Below is a list of states that allow concealed carry. Remember: each state has different reciprocity agreements, meaning your permit or license may not be valid in some states. Click here to find out where you can carry a concealed weapon.
Concealed Carry Permit Categories
Unrestricted/Constitutional Carry – No permit is needed to carry a concealed handgun.
Shall-Issue – A permit is needed to carry a concealed handgun, but the state shall issue a permit if basic requirements are met (i.e., age).
May-Issue– A permit is needed to carry a concealed handgun and issuance is at the discretion of that state’s authority. You may need to prove “good cause”.
No-Issue – No concealed carry permits will be issued or recognized, with few exceptions.
Permitting Policies By State
Unrestricted/Constitutional Carry
- Alaska (Does not require a permit in Alaska, but for reciprocity reasons issues permits under a shall-issue system)
- Arizona (Does not require a permit in Arizona, but for reciprocity reasons issues permits under a shall-issue system)
- Vermont
- Wyoming (residents only)
- Montana (outside city limits only)
Shall-Issue
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
May-Issue
- Alabama (In practice, Alabama is a shall-issue state)
- California
- Connecticut (In practice, Connecticut is a shall-issue state)
- Delaware
- Hawaii (In practice, Hawaii is a no-issue state)
- Maryland (In practice, Maryland is a no-issue state)
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey (In practice, New Jersey is a no-issue state)
- New York
- US Military Installations
No-Issue
- District of Columbia (DC)
- Illinois