Concealed Carry

Alabama allows permitless concealed carry of handguns for lawful adults, while still issuing optional permits for reciprocity, with state preemption blocking local restrictions.

Alaska is a permitless carry state: any person 21 or older who may lawfully possess a firearm may carry concealed without a permit under AS 11.61.220. Concealed carry rules are set…

Arizona allows permitless concealed carry for adults 21 and older, while still issuing optional CCW permits that enable reciprocity with other states.

Arkansas issues concealed handgun carry licenses through Arkansas State Police. Enhanced licenses allow carry in additional locations. Permitless carry is also recognized for…

California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant…

Colorado requires a concealed handgun permit issued by the county sheriff to carry a concealed firearm in public, with training and background check requirements.

Connecticut requires a state pistol permit to carry concealed handguns, issued by local authorities under CGS 29-28 with statewide validity.

Delaware issues concealed deadly weapon licenses through the Prothonotary under 11 Del.C. 1441, requiring background checks, character references, and a published notice of intent…

The District of Columbia requires a concealed pistol license from the Metropolitan Police Department under DC Official Code § 22-4506, valid up to two years. After Wrenn v. District of…

Florida allows permitless concealed carry of firearms by law-abiding adults under FS 790.01 and continues to issue concealed weapon licenses through FS 790.06, with both regimes…

Georgia is a permitless concealed carry state under SB 319 (2022), allowing lawful weapons carriers to carry concealed handguns statewide subject to statutory location restrictions.

HRS 134-9 governs Hawaii concealed carry licensing. Following the U.S. Supreme Court's Bruen decision, Hawaii revised standards but maintains stringent training, application, and…

Idaho permits residents 18 and older to carry concealed firearms statewide without a license under Idaho Code 18-3302, while still offering enhanced and standard permits for…

Illinois issues shall-issue concealed carry licenses through the Illinois State Police under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, with statewide preemption of local handgun carry rules.

Iowa has allowed permitless concealed carry for adults 21 and older since July 2021, while still issuing optional non-professional permits for reciprocity.

Kansas allows permitless concealed carry for adults 21 and older, while still issuing optional permits for reciprocity in other states.

Kentucky allows permitless concealed carry for adults 21 and older legally able to possess firearms, while continuing to issue concealed deadly weapon licenses. Local governments…

Louisiana permits concealed handgun carry through state-issued permits and, since July 2024, allows permitless concealed carry for adults 18 and older meeting eligibility requirements.

Maine is a permitless carry state for residents 21 and older, while still issuing concealed handgun permits recognized for reciprocity and certain restricted areas.

Maryland issues Wear and Carry Permits through the State Police and prohibits concealed carry in many sensitive locations across the state.

Massachusetts requires a License to Carry under MGL Chapter 140 Section 131 to carry concealed handguns, with applications processed by local police chiefs subject to suitability…

Michigan issues Concealed Pistol Licenses (CPLs) under MCL 28.425 series, with statewide rules that local governments cannot override or supplement.

Minnesota issues permits to carry pistols under the Minnesota Citizens' Personal Protection Act, codified at Minn. Stat. 624.714, with sheriffs administering shall-issue permitting for…

Mississippi recognizes both a permit-based concealed carry license and permitless carry for adults legally able to possess firearms, with the Department of Public Safety administering…

Missouri is a permitless concealed carry state and bars localities from imposing additional rules on concealed firearms beyond what RSMo 21.750 and Chapter 571 permit, ensuring uniform…

Montana permits concealed carry without a permit for most adults under HB 102 (2021), while still issuing optional permits under MCA 45-8-321 for reciprocity and convenience.

Since LB 77 took effect September 2, 2023, any Nebraska resident 21 or older who is not a prohibited person may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. Optional Concealed Handgun…

Nevada is a shall-issue state requiring a permit to carry concealed firearms, with sheriff-issued CCW permits valid for five years subject to training requirements.

RSA 159:6 allows residents and nonresidents to carry concealed loaded firearms without a license, while still offering optional permits for reciprocity.

New Jersey issues concealed carry permits under NJSA 2C:58-4 with strict justifiable need replaced by shall-issue standards post-Bruen, while sensitive-place restrictions limit where…

New Mexico requires a state-issued concealed handgun license to carry a concealed firearm, with training, background checks, and age requirements administered by the Department of…

New York requires a state-issued concealed carry license under Penal Law § 400.00, with mandatory training and a long list of statewide sensitive locations where carry is forbidden.

North Carolina issues concealed handgun permits through county sheriffs under NCGS 14-415.10 and recognizes reciprocity with many states; permitless carry is not authorized statewide.

North Dakota allows constitutional concealed carry for residents 18 and older under NDCC 62.1-04, while still offering optional permits for reciprocity with other states.

Ohio allows permitless concealed carry for qualifying adults aged 21 and over while still issuing concealed handgun licenses for reciprocity and other benefits.

Oklahoma authorizes both permitless constitutional carry for eligible adults and the Self-Defense Act handgun license, governed by the Oklahoma Self-Defense Act under Title 21.

Oregon issues concealed handgun licenses through county sheriffs under ORS 166.291, with statewide eligibility, training, and reciprocity standards.

Pennsylvania is a shall-issue state requiring a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) issued by the county sheriff for concealed carry or carry in a vehicle, with statewide rules under 18…

Rhode Island operates a dual-track concealed carry licensing system under RIGL 11-47-11 and 11-47-18, with both the Attorney General and local licensing authorities issuing permits…

South Carolina allows concealed carry under permit and, since 2024, lawful permitless carry by eligible adults aged 18 or older.

South Dakota allows constitutional carry for residents 18 and older and offers enhanced and gold permits for reciprocity with other states under SDCL Title 23.

Tennessee allows permitless concealed and open carry for adults 21 and older (or qualified 18-20 year olds) under T.C.A. 39-17-1307 and 1351, with optional enhanced and concealed…

Texas authorizes License to Carry (LTC) holders to carry concealed handguns statewide under Government Code Chapter 411. Since 2021, permitless constitutional carry under HB 1927 also…

Utah recognizes both a concealed firearm permit under Title 53 Chapter 5 and permitless concealed carry for qualifying adults statewide, preempting local restrictions.

Virginia issues concealed handgun permits under Code 18.2-308.01 through 18.2-308.014, with shall-issue standards administered by circuit courts; localities cannot impose additional…

Washington issues concealed pistol licenses under RCW 9.41.070 on a shall-issue basis to qualified applicants, with statewide preemption preventing local concealed carry rules.

West Virginia allows permitless concealed carry for adults aged 21 and older and issues optional shall-issue permits for reciprocity and federal purposes.

Wyoming allows permitless concealed carry for residents 21 and older and issues optional shall-issue permits recognized for reciprocity in many other states.