59 (signed Apr. 16, 2010; eff. July 29, 2010).

Any non-prohibited person 18 or older, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun openly or concealed in Arkansas with no permit; a license is still needed for some public buildings and campuses.

• license still needed for publicly owned buildings/State Capitol grounds (§ 5-73-122)
• license still needed for municipally owned parks
• enhanced license required on college campuses (§ 5-73-322)
• K-12 property, courthouses off limits
• optional CHCL (21, or 18 with military service) still needed for out-of-state reciprocity and NICS exemption

Ark. Code Ann. § 5-73-120(a) (carrying a weapon requires "a purpose to attempt to unlawfully employ the handgun, knife, or club as a weapon against a person"); § 5-73-120(c)(4) + § 5-73-101(10) ("journey" = has left home, any purpose or duration) presumption of lawful purpose; § 5-73-119(a)(1) (no possession under 18); § 5-73-302(a) (ASP "may issue" an optional CHCL). Origin: Act 746 of 2013; broadened by Act 956 of 2021.

Florida is a constitutional-carry state: any non-prohibited adult 21+, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun concealed or openly with no permit.

• must independently meet all s. 790.06(2) license criteria (no disqualifying conviction, mental adjudication, substance abuse, etc.)
• must carry ID and present it on demand of a law enforcement officer
• standard place restrictions apply (schools, courthouses, police stations, polling places, bar areas, airport terminals - s. 790.06(12), s. 790.115)
• age 21 by statute, but the 18-20 band is in flux after a June 2026 appellate ruling

Fla. Stat. s. 790.01(1)(b) (added by ch. 2023-18 / HB 543, eff. July 1, 2023); eligibility criteria incorporated from s. 790.06(2)(a)-(f), (i)-(n), (3), (10)

Any non-prohibited adult 21+ (or 18-20 with qualifying military service) may carry openly or concealed in Georgia with no permit — visitors included.

• 18-20 only with completed armed-forces basic training plus active service or honorable discharge
• must be a non-prohibited person (i.e., "eligible for a license" under § 16-11-129)
• off-limits places still apply: courthouses, jails, polling places, secured government buildings, schools (§ 16-11-127, § 16-11-127.1), bars/private property without permission

O.C.G.A. § 16-11-125.1(2.1) ("lawful weapons carrier"); § 16-11-126(g)(1); eligibility standard in § 16-11-129(b)(2) — enacted by SB 319 (2022), eff. Apr. 12, 2022

Any non-prohibited U.S. citizen 18 or older may carry concealed anywhere in Idaho with no permit — visitors included; open carry is likewise permit-free.

• U.S. citizenship (or current U.S. military service) required — lawful permanent residents and other non-citizens are NOT covered and still need a license
• statute reads 'over eighteen (18) years of age' rather than '18 or older'
• private property owners, tenants, employers may still prohibit — § 18-3302(25)
• standard location bans still apply (schools, courthouses, jails) — § 18-3302D, § 18-3302C

Idaho Code § 18-3302(4)(f) (exempting from the § 18-3302(3) license requirement any deadly weapon concealed by a person who is over 18, is a U.S. citizen or current member of the U.S. armed forces, and is not disqualified under § 18-3302(11)(b)-(n)); see also § 18-3302(3)(d) (outside city limits, 18+)

Any non-prohibited person 18 or older — resident or visitor — may carry a handgun openly or concealed in Indiana with no permit.

• must be 18 or older (IC 35-47-2-1.5(b)(10)(A))
• under 23 with a delinquency adjudication under IC 35-47-4-5 is prohibited
• "alien" (person not lawfully in the U.S.) is prohibited under state law
• handguns only — this chapter governs handguns
• usual place restrictions still apply (schools/school buses under IC 35-47-9, federal facilities, private property owners may prohibit)

IC 35-47-2-1.5 (Unlawful carrying of a handgun), added by P.L.175-2022 (HEA 1296), eff. July 1, 2022 — repealed the carrying-without-a-license offense formerly in IC 35-47-2-1; carry is now unlawful only for the prohibited persons listed in IC 35-47-2-1.5(b)

Iowa needs no permit to carry a handgun openly or concealed: any non-prohibited person 18 or older may carry, visitors included — but never on school grounds.

• school grounds barred entirely — class D felony, §724.4B, with NO permit-holder exception
• federal Gun-Free School Zones Act still needs a state permit within 1,000 ft of a school
• no carrying while intoxicated (§724.4C)
• prohibited persons excluded (§724.26, federal law)
• FFL handgun purchase still 21 (§724.15(1)) — affects buying, not carrying

Iowa Code §724.5 — permit availability "shall not be construed to impose a general prohibition on the otherwise lawful unlicensed carrying or transport, whether openly or concealed, of a dangerous weapon, including a loaded firearm" (2021 Acts ch 35 §13, H.F. 756, eff. July 1, 2021). The former going-armed-concealed offense in §724.4 was repealed by the same act; §724.4 is now titled "Use of a dangerous weapon in the commission of a crime." Age lowered 21→18 by 2025 Acts ch 27 (H.F. 924), approved Apr 18, 2025, eff. July 1, 2025, which struck §724.22(4) (under-21 handgun possession ban) and set the §724.8(1) permit age at 18.

Kansas is a constitutional-carry state: any non-prohibited adult 21 or older, resident or visitor alike, may carry a handgun concealed or openly with no permit.

