Constitutional carry

Constitutional carry, also called permitless carry, refers to state laws under which a person who can legally possess a firearm may carry it, openly or concealed, in public without obtaining a government permit. Supporters use the name because they hold that the Second Amendment itself protects the right to carry.

Vermont has never required permits, and Alaska adopted a permitless law in 2003, then Arizona in 2010. Since then, a majority of states have passed some form; the details vary on eligibility, whether it applies to concealed and open carry and to non-residents, and places where carry remains barred. Many states still offer permits for reciprocity with other states and for purchases. Counts change as legislatures act.

Supporters argue that the right to bear arms should not be conditioned on a license and fees, and that permit systems burden law-abiding citizens while criminals ignore them. Opponents, including many police chiefs and gun-control groups, argue that permit processes screen out dangerous people and training requirements improve safety, and cite research linking permitless carry to increases in violent crime. After New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, courts consider challenges to permitting. Compare shall-issue and may-issue permits.