In what states can you not carry a gun?

Asked by: Osborne Carter  |  Last update: February 11, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (72 votes)

Forty-four states have a provision in their state constitutions similar to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. The exceptions are California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.

Can you carry a gun anywhere in us?

In the United States, it is legal to carry a concealed handgun in public in all 50 states. Many states require a person to have a permit to carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public.

In what state do you not need a license to carry a gun?

Currently, the other states with permitless carry laws are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.

What states have the most gun restrictions?

The 10 states with the strongest gun laws, in ranking order, were California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland and Colorado. The states with the least stringent gun laws were Wyoming, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Idaho, Montana, Mississippi, South Dakota, Kansas and Arizona.

Which US states are open carry states?

31 States That Allow Open Carry Without a Permit
  • Alabama. Alabama is one of the most lenient open carry states in the country. ...
  • Alaska. Alaska state law also has lenient legislation for citizens possessing firearms. ...
  • Arizona. ...
  • Arkansas. ...
  • Delaware. ...
  • Idaho. ...
  • Indiana. ...
  • Iowa.

What is Constitutional Carry And What States Have It? (Permitless Carry?)

23 related questions found

How many states have no permit to carry?

Of the 29 states that do not require a permit or background check to carry a loaded, concealed weapon in public, only two of them—Nebraska and Vermont—require a background check to purchase some or all firearms.

Can you carry in all 50 states?

Following the Supreme Court's NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022) decision, all states in the United States were required to allow for concealed carry of a handgun either permitlessly or with a permit, although the difficulty in obtaining a permit varies per jurisdiction.

What states don't allow guns?

Forty-four states have a provision in their state constitutions similar to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. The exceptions are California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.

What is the strictest gun law in the world?

Singapore is probably the strictest country in the world when it comes to gun laws. It's still possible to own a gun but it takes a lot of work. To own a gun you need to belong to a gun club. You will also be required to leave your gun at the club for storage.

Which state has the strictest laws?

With 395,608 regulatory restrictions, California is the most heavily regulated state in the nation, according to the report. On average, states have 135,000 regulatory restrictions in administrative rules, with California's regulations more than doubling the national average.

What state requires you to own a gun?

There is no state that requires anyone to purchase a firearm. The town of Kennesaw, Georgia passed an ordinance requiring the head of each household to own a firearm, but it was never actually intended to be enforced. It just puts an extra layer of protection against anyone trying to pass firearm restrictions.

Can you carry a gun in the mall in Indiana?

A handgun may be carried virtually anywhere in Indiana except for the following exceptions: In or on school property (locked in a vehicle is OK), on a school bus, in or on property that is being used by a school for a school function, private school, head start, preschool programs, on commercial or charter aircraft, ...

What is the difference between concealed carry and open carry?

In the United States, open carry refers to the practice of visibly carrying a firearm in public places, as distinguished from concealed carry, where firearms cannot be seen by the casual observer.

Can I travel with a gun across states?

It is important to note that 18 USC § 926A only allows you to travel through, not to, the states in which it's illegal to carry firearms. In states with strict gun laws (such as California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York), it may be a good idea not to stop at all.

Can you carry a gun in your car in USA?

You'll be happy to know that the Federal Firearm Owners' Protection Act, or FOPA, allows you to legally transport your firearms in your vehicle while you drive, so long as you comply with a short list of requirements found in what's known as the “Safe Passage” provision, or 18 U.S.C. § 926A.

Can you own a gun without a license in the US?

Federal law does not require individuals to obtain a license or permit to own, possess, or purchase a firearm. Several states, however, have licensing or permitting requirements, which may come in the form of permits to purchase firearms, licenses to own firearms, or firearm registration requirements.

What state is the most gun-friendly?

Report Highlights:
  • New Hampshire is #1 thanks to its incredibly relaxed gun laws, low crime rates, and lack of state sales tax.
  • West Virginia is #2 due to recent legislative actions to remove firearm restrictions and reduce sales tax on firearms and ammunition.

Can you own a gun in China?

With the exception of individuals with hunting permits and some ethnic minorities, civilian firearm ownership is restricted to non-individual entities. Law enforcement, military, paramilitary, and security personnel are allowed to use firearms. Police are to use issued pistols only to stop serious or dangerous crimes.

What city is it illegal not to own a gun?

No town in the United States has been as public about its support for guns as Kennesaw, population about 30,000, where city leaders for 30 years have required that every household have at least one gun.

In what states can felons own guns?

- Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon and South Dakota automatically restore firearms rights to convicted felons - including those who committed violent crimes - but make them wait five to 15 years after they complete state supervision, the center and ATF found.

How many pistols can I buy in a week?

Summary of Federal Law

Federal law does not limit the number of guns a person may buy in any given time period. However, federal law does require federal firearm licensees (“FFLs”) to report multiple sales of handguns to ATF and other specified law enforcement agencies.

What states Cannot open carry?

States that Prohibit Open Carrying of Handguns
  • California13
  • Connecticut (Effective Oct. 1, 2023)14
  • District of Columbia15
  • Florida16
  • Illinois17
  • New Jersey18
  • New York19

What state has the toughest gun laws?

Leading states for gun law strength in the U.S. 2025

California led the way in gun safety in the United States as of January 2025, with a composite score of 90.5 based on the presence of 50 key gun safety policies.

How many states don't require a gun permit?

Each state determines the requirements and any limitations on the carry of firearms. Listed below are the 29 states that allow permitless concealed carry (PC) and the minimum age requirement: Alabama (PC-21) Alaska (PC-21)