What are the pros and cons of open carry?
Asked by: Dr. Oliver Rolfson DDS | Last update: February 18, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (47 votes)
Open carry's pros include potential crime deterrence and faster firearm access, while cons involve public alarm, attracting unwanted attention, potentially escalating confrontations, and making the carrier a target for criminals. The debate balances personal safety and tactical advantages against societal comfort, legal nuances, and risks of increased aggression or misidentification during emergencies, with effectiveness varying by location and community norms.
What are the disadvantages of open carry?
Public discomfort – Many people are intimidated by seeing guns openly carried in public places. It can make some folks uneasy, even if it's legal. Risk of hostility – Openly carrying may attract unwanted attention and hostility in certain situations or locations. You could become a target instead of deterring threats.
What are the advantages of open carry?
There are only a few advantages to open carry:
- Convenience. Proponents of open carry in Nevada may like that they can skip the permitting process altogether. ...
- Immediate Access. ...
- Deterrent Effect. ...
- Unwanted Attention. ...
- The Potential for Escalation. ...
- The Risk of Targeting. ...
- Additional Legal Liability. ...
- Discretion.
Are there more shootings in open carry states?
Here are our policies on editorial independence and donor transparency. The Trace analyzed gun violence data and found that 16 of the 20 states that enacted permitless carry between 2015 and 2022 saw more shooting deaths — excluding suicides — after the laws took effect than during an equivalent time period before.
What's the difference between open carry and constitutional carry?
Open carry allows individuals to visibly carry firearms in public, whereas constitutional carry permits individuals to carry firearms without a permit, either openly or concealed.
The Truth About Concealed Vs Open Carry
Does open carry mean you can walk around with firearms?
Categories of law
Permissive open carry states. A state has passed full preemption of all firearms laws, with few exceptions. They allow open carry for all nonprohibited citizens and do not require a permit or license to carry firearms openly. Open carry is fully lawful on foot.
Does open carry make you a target?
If you're carrying concealed, you're carrying your own gun. If you're open carrying, you're carrying everyone else's gun. You've made yourself a target and anyone who intends to do you harm will have the jump on you.
What is the freest gun state?
There isn't one single "freest" gun state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Arkansas, Montana, and South Dakota are consistently ranked among the most gun-friendly due to permissive laws like constitutional/permitless carry, strong self-defense protections (Stand Your Ground), and lack of sales tax on firearms. Other states often cited for lenient laws include Arizona, Wyoming, Alaska, Utah, and Mississippi, though some recent political shifts in states like Arizona have impacted their rankings.
What four states do not allow open carry?
As of 2023, the states that do not allow open carry are California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Tennessee.
Do open carry laws reduce crime?
The 20 states that passed permitless carry legislation before 2023 had a collective decrease in violent crime of 2.88 per 100,000. 5 of the 8 states restricting open carry have violent crime rates above the national average.
How common is open carry?
Among the findings: 80 percent of surveyed handgun owners who carried their handgun had a concealed-carry permit, and 66 percent said they always carried their handguns concealed, compared with 10 percent who said they always carry their weapons openly.
Does open carry require a holster?
Open carry refers to the practice of carrying a firearm in public where it is fully or partially visible to others — whether in a holster or not. It is distinct from concealed carry, which involves hiding the firearm from plain view.
Why do people want to concealed carry?
Deterrence of Crime.
Criminals may be less likely to target individuals or locations where they might encounter armed resistance. By responsibly carrying a concealed firearm, law-abiding citizens help create a safer environment for themselves and their communities.
What is Mexican carry?
Mexican carry, also known as "loose carry" or "pocket carry," is the dangerous practice of carrying a handgun inside the waistband without a holster, often in the appendix (front) position, to avoid detection or when holsters are unavailable, but it risks accidental discharge due to lack of trigger protection and poor retention. The term originates from 19th-century Mexican civilians defying gun laws by tucking weapons into their pants to hide them from authorities, only retrieving them when needed, according to this Guns and Ammo article and this LAS Concealment article.
What is rule #1 of gun safety?
The first rule of gun safety is to always keep the muzzle pointed in a safe direction, meaning never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy, and be aware of where it's pointing at all times, even if you think it's unloaded. This fundamental rule ensures that even in an accidental discharge, no injury or damage occurs because the gun is directed towards a safe area, like a backstop.
What does God say about weapons?
The Bible never forbids a Christian from owning a weapon, but it does offer some principles to consider. First, Christians are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:10). A Christian considering the purchase of a weapon should prayerfully consider if doing so would aid in peace-making.
Why is open carry bad?
Permitless carry makes it difficult for officers to identify who is a credible threat, leading to increased violence and distrust between police and vulnerable communities.
Do I need to disclose if I'm carrying?
In the hard duty to inform states, you have to inform an officer that you are armed without being asked. In some states, a person is only required to disclose that they are carrying if asked by a police officer but otherwise don't have to.
What state has the strictest gun laws?
California consistently ranks as the state with the strictest gun laws, leading in comprehensive safety regulations like assault weapon bans, universal background checks, and red flag laws, followed closely by states like Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey. These states generally implement strong universal background checks, waiting periods, permits to purchase, and restrictions on certain types of firearms, leading to lower gun death rates compared to less regulated states.
What is the most armed state in the US?
Texas consistently has the most guns by total number, often exceeding a million registered firearms, followed by Florida, Virginia, and California, largely due to their large populations; however, states like Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska lead in gun ownership rates (percentage of households owning guns). Data varies slightly by year and source (e.g., registered firearms vs. sales vs. household ownership), but Texas remains the top state for total gun numbers.
What states are stand your ground in 2025?
Thirty-eight states are stand-your-ground states, all but eight by statutes providing "that there is no duty to retreat from an attacker in any place in which one is lawfully present": Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, ...
What are ghost guns?
What are ghost guns? Ghost Guns are unserialized (and therefore untraceable) firearms that are put together by components purchased either as a kit or as separate pieces. These firearms are fully functioning guns that are as lethal as a fully finished, serialized firearm.
Can I open carry at Walmart?
Open Carry of Firearms
Motivated by our desire to create a safe environment in our stores and clubs, we request that customers no longer openly carry firearms into Walmart or Sam's Club locations in states where open carry is permitted – unless they are authorized law enforcement.
Why is open carry better?
However, it also means that carriers must be more mindful of their surroundings at all times since they can easily be seen carrying their firearm in plain sight. Some proponents of open carry will also say it's more practical because a person can access their firearm faster in a deadly encounter if necessary.
Does Home Depot allow open carry?
Home Depot said that it will act in accordance with federal and state regulations. “We follow all federal and state regulations everywhere we operate,” the home improvement store said. “We allow customers to conceal carry and open carry where permissible by local laws.”