• 21+ only for permitless concealed
• 18-20 need a provisional license (K.S.A. 75-7c04) to carry concealed in public
• under 21 may carry concealed without any license only on own land, abode, or fixed place of business
• standard posted-premises and school/federal restrictions still apply (K.S.A. 75-7c10)

K.S.A. 21-6302(a)(4) & (d) (criminal use of weapons — concealed carry criminalized only for persons under 21); K.S.A. 75-7c03(a) ("The availability of licenses to carry concealed handguns under this act shall not be construed to impose a general prohibition on the carrying of handguns without such license, whether carried openly or concealed, or loaded or unloaded."). Permitless carry added by 2015 SB 45, L. 2015, ch. 16, eff. July 1, 2015.

Any non-prohibited adult 21 or older, resident or visitor, may carry concealed in Kentucky with no permit; open carry needs no permit and is lawful from age 18.

• must be 21+ (no 18-20 route at all -- KY licenses are also 21+, KRS 237.110(4)(c), with no military/veteran age carve-out)
• must be otherwise able to lawfully possess a firearm (state + federal prohibitors)
• same off-limits places as licensees: police/sheriff offices, jails, courthouses, meetings of legislative/governing bodies, bars (portion primarily devoted to on-premises alcohol), K-12 schools/day-cares, secure airport areas, federal-prohibited places (KRS 237.110(16))
• state/city/county governments and colleges/universities may bar concealed carry in buildings they own or control -- signs required, no criminal penalty (KRS 237.115)
• private property owners and private employers may prohibit it (KRS 237.110(17))

KRS 237.109(1) (created 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 10, sec. 1, eff. June 27, 2019); implemented via KRS 527.020(4) (eff. July 15, 2024)

Louisiana is a constitutional-carry state: anyone 18 or older not legally barred from firearms may carry concealed or openly with no permit, visitors included.

• standard sensitive-place bans apply (R.S. 40:1379.3(I),(L),(M),(N),(O) via R.S. 14:95(N)): law enforcement buildings, detention facilities, courthouses, polling places, the state capitol, meeting places of local governing authorities, airports, places of worship without permission, permitted parades/demonstrations, schools and school buses
• private property owners, lessees and lawful custodians may prohibit carry
• consent required to carry into another person's private residence
• no carry while under the influence / in places where firearms are banned by state or federal law
• federal and state prohibited persons excluded (R.S. 14:95.1, 18 U.S.C. 922(g))

La. R.S. 14:95(M) (exception to illegal carrying of weapons) and R.S. 40:1379.3(B)(2)(a); enacted by 2024 Second Extraordinary Session Act 1 (SB 1, Miguez), effective July 4, 2024; technically amended by 2025 Reg. Sess. Act 420 (SB 101), eff. Aug. 1, 2025. Restrictions applied by R.S. 14:95(N).

Maine is permitless carry: any non-prohibited adult 21+, resident or visitor, may carry concealed with no permit, but must tell any officer who stops them.

• 18-20 may carry concealed permitless only if on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces/National Guard or an honorably discharged veteran; otherwise 18-20 need a permit
• Duty to inform: a permitless concealed carrier must immediately tell any law enforcement officer at a stop, detention or arrest (25 M.R.S. §2003-A)
• Maine State Parks: state police say a permit is required to carry there, and open carry is prohibited in state parks
• Acadia National Park: Maine State Police list it as a place a permit is required
• A permit is required to carry while archery hunting for deer
• A permit is required for an employee to keep a handgun in a vehicle on an employer's premises (locked vehicle rule)
• At purchase, a person relying on the permitless exception must sign an acknowledgment of receiving a firearm safety brochure (25 M.R.S. §2001-A(3))

25 M.R.S. § 2001-A(2)(A-1) (added by PL 2015, c. 327, §2, eff. Oct. 15, 2015); duty to inform at 25 M.R.S. § 2003-A

Mississippi is permitless carry: any non-prohibited adult 18+, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun concealed in a holster, purse or case with no permit.

• handgun must be in a holster, sheath, purse/bag, briefcase or fully enclosed case — a pistol carried loose in a pocket or waistband still needs a license
• pistols and revolvers only; other concealed deadly weapons (bowie/dirk knife, metallic knuckles, blackjack, short-barreled rifle or shotgun) are still § 97-37-1 offenses
• the § 45-9-101(13) off-limits places still apply (courthouses, police stations, jails, schools/colleges, polling places, government meetings, bars, churches, airport terminals); only the Enhanced Carry endorsement under § 45-9-101(20) lifts most of them
• carrier must not be engaged in criminal activity other than a misdemeanor traffic offense

Miss. Code Ann. § 45-9-101(24) (no license required for a pistol/revolver carried in a sheath, belt holster or shoulder holster, or in a purse, handbag, satchel, other similar bag, briefcase or fully enclosed case); § 97-37-1(1) criminalizes concealed carry only "Except as otherwise provided in Section 45-9-101"

Missouri needs no permit to carry a concealed handgun in public — residents and visitors alike, generally age 19+ (18 with military service).

• permitless carriers barred by § 571.030.1(8) from churches/places of worship, election precincts on election day, and any federal/state/local government building — permit holders are exempt
• § 571.107 off-limits list applies to everyone; a permitless carrier commits a class B misdemeanor (§ 571.030.8(2)) where a permit holder gets only a citation
• 18-20 year olds: no statutory carry age floor, but permits require 19 (18 if military) and the § 571.030.3 vehicle exemption is written at 19 / 18-military
• no permit reciprocity issue — out-of-state permits are honored (§ 571.030.4), and no permit is needed at all

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 571.030.1(1) (concealed carry criminal only "into any area where firearms are restricted under section 571.107"; narrowed by 2016 S.B. 656); § 571.030.3-.4; § 571.107 (off-limits places); § 571.101 (optional permits, age 19 / 18 military)

Montana is permitless carry: any adult 18+ who may legally possess a firearm can carry concealed or openly with no permit, visitors included.

