Constitutional carry
Encyclopedia
Constitutional Carry is a term used to describe a situation within a jurisdiction in which the carrying of firearms is generally not restricted in by the law. When a state or other jurisdiction has adopted constitutional carry, it is legal for law-abiding citizens to carry a handgun, firearm, or other weapon either openly
or concealed with or without an applicable state permit or license. The scope and applicability of such laws or proposed legislation can vary from state to state. There are currently four US states that have adopted constitutional carry and ten US states that have pending legislation to adopt it.
. Vermont has never had a restriction on the method of how one could carry a firearm and has stood entirely separate from the rest of the United States for quite some time; because of this, constitutional carry is referred to by some as "Vermont carry".
Governor Frank Murkowski
signed House Bill 102 which removed the requirement to obtain a concealed weapons permit in order to carry a concealed firearm. The law went into effect September 9, 2003.
Governor Jan Brewer
signed Senate Bill 1108 which acted similarly to Alaska's bill. The law went into effect July 29, 2010.
Governor Matt Mead
signed legislation to allow constitutional carry. The law officially went into effect on July 1, 2011. Under the law residents can carry concealed or openly without a permit but visitors to the state must have a valid concealed carry permit from a jurisdiction that is recognized by the State of Wyoming.
introduced legislation to allow constitutional carry in early 2011. The bill passed the House with a vote of 40-25 and is currently in the Senate. Currently Colorado issues CCWs on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
introduced a bill early in 2011 to allow constitutional carry. Currently Idaho issues CCWs on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
introduced both a bill and a constititional amendment to allow constitutional carry. Currently Iowa issues concealed-carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis. Open carry is legal with a permit in cities, outside of cities no permit is required.
representative Mike Harmon
introduced a bill to allow constitutional carry early in 2011. Kentucky currently issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
representative Dale Crafts introduced bill LD 685 in early 2011 to allow constitutional carry. Currently Maine issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
introduced a bill early in 2011 to allow constitutional carry. The bill passed the House with a vote of 55-45, and passed the Senate with a vote of 29-21. Montana HB 271 was vetoed by Governor Brian Schweitzer on May 10, 2011 and was unable to gather the necessary 2/3 majority to overturn the veto. Montana is currently a shall-issue state for concealed weapon permits and open carry is legal without a permit.
senators James Settelmeyer
and John Lee
introduced Senate Bill 126 which would allow non-weapon specific concealed carry licensing. Nevada is currently a shall-issue state for concealed carry weapons permits and open carry is lawful without a permit.
had two competing bills introduced in 2011 which would both legalize constitutional carry. On March 15, 2011 HB330 passed out of the House. New Hampshire currently issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
introduced a bill early in 2011 to allow constitutional carry. Currently South Carolina issues concealed carry weapons on a shall-issue basis and open carry is illegal.
introduced legislation early in 2011 to allow constitutional carry. Currently Tennessee issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is only legal with a permit.
introduced legislation to allow constitutional carry at the beginning of 2011. Currently West Virginia issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
's legislature passed a bill in 2011 which would recognize constitutional carry inside city limits (expanding the current "outside city limits" legal status). Governor Brian Schweitzer
vetoed the bill.
introduced a bill early on Jan. 11, 2011 which would grant "rights given to concealed handgun licensee to any person who may lawfully purchase and possess firearm." According to the bill's author, Representative Kim Thatcher
, HB 2790 did not gain enough support to progress out of the House Judiciary Committee, and is effectively dead.
introduced legislation to allow constitutional carry at the beginning of 2011. The short legislation session of Utah came to an end without the bill becoming law. Currently Utah issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit provided that the firearm is kept in a state where two actions must take place before the weapon will fire. There is no such restriction for concealed carry weapons permit holders.
introduced legislation to allow constitutional carry at the beginning of 2011. The bill was left in the Militia, Police, and Public Safety subcommittee.
Open Carry
In the United States, open carry is shorthand terminology for "openly carrying a firearm in public", as distinguished from concealed carry, where firearms cannot be seen by the casual observer....
or concealed with or without an applicable state permit or license. The scope and applicability of such laws or proposed legislation can vary from state to state. There are currently four US states that have adopted constitutional carry and ten US states that have pending legislation to adopt it.
US States which have implemented constitutional carry
Vermont
The first to practice constitutional carry was VermontVermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
. Vermont has never had a restriction on the method of how one could carry a firearm and has stood entirely separate from the rest of the United States for quite some time; because of this, constitutional carry is referred to by some as "Vermont carry".
Alaska
On June 11, 2003, AlaskaAlaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
Governor Frank Murkowski
Frank Murkowski
Francis Hughes Murkowski is an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He was a United States Senator from Alaska from 1981 until 2002 and the eighth Governor of Alaska from 2002 until 2006.- Early life and career :...
signed House Bill 102 which removed the requirement to obtain a concealed weapons permit in order to carry a concealed firearm. The law went into effect September 9, 2003.
