What state has the highest concealed carry?

Asked by: Hilma Stehr  |  Last update: August 16, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (23 votes)

The top 10 states with the highest percentage of concealed carry permit holders are as follows:
  • Colorado, 16.55%
  • Pennsylvania, 15.44%
  • Georgia, 14.48%
  • Iowa, 13.82%
  • Tennessee, 13.15%
  • Florida, 13.07% (residential permits only)
  • Connecticut, 12.67%
  • Washington, 11.63%

What state has the most concealed carry?

Alabama has the highest concealed carry rate — 27.8%. Indiana is second with 23.0%, and Colorado is third with 16.5%. Six states now have over 1 million permit holders: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

What is the best state concealed carry permit?

I would suggest Utah, Florida, and either Arizona or Nevada. If you can get a CCW from a state that doesn't recognize anyone else's CCW (California, Hawaii, etc.) so much the better - these CCWs are often recognized by other states even though the...

What state has the highest 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.

What state is the hardest to get a pistol permit?

Report Highlights:
  • Hawaii is the #1 worst state for gun owners due to strict purchasing and carry laws, as well as defying the Supreme Court on the individual's right to carry.
  • California is the #2 worst state for gun owners due to its permit-to-purchase and reciprocity laws.

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

19 related questions found

Which 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.

What state has the weakest gun laws?

Mississippi. Mississippi has the weakest gun laws in the country and the highest gun death rate.

What state carry the most guns?

What State Has the Most Guns. It is estimated that Texas has more guns than any other state, with 1,005,555 guns and just over 29 million residents.

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 toughest 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.

Where is the best place to carry concealed?

Carrying your gun inside the waistband is one of the most popular methods for concealed carry. It allows you to have a good grip on your gun and keep it hidden from view. IWB carriers offer the same benefits as OWB carriers, but they are easier to conceal and less likely to snag on clothing.

What country has the most relaxed gun laws?

Apart from the picture-perfect overview, Switzerland is widely known for its vast gun culture and having some of the most relaxed gun laws in the world. Until 2010, all capable males were required to keep a Sig SG 550 and a Sig Sauer p229 at home or at the local armory, to provide for the national defense.

Can I bring my gun to California when I visit?

As a non-resident just visiting the state, you do not have to register your gun and your handguns are not restricted to what is on the Safe Handgun Roster. If you own it (and it is not an "assault weapon") you can bring it.

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.

How many states in the US allow concealed carry?

Every state—as well as the District of Columbia—authorizes people to carry concealed weapons in public in some form. Twenty-one states generally require a state-issued permit in order to carry concealed weapons in public (CCW permit).

Can you have a gun license in multiple states?

Yes. In fact if you move from state to state in your ordinary travels and want to carry your firearm you may have to have more than one permit is be “legal”. Some states have so-called reciprocity in that they recognize the permits of other states; other states (like NY and CT) recognize only their own licenses.

What are the most gun-friendly states?

Best States for Gun Owners
  • Arizona. A little over 46% of Arizona households own at least one firearm. ...
  • Idaho. With household gun ownership of over 60% and laws that are very favorable to gun owners, Idaho is another state that is a good home for those who own firearms.
  • Texas. ...
  • Arkansas. ...
  • New Hampshire.

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 country does not allow guns?

The countries that ban guns are Brunei, Cambodia, Comoros, East Timor, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Nauru, North Korea, Palau, Solomon Islands, Somalia, and Vatican City.

What state was the hardest to get guns?

The 10 States With the Strictest Gun Laws
  • New York.
  • Connecticut.
  • Hawaii.
  • New Jersey.
  • Maryland.
  • Massachusetts.
  • Washington.
  • Colorado.

Which state has the highest gun violence?

As of 2025, Mississippi was the state with the highest gun violence rate per 100,000 residents in the United States, at 29.4 percent, followed by Louisiana, at 28.1 percent. In comparison, Massachusetts had a gun violence rate of 3.7 percent, the lowest out of all the states.

How many guns does the average American own?

The average American owns between one and five firearms. Men are more likely than women to own more than one, and those with only one firearm typically have a handgun or pistol.

Which US state has the least guns?

States With Lowest Gun Ownership

The states with the lowest gun ownership rates are New Jersey, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, California, Maryland, Connecticut, Illinois, and Florida. New Jersey has the lowest household firearm ownership rate, with a rate of 8.9%.

Which country has the most gun homicides?

The U.S. has among the highest overall firearm mortality rates, as well as among the highest firearm mortality rates for children, adolescents, and women, both globally and among high-income countries. Nearly all U.S. states have a higher firearm mortality rate than most other countries.

Are guns illegal in Canada?

You asked for a description of Canada's gun control laws. Firearms are federally regulated in Canada. The federal 1977 Criminal Law Amendment Act, as amended, prohibits automatic weapons and sawed-off shotguns and rifles. It is illegal for anyone, except (for the most part) the police and the military, to possess them.