• no residency requirement — visitors covered
• unpermitted concealed carry may still be barred from state/local government buildings (§§ 45-8-328, 45-8-351(2)(a)) where permit holders are exempt
• no carrying concealed while under the influence of an intoxicating substance; a permit is no defense (§ 45-8-327)
• school buildings unless trustees grant permission (§ 45-8-361)
• private property where the owner prohibits firearms
• courtrooms under judicial order, detention/correctional and secure treatment facilities, TSA screening checkpoints, federal buildings, military reservations
• age 18 comes from federal 18 U.S.C. § 922(x), not from the Montana carry statute

Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-316(3): "This section does not apply to a person eligible to possess a firearm under state or federal law." Exemption broadened by 2021 Mont. Laws ch. 3 (HB 102), § 9; former § 45-8-317 (city-limits exceptions) repealed by § 12 of the same act.

Any non-prohibited adult 21 or older, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun concealed or openly in Nebraska with no permit.

• baseline age 21
• 18-20 only if armed forces, National Guard, ROTC, or law enforcement
• private property/employer opt-out by conspicuous posted notice or verbal request (§ 28-1202.01(2),(5))
• prohibited places list: police stations, jails, courthouses, polling places, government/Legislature meetings, financial institutions, pro athletic events, schools, places of worship, hospitals/ER/trauma centers, political rallies, bars over half income from alcohol (§ 28-1202.01(3))
• schools separately a Class IV felony (§ 28-1204.04)
• no carry while consuming alcohol or with any alcohol/controlled substance in blood, urine, or breath (§ 28-1202.02)
• State Capitol closed to permitless carry as of July 18, 2026 — valid permit holders exempt (2026 LB1237, § 28-1202.01(11))

Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-1202.01(1) (transferred from § 69-2441): "Except as otherwise provided in this section and section 28-1204.04, a person, other than a minor or a prohibited person, may carry a concealed handgun anywhere in Nebraska, with or without a permit under the Concealed Handgun Permit Act." Enacted by 2023 LB77, operative Sept. 2, 2023; amended 2024 LB1329 and 2026 LB1237 (eff. July 18, 2026). "Minor" = under 21 per § 28-1201, except armed forces/National Guard/ROTC/law enforcement. "Prohibited person" = barred under § 28-1206 or 18 U.S.C. 922(d)/(g). § 28-1202(1) now criminalizes concealed carry only by "a minor or a prohibited person."

Any non-prohibited adult 18 or older — resident or visitor — may carry a handgun openly or concealed in New Hampshire with no permit.

• no state statutory minimum age — 18 floor comes from federal 18 U.S.C. 922(x)
• 18-20 year olds generally cannot BUY a handgun from a dealer (federal), only possess/carry one
• federal Gun-Free School Zones Act (1000 ft) still applies to unlicensed carriers — NH license exempts you
• courthouses off-limits (RSA 159:19)
• prohibited persons excluded (RSA 159:3, federal law)

RSA 159:6, III (added by 2017 N.H. Laws ch. 1 (SB 12), eff. Feb. 22, 2017); former RSA 159:4 (Carrying Without License) repealed by 2017, 1:3

Any non-prohibited adult 18 or older, visitors included, may carry concealed or openly in North Dakota with no permit, but must carry photo ID and tell police when contacted.

• must carry a valid driver's license or nondriver ID (physical or digital image)
• must inform law enforcement of the firearm on any in-person contact (noncriminal $20 fee if not)
• no permit route for someone with no driver's license or state-issued ID
• ND permitless carry is valid only inside ND; a ND license is still needed for reciprocity in other states
• Title 62.1 location restrictions (schools, churches, liquor establishments, public gatherings, etc.) still apply
• must be 21 to purchase a handgun, though 18-20 may possess and carry

N.D.C.C. 62.1-04-02(2) (permitless concealed carry for anyone not precluded from a class 2 license who holds a valid driver's license or nondriver ID from ND DOT or from the individual's state or territory of residence); age floor from 62.1-04-03(1)(a) (class 2 = 18+); carry-ID and duty-to-inform under 62.1-04-04(2)-(3)

Ohio is permitless carry: any non-prohibited adult 21 or older, visitor or resident, may carry concealed with no license, and open carry needs no permit either.

• Must be 21+ (no 18-20 route, even with military service)
• Must be a "qualifying adult": not prohibited under 18 U.S.C. 922(g)(1)-(9) or ORC 2923.13, and must satisfy ORC 2923.125(D)(1)(a)-(j), (m), (p), (q), (s)
• Handgun must not be a "restricted firearm" (dangerous ordnance or any firearm state law bars that person from having)
• Duty to disclose to police if asked: ORC 2923.12(B)(1) applies to qualifying adults via 2923.111(C)(1)(c) — must disclose when an officer asks during a law-enforcement stop (M2); the pre-2022 unprompted 'promptly notify' duty was repealed by S.B. 215
• Must keep hands in plain sight and follow lawful orders during a stop (ORC 2923.12(B)(2)-(4))
• All ORC 2923.126(B) place restrictions still apply exactly as they do to licensees (schools, courthouses, police stations, airport sterile areas, government facilities, places of worship absent permission, liquor premises while consuming, etc.)
• Permitless status confers no out-of-state reciprocity — an Ohio CHL is still needed to carry in most other states

Ohio Rev. Code § 2923.111 ("qualifying adult"; enacted by S.B. 215, 134th Gen. Assemb., eff. June 13, 2022); see also §§ 2923.12, 2923.125(D)(1), 9.68

Any non-prohibited adult 21 or older, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun concealed or openly in Oklahoma with no permit.