Arizona
On April 16, 2010, ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
Governor Jan Brewer
Jan Brewer
Janice Kay "Jan" Brewer is the 22nd and current Governor of the U.S. state of Arizona and a member of the Republican Party. She is the fourth woman, and third consecutive woman, to hold the office...
signed Senate Bill 1108 which acted similarly to Alaska's bill. The law went into effect July 29, 2010.
Wyoming
On March 2, 2011 WyomingWyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
Governor Matt Mead
Matt Mead
Matthew Hansen "Matt" Mead , is the 32nd and current Governor of Wyoming.-Early Life:Mead is the son of Peter Mead and Mary Hansen Mead , the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 1990, and the grandson of the late Governor and U.S. Senator Clifford P. Hansen...
signed legislation to allow constitutional carry. The law officially went into effect on July 1, 2011. Under the law residents can carry concealed or openly without a permit but visitors to the state must have a valid concealed carry permit from a jurisdiction that is recognized by the State of Wyoming.
Colorado
ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
introduced legislation to allow constitutional carry in early 2011. The bill passed the House with a vote of 40-25 and is currently in the Senate. Currently Colorado issues CCWs on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
Idaho
IdahoIdaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
introduced a bill early in 2011 to allow constitutional carry. Currently Idaho issues CCWs on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
Iowa
IowaIowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
introduced both a bill and a constititional amendment to allow constitutional carry. Currently Iowa issues concealed-carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis. Open carry is legal with a permit in cities, outside of cities no permit is required.
Kentucky
KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
representative Mike Harmon
Mike Harmon
Mike Harmon is an American race car driver. Currently, he drives the #74 Mike Harmon Racing Chevrolet in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. In the past, he drove in the NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series, finishing 8th in points in 1997...
introduced a bill to allow constitutional carry early in 2011. Kentucky currently issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
Maine
MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
representative Dale Crafts introduced bill LD 685 in early 2011 to allow constitutional carry. Currently Maine issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
Montana
MontanaMontana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
introduced a bill early in 2011 to allow constitutional carry. The bill passed the House with a vote of 55-45, and passed the Senate with a vote of 29-21. Montana HB 271 was vetoed by Governor Brian Schweitzer on May 10, 2011 and was unable to gather the necessary 2/3 majority to overturn the veto. Montana is currently a shall-issue state for concealed weapon permits and open carry is legal without a permit.
Nevada
In early 2011 NevadaNevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
senators James Settelmeyer
James Settelmeyer
James Settelmeyer is a Republican politician of the Nevada Assembly in the United States of America. He represents Douglas, Carson, and Washoe County District 39. Settelmeyer was born in Carson City, and now lives and works on his family ranch in Carson Valley. Assemblyman Settelmeyer is a third...
and John Lee
John Lee
- Politicians and government officials :*John Lee, Baron Lee of Trafford , former Minister and Conservative Member of Parliament for Pendle, 1979–1992...
introduced Senate Bill 126 which would allow non-weapon specific concealed carry licensing. Nevada is currently a shall-issue state for concealed carry weapons permits and open carry is lawful without a permit.
New Hampshire
New HampshireNew Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
had two competing bills introduced in 2011 which would both legalize constitutional carry. On March 15, 2011 HB330 passed out of the House. New Hampshire currently issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
South Carolina
South CarolinaSouth Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
introduced a bill early in 2011 to allow constitutional carry. Currently South Carolina issues concealed carry weapons on a shall-issue basis and open carry is illegal.
Tennessee
TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
introduced legislation early in 2011 to allow constitutional carry. Currently Tennessee issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is only legal with a permit.
West Virginia
West VirginiaWest Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
introduced legislation to allow constitutional carry at the beginning of 2011. Currently West Virginia issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit.
Montana
MontanaMontana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
's legislature passed a bill in 2011 which would recognize constitutional carry inside city limits (expanding the current "outside city limits" legal status). Governor Brian Schweitzer
Brian Schweitzer
Brian David Schweitzer is an American politician from the U.S. state of Montana. Schweitzer is its 23rd and current governor, serving since January 2005. Schweitzer currently has one of the highest approval ratings among governors in the nation, with polls regularly showing a rating of above 60...
vetoed the bill.
Oregon
OregonOregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
introduced a bill early on Jan. 11, 2011 which would grant "rights given to concealed handgun licensee to any person who may lawfully purchase and possess firearm." According to the bill's author, Representative Kim Thatcher
Kim Thatcher
Kim Thatcher is a member of the Oregon House of Representatives. She is a member of the Republican party representing Keizer from the 25th district.-Biography:Thatcher was born in Pocatello, Idaho in 1964 and attended Portland State University...
, HB 2790 did not gain enough support to progress out of the House Judiciary Committee, and is effectively dead.
Utah
UtahUtah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
introduced legislation to allow constitutional carry at the beginning of 2011. The short legislation session of Utah came to an end without the bill becoming law. Currently Utah issues concealed carry weapons permits on a shall-issue basis and open carry is legal without a permit provided that the firearm is kept in a state where two actions must take place before the weapon will fire. There is no such restriction for concealed carry weapons permit holders.
Virginia
VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
introduced legislation to allow constitutional carry at the beginning of 2011. The bill was left in the Militia, Police, and Public Safety subcommittee.