• 18-20 only if current member, veteran, or honorably discharged from US Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard
• must not be disqualified from firearm possession/purchase under state or federal law
• may not carry in furtherance of a crime
• location restrictions of 21 O.S. § 1277 still apply
• carrying where liquor is consumed restricted by 21 O.S. § 1272.1

21 O.S. § 1272(A)(6); see also 21 O.S. § 1289.6(A)(7) (enacted by HB 2597, eff. Nov. 1, 2019)

Any non-prohibited adult 18 or older, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun openly or concealed in South Carolina with no permit and no training.

• must not be otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm
• long statutory off-limits list: schools/colleges, courthouses, law enforcement and detention facilities, polling places, government offices, churches without express permission, hospitals/medical clinics/doctors' offices, private residences without permission, and any premises posted with a compliant sign
• permit (CWP) still useful for reciprocity when leaving South Carolina

S.C. Code Ann. § 23-31-215(O)(2) ("the permitless transport or carrying of a firearm in a vehicle or on or about one's person, whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, in a manner not prohibited by law"); § 16-23-20 as rewritten by 2024 Act No. 111 (H.3594), eff. March 7, 2024

No permit is needed to carry a handgun concealed or openly in South Dakota - visitors and residents alike, age 18 and up, if you can lawfully possess it.

• K-12 school premises off-limits (SDCL 13-32-7)
• county courthouses off-limits (SDCL 22-14-23); regular permit is no defense (SDCL 22-14-27)
• state capitol concealed carry requires an ENHANCED permit plus advance notice (SDCL 22-14-24(5))
• under 18 may carry concealed only with parent/legal guardian present (SDCL 23-7-71)
• under 18 may not possess a pistol at all, narrow exceptions (SDCL 23-7-44, 23-7-45)
• no loaded firearm while intoxicated (SDCL 22-14-7)

SDCL 23-7-7 ("The issuance of a permit to carry a concealed pistol under this chapter does not impose a general prohibition on the carrying of a pistol without a permit."); under-18 limit at SDCL 23-7-71; former SDCL 22-14-9 (crime of carrying concealed without a permit) repealed.

Anyone 21+ who may lawfully possess a handgun can carry it openly or concealed in Tennessee with no permit — visitors included; 18-20 need a permit unless military.

• handguns only — the exception does not cover long guns
• 18-20 permitless only with qualifying military/veteran/reserve service (§ 39-17-1307(g)(1)(B)); otherwise 18-20 need a permit
• must lawfully possess the handgun and be in a place where lawfully present
• must not be otherwise prohibited under § 39-17-1307(b)-(f), (h) or federal law
• permit still required for other states' reciprocity and for certain restricted locations (e.g. school grounds with an Enhanced permit)

T.C.A. § 39-17-1307(g) (added by 2021 Tenn. Pub. Ch. 108, eff. July 1, 2021)

Texas is constitutional carry: any non-prohibited adult 21 or older, resident or visitor, may carry a handgun concealed — or openly in a holster — with no permit.

• 21+ only; 18-20 need an LTC (available since FPC v. McCraw)
• disqualified 5 years by conviction under Penal Code 22.01(a)(1), 22.05, 22.07, or 42.01(a)(7)/(8)
• no carrying while intoxicated in public (46.02(a-6))
• 46.03 place bans and 30.06/30.07 property signage still apply

Tex. Penal Code § 46.02(a) (as amended by H.B. 1927, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 809, eff. Sept. 1, 2021); see also Tex. Penal Code § 46.15(b)(6)

In Utah anyone 21+ who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry concealed or openly with no permit — visitors included; K-12 school grounds still need a Utah permit.

• K-12 school premises require a Utah concealed carry permit (§ 76-11-205)
• 18-20 need a provisional or out-of-state permit to carry concealed in public
• open carry banned on college/university grounds (concealed is fine)
• no loaded rifle/shotgun/muzzleloader in a vehicle without a permit
• posted private property, secured airport areas, courthouses, federal facilities

Utah Code § 76-11-202 (Unlawful carrying of a concealed firearm by an individual under 21 years old) — 2025 recodification of former § 76-10-504 / § 76-10-523(5), enacted by 2021 H.B. 60, eff. 5/5/2021

Vermont requires no permit to carry a handgun, openly or concealed — it issues no carry permits at all, and visitors have the same right as residents.

• Vermont issues no carry permit at all, so a Vermont resident has no VT license to use for reciprocity in other states
• state-law age floor is 16 (13 V.S.A. § 4008); federal 18 U.S.C. § 922(x) generally bars handgun possession under 18
• carrying any weapon with intent to injure is a crime (13 V.S.A. § 4003)
• off-limits places: school buildings and school buses (§ 4004), courthouses (§ 4016), hospital buildings (§ 4023), polling places on election day (§ 4027)
• magazine limit applies to visitors too: >10 rounds long gun / >15 rounds handgun banned (13 V.S.A. § 4021)

13 V.S.A. ch. 85 (no permit-to-carry provision exists); 13 V.S.A. § 4003 (carrying a dangerous or deadly weapon is criminal only "with the intent to injure another"); age floor from 13 V.S.A. § 4008; Vt. Const. ch. I, art. 16

Any non-prohibited U.S. citizen or legal resident 18 or older may carry a handgun concealed or openly in West Virginia with no permit — residents and visitors alike.

• must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal resident (foreign tourists cannot use permitless carry)
• school parking-lot vehicle exception under §61-7-11a(b)(2)(L) requires a valid permit and age 21+, not available to permitless carriers
• municipal recreation facilities may bar unlicensed carry while admitting licensees (§8-12-5a)
• under 18 barred from open or concealed carry except on family property or while hunting (§61-7-8)

W. Va. Code §61-7-7(c) ("Any person may carry a concealed deadly weapon without a license therefor who is: (1) At least 18 years of age; (2) A United States citizen or legal resident thereof; (3) Not prohibited from possessing a firearm under the provisions of this section; and (4) Not prohibited ... under 18 U.S.C. §922(g) or (n)."). Permitless carry enacted 2016 (SB 347) at age 21; age lowered to 18 and §61-7-3 repealed by HB 4106, 2026 Reg. Sess., signed April 1, 2026, effective June 12, 2026. Optional licenses remain: §61-7-4 (21+) and §61-7-4a (provisional, 18-20).

Any non-prohibited U.S. resident 18 or older may carry a handgun concealed or openly in Wyoming with no permit — out-of-state visitors included.

• must be a resident of the United States (foreign tourists excluded)
• must not be disqualified under 18 U.S.C. 922(g) or W.S. 6-8-102, plus drug/alcohol/competency/mental-commitment criteria in 6-8-104(b)(iv)-(vi),(viii),(ix)
• off-limits places in 6-8-104(t): law enforcement facilities, jails, courtrooms, bar areas, federally prohibited places
• K-12 and public college facilities require an actual Wyoming permit under 6-8-105(c) - permitless carriers not covered there
• private property owners may still bar firearms (6-8-105(d)(ii))

W.S. 6-8-104(a)(iv), incorporating criteria in 6-8-104(b)(ii)-(vi), (viii), (ix); enacted 2011 S.F. 0047 / Senate Enrolled Act 70 eff. July 1, 2011; Wyoming-residency requirement removed by 2021 H.B. 0116 / House Enrolled Act 70 eff. July 1, 2021

Colorado requires a sheriff-issued permit to carry concealed in public (21+); open carry needs no permit at 18+, but Denver and other cities ban it.

• permit required to carry concealed in public
• permit applicants must be 21+ (18-20 only via temporary emergency permit)
• sheriff-issued; effectively requires a Colorado driver's license/ID, non-residents only with a CO license plus second residence or business property in county
• out-of-state permits honored only if holder is 21+, resident of issuing state (or CO resident <=90 days), and that state reciprocates
• no-permit concealed carry limited to own dwelling, place of business, property you control, or a private automobile while traveling for lawful protection
• sensitive-space bans (SB24-131) bind permit holders: government buildings, courthouses, schools, higher ed, child care, polling places

Open carry needs no permit here (18+), but concealed carry does.

C.R.S. 18-12-105 (unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon); permits under C.R.S. 18-12-203 et seq.; out-of-state recognition under C.R.S. 18-12-213

Delaware is NOT a constitutional-carry state: concealed carry requires a Superior Court license (residents only, or a permit from a reciprocity state), though open carry needs no permit at 21+.

• no permitless concealed carry of any kind
• license is Superior Court discretionary ('The Court may or may not, in its discretion, approve any application')
• requires 5 citizen references, notarized training certificate with 100 rounds live fire, $65 fee, fingerprints, newspaper publication of applicant's name
• standard license is Delaware residents only (filed in county where applicant resides)
• non-residents: only AG-issued 30-day temporary employment-related license (§ 1441(k), max 3) or a permit from a reciprocity state (§ 1441(j))

Open carry needs no permit here (21+), but concealed carry does.

11 Del. C. § 1442 (carrying a concealed deadly weapon without a § 1441 license is a class D felony for firearms); license issued under 11 Del. C. § 1441 by the Superior Court via the county Prothonotary; out-of-state permits honored only per § 1441(j) reciprocity list

Michigan is not a constitutional-carry state: concealed carry needs a CPL (21+, residents; visitors need a recognized home-state permit), though open carry is legal at 18+.

• CPL required to carry concealed in public
• CPL minimum age 21
• Michigan CPL issued only to Michigan residents with 6 months residency
• visitors may carry concealed only on a valid home-state license (reciprocity)
• no-permit concealed carry limited to own dwelling, place of business, or land possessed — not public

Open carry needs no permit here (18+), but concealed carry does.

MCL 750.227(2) (no concealed carry, and no pistol in a vehicle concealed or otherwise, without a license); MCL 28.425b (CPL: 21+, legal Michigan resident, 6 months residency); MCL 28.432a(h) (non-resident licensed by their home state is exempt — reciprocity, not permitless)

Nevada requires a sheriff-issued permit to carry concealed (21+, non-residents may apply), but open carry needs no permit for anyone 18+.

• Concealed carry requires a Nevada CCW permit from a county sheriff (shall-issue)
• Permit age 21+, or 18-20 only if current or honorably discharged Armed Forces / reserves / National Guard (NRS 202.3657(3)(a))
• Approved firearm-safety course required (NRS 202.3657(3)(c))
• Non-residents may apply to the sheriff of any Nevada county (NRS 202.3657(1)) - permits are not residents-only
• Out-of-state permits honored only from states on the DPS reciprocity list (NRS 202.3688, 202.3689)
• New residents holding an out-of-state permit have 60 days to obtain a Nevada permit (NRS 202.3688(2))

Open carry needs no permit here (18+), but concealed carry does.

NRS 202.350(1)(d)(3) (carrying concealed pistol/revolver/other firearm = category C felony); permits under NRS 202.3653-202.369, eligibility at NRS 202.3657

New Mexico needs a permit to carry concealed in public (21+, NM residents or NM-stationed military only), but open carry of a loaded handgun needs no permit at 19+.

• permit required to carry concealed in public
• NM concealed handgun license issued only to NM residents or military permanently stationed in NM
• license age 21+
• state-approved firearms training required, per-caliber category
• permitless concealed allowed ONLY in own residence / own real property (owner, lessee, tenant, licensee)
• permitless concealed allowed in a private automobile or other private conveyance for lawful protection of person or property
• unloaded firearms may be carried concealed with no license (§ 30-7-2(B))
• visitors must rely on NM's one-way reciprocity list of recognized out-of-state permits

Open carry needs no permit here (19+), but concealed carry does.

NMSA 1978 § 30-7-2 (unlawful carrying of a deadly weapon — concealed loaded firearm prohibited except by holder of a valid concealed handgun license); Concealed Handgun Carry Act, NMSA 1978 §§ 29-19-1 to -15 (§ 29-19-4 qualifications: 21+, U.S. citizen, NM resident or armed-forces member permanently stationed in NM, approved training; § 29-19-9 license must be carried on the person)

North Carolina is not constitutional carry: concealed still requires a permit (any state's permit is honored), but open carry needs no permit at 18+.

• permit required to carry concealed in public
• no-permit concealed carry only on one's own premises, § 14-269(a1)(1)
• NC permit requires 30 days NC residency, but any other state's valid permit is honored
• permit minimum age 21
• no concealed carry with any alcohol in the body, § 14-415.11(c2)

Open carry needs no permit here (18+), but concealed carry does.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-269(a1) (carrying concealed handgun unlawful absent an exception); Art. 54B, §§ 14-415.11, 14-415.12 (permit; age 21; 30-day NC residency); § 14-415.24 (all valid out-of-state permits honored)

Oregon requires an Oregon-issued concealed handgun license (21+, county residents only, no reciprocity); open carry needs no permit but some cities ban loaded open carry.

• Oregon CHL required to carry concealed - no permitless route
• Oregon-issued license only; ORS 166.260 contains no exemption for out-of-state permits, so Oregon has no reciprocity
• CHL applicant must be 21+ and a resident of the issuing county (ORS 166.291(1)(b),(c))
• Non-residents only via discretionary sheriff waiver, limited to contiguous states and requiring a compelling business interest or legitimate demonstrated need (ORS 166.291(8))
• Concealed and readily accessible handgun in a vehicle is also unlawful without a CHL (ORS 166.250(1)(b))
• SB 243 (2025, Ch. 594) lets local governments remove the CHL affirmative defense for public buildings used for official meetings

Open carry needs no permit here (18+), but concealed carry does.

ORS 166.250(1)(a) (unlawful possession of firearms - knowingly carrying any firearm concealed upon the person); sole carry exemption at ORS 166.260(1)(i) for persons "licensed under ORS 166.291 and 166.292"; license criteria at ORS 166.291(1)(b) (21+) and 166.291(1)(c) (resident of the county), with discretionary contiguous-state waiver at ORS 166.291(8)

Pennsylvania is not constitutional carry: concealed or in-vehicle carry requires a License to Carry (21+), but open carry on foot needs no permit at 18+.

• License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) required for concealed carry
• LTCF also required to carry a firearm in any vehicle, even openly/unconcealed
• Minimum LTCF age 21 — no 18-20 route
• Visitors need a license from a reciprocity state recognized by the PA Attorney General (§ 6106(b)(15)) or a PA non-resident LTCF
• PA non-resident LTCF requires holding a permit from your home state (§ 6109(e)(1)(ix)); some sheriffs decline non-resident applications
• § 6106(b) exceptions are narrow (unloaded transport to/from range, hunting/trapping, place of abode or fixed place of business, LEO/military)

Open carry needs no permit here (18+), but concealed carry does.

18 Pa.C.S. § 6106(a)(1) (felony 3rd degree to carry concealed on person, or any firearm in a vehicle, without a valid license); license issued under 18 Pa.C.S. § 6109 (age 21+)

Virginia requires a permit (age 21+) to carry a concealed handgun in public, but open carry of a handgun needs no permit at 18+, for residents and visitors alike.

• Permit required to carry concealed in public — no general permitless route
• Permit minimum age 21 (resident and nonresident alike)
• Permitless concealed only in own place of abode or curtilage (§ 18.2-308(B))
• Permitless concealed only in own place of business (§ 18.2-308(C)(1))
• Permitless concealed in a personal private vehicle or vessel only if the handgun is secured in a container/compartment (§ 18.2-308(C)(8))
• Out-of-state permits honored at 21+ with permit plus government photo ID (§ 18.2-308.014)
• From July 1, 2027 reciprocity narrows to 'substantially similar' states and Virginia residents may not use an out-of-state permit

Open carry needs no permit here (18+), but concealed carry does.

Va. Code § 18.2-308 (concealed carry a Class 1 misdemeanor; valid permit is an affirmative defense); permits under §§ 18.2-308.01, 18.2-308.02 (resident, 21+), 18.2-308.06 (nonresident, 21+), 18.2-308.014 (out-of-state reciprocity, 21+)

Washington requires a concealed pistol license to carry concealed; open carry of a handgun needs no permit at 21+, but a loaded gun in a vehicle requires the license.

• concealed carry requires a Washington CPL or a qualifying out-of-state license
• CPL minimum age 21
• loaded pistol in a vehicle requires a CPL
• out-of-state license honored only for non-residents and only from AG-listed qualifying states
• from May 1, 2027 CPL applicants must show certified live-fire training (50+ rounds) within the last 5 years

Open carry needs no permit here (21+), but concealed carry does.

RCW 9.41.050(1)(a) (license required to carry a pistol concealed; exceptions only for own abode or fixed place of business); RCW 9.41.050(2) (CPL also required for a loaded pistol in a vehicle); RCW 9.41.070 (CPL issuance, minimum age 21, shall-issue, nonresidents may apply; version effective May 1, 2027 adds mandatory live-fire safety training); RCW 9.41.073 (recognition of some out-of-state CPLs, non-residents only)

Wisconsin is NOT constitutional carry: concealed carry needs a license (21+, residents must hold a Wisconsin one), but open carry at 18 needs no permit.

• license required for concealed carry in public — no permitless route
• license minimum age 21
• Wisconsin CCW license issued only to Wisconsin residents and 'military residents'
• Wisconsin residents may NOT rely on another state's permit — a Wisconsin license is required
• visitors 21+ may carry concealed only on a recognized out-of-state permit; residents of permitless-carry states with no permit cannot carry concealed here
• Maine, New Jersey, Oregon, Guam and USVI permits are not recognized; only non-resident permits from Virginia and Florida are honored; Idaho and Missouri permits must be regular, not emergency/provisional
• the only no-permit concealed carry is § 941.23(2)(e): in your own dwelling, place of business, or on land you own, lease, or legally occupy
• licensed carry still barred in places listed in § 175.60(15m) and (16) (police stations, jails, courthouses, secure mental health units, beyond airport screening, posted private property, school grounds, etc.)

Open carry needs no permit here (18+), but concealed carry does.

Wis. Stat. § 941.23 (concealed carry without a license = Class A misdemeanor); license issued under Wis. Stat. § 175.60 (21+, Wisconsin resident or military resident); out-of-state licensees 21+ recognized under § 175.60(1)(g)/(2g)

California requires a state-issued CCW license to carry concealed, recognizes no out-of-state permits, and bans open carry in public — visitors have no permitless option.

• No permitless concealed carry of any kind
• California honors no out-of-state permit — visitors must obtain a California license
• Non-residents may apply under § 26150(b) but must attest the county is their primary California destination and complete California-approved training
• License requires 21+, DOJ-certified training with live fire, fingerprints, listing each firearm's make/model/serial, and a character review (SB 2, 2023, eff. Jan 1 2024; § 26150 amended again by AB 1078 eff. Jan 1 2026)
• Even licensees are barred from a long statutory list of 'sensitive places' (§ 26230)

Cal. Penal Code § 25400 (carrying a concealed firearm is a crime); license required under §§ 26150 (sheriff) and 26155 (chief of police); applicants must be 21+

Connecticut requires a state pistol permit (age 21+) to carry a handgun in public — there is no permitless carry, no out-of-state permit is honored, and open display is banned outright.

• permit required for all public carry, concealed or open
• state/temporary state permit issued by local chief of police to residents (§ 29-28(b))
• non-residents must obtain a CT non-resident state permit directly from DESPP (§ 29-28(f))
• training course required (§ 29-28(b)(1))
• narrow no-permit exceptions only: own home/land/place of business, and unloaded, locked/inaccessible transport to ranges, training, repair, competitions, moving (§ 29-35(a)(3)(G)-(M), (a)(4))

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-35(a)(1) (no carry of a pistol/revolver on the person outside one's dwelling, own land, or place of business without a permit issued under § 29-28); § 29-28(b)(10) sets the minimum permit age at 21; § 29-28(f) provides the non-resident permit route

Washington DC has no permitless carry: you need a DC-issued concealed pistol license (21+, 18 hrs training), no out-of-state permit is recognized, and open carry is banned entirely.

• license required for all public carry
• no recognition of any out-of-state permit — § 22-4504(a) requires a license issued under DC law
• home/place of business possession allowed with registration only (§ 22-4504.01)
• extensive sensitive-place bans under § 7-2509.07 (Metro/public transit, government buildings, schools, hospitals, stadiums, within 1,000 ft of a demonstration)
• private residential property and places of worship are presumed off-limits absent express permission

D.C. Code § 22-4504(a) (no person shall carry a pistol, openly or concealed, without a license issued pursuant to District of Columbia law); licensing standards at D.C. Code § 7-2509.02 (21+, 16 hours classroom training plus 2 hours range with a 50-round qualification)

Hawaii requires a county-issued license for both concealed and open carry, and only Hawaii residents 21+ can get one, so visitors cannot legally carry in public.

• license required to carry concealed in public
• license applicant must be a resident of Hawaii (HRS 134-9(a)(5)) - non-residents cannot obtain one
• 21+ only
• must be registered owner of the licensed firearm
• state-approved training course required
• out-of-state permits not recognized
• only one firearm on the person at a time (HRS 134-9(q))
• without a license, firearms confined to business/residence/sojourn or transported unloaded in an enclosed container (HRS 134-25); violation is a class B felony

HRS 134-9(a); HRS 134-25

Illinois requires an ISP-issued Concealed Carry License (age 21+, FOID, 16 hrs training) to carry concealed; open carry is illegal and out-of-state permits are not honored.

430 ILCS 66/10, 66/25, 66/40 (Firearm Concealed Carry Act); FOID required under 430 ILCS 65

Maryland requires a state-issued Handgun Wear and Carry Permit for all public carry, open or concealed, and honors no other state's permit.

• Wear and Carry Permit required for all public carry
• 18-20 only via uniformed services / National Guard membership (still a permit, not permitless)
• Maryland recognizes no other state's carry permit
• Non-residents may apply to MSP but must hold the Maryland permit
• Own home/leased real estate/own business premises exception is a premises exception, not public carry
• Extensive sensitive-places bans under 2023 Gun Safety Act (Crim. Law § 6-411)

Md. Code, Crim. Law § 4-203(a)(1)(i) (prohibits wearing/carrying/transporting a handgun "whether concealed or open"); Md. Code, Pub. Safety § 5-303 ("A person shall have a permit issued under this subtitle before the person carries, wears, or transports a handgun"); § 5-306 (permit qualifications: 21+, 16 hours in-person training, no propensity for violence or instability)

Massachusetts requires a License to Carry for any public carry, open or concealed; out-of-state permits are not honored, so visitors need a non-resident temporary LTC.

• No permitless public carry of any kind — a Massachusetts License to Carry (LTC) is required
• LTC minimum age is 21 (MGL c.140 §131: 'a lawful resident 21 years of age or older')
• No recognition of out-of-state permits; visitors need a §131F non-resident temporary LTC from the Colonel of the State Police (valid 1 year)
• Issuance is suitability-based under MGL c.140 §121F, not purely shall-issue
• Only no-permit exemption is MGL c.269 §10(a)(1): present in or on your own residence or place of business — a premises exemption, not public carry
• Unlicensed carry carries an 18-month mandatory minimum with no probation or early release

MGL c.140 §131 (License to Carry); MGL c.269 §10(a) (felony to carry a firearm, loaded or unloaded, without an LTC); MGL c.140 §131F (non-resident temporary LTC)

Minnesota is not a constitutional-carry state: you need a Minnesota permit (or a recognized out-of-state permit) to carry a pistol in public, openly or concealed.

• Permit to carry required for concealed carry in public
• Shall-issue: sheriff must issue to qualified applicants (training, background check, 5-year permit)
• Statutory permit age is 21 (subd. 2(b)(2)), but the 18-20 bar was held unconstitutional in Worth v. Jacobson, 108 F.4th 677 (8th Cir. 2024), cert. denied 145 S. Ct. 1924 (2025) — 18-20 year olds are now eligible
• Nonresidents may apply to any Minnesota sheriff; Minnesota also recognizes some out-of-state permits by reciprocity — but that is still a permit, not permitless carry
• Subd. 9 permit-free exceptions are non-public-carry only: own dwelling or place of business, to/from point of purchase or repair shop, between dwelling and business, hunting/target practice, and transporting an unloaded pistol in a closed and fastened case in a vehicle
• Permit card plus government photo ID must be carried and displayed on lawful demand (subd. 1b)

Minn. Stat. § 624.714, subd. 1a (permit required; gross misdemeanor); subd. 2 (shall-issue by county sheriff)

New Jersey requires a state-issued permit to carry a concealed handgun — no permitless carry, no reciprocity with any other state, and open carry is illegal even with a permit.

• no permitless carry of any kind in public
• NJ permit to carry required; NJSP: "New Jersey does not have reciprocity with any other state"
• non-residents may apply for a NJ permit (to the Superintendent of State Police), but must meet all NJ requirements including CCARE range qualification
• permit holders must carry concealed in a holster and carry liability insurance
• extensive sensitive-place ban under N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.6 (3rd degree crime)
• only non-public exemptions exist: own home/place of business/land under 2C:39-6(e) and unloaded/locked transport under 2C:39-6(g)

N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b) (unlawful possession of a handgun); N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4 (permit to carry); N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4.5(a) (crime of the 4th degree to carry a handgun concealed in public without a valid NJ permit to carry and proof of the required liability insurance)

New York requires a state-issued license to carry a handgun — concealed only, age 21+, no out-of-state permits honored, and no permitless or open-carry option.

• license required — no permitless route
• license is issued only 'to have and carry concealed'
• apply only where you reside, are principally employed, or have your principal place of business — no general non-resident license
• New York recognizes no out-of-state carry permits
• 16 hours classroom + 2 hours live-fire training required
• state license not valid in New York City without a special NYPD permit
• sensitive-location and private-property default-no-carry bans (2022 CCIA, §§ 265.01-d, 265.01-e)

N.Y. Penal Law §§ 265.01-b, 265.03(3), 400.00(1),(2)(f),(6),(19); exemption for licensees at § 265.20(a)(3)

Rhode Island requires a permit to carry a handgun in public, openly or concealed, with no permitless route for residents or visitors; minimum age 21.

• license required for all public carry
• § 11-47-11 local license requires bona fide residence or place of business in the issuing city/town
• § 11-47-11 requires 'good reason to fear an injury... or any other proper reason'
• § 11-47-18 AG license requires 'a proper showing of need'
• no-permit exceptions only for own dwelling, place of business, or land possessed
• unloaded transport between residence/business/licensed dealer allowed under § 11-47-9

R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-8 (carry prohibited without license, visible or concealed); §§ 11-47-11, 11-47-18 (licensing)