What is Constitutional Carry?
Constitutional carry (also called permitless carry) means that any person legally allowed to possess a firearm may carry it concealed in public without obtaining a government-issued permit. The term reflects the position that the Second Amendment to the US Constitution already grants this right without requiring government permission.
Constitutional carry does NOT mean there are no restrictions. Even in constitutional carry states, there are still:
- Prohibited locations (schools, government buildings, courthouses)
- Age restrictions (typically 21+ for handguns, though some states allow 18+)
- Disqualifying offenses (felons and other prohibited persons still cannot carry)
- Federal law still applies everywhere
All 29 Constitutional Carry States (2026)
As of 2026, these states allow permitless concealed carry:
| State | Year Enacted | Age Minimum | Residents Only? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | Original (since statehood) | 18+ | No |
| Alaska | 2003 | 21+ | No |
| Arizona | 2010 | 21+ | No |
| Wyoming | 2011 | 21+ | Residents only |
| Arkansas | 2013/2017 | 18+ | No |
| Kansas | 2015 | 21+ | No |
| Maine | 2015 | 21+ | No |
| Mississippi | 2016 | 18+ | No |
| West Virginia | 2016 | 21+ | No |
| Missouri | 2017 | 19+ | No |
| New Hampshire | 2017 | 18+ | No |
| North Dakota | 2017 | 18+ | Residents only |
| Kentucky | 2019 | 21+ | No |
| Oklahoma | 2019 | 21+ | No |
| South Dakota | 2019 | 18+ | No |
| Iowa | 2021 | 21+ | No |
| Montana | 2021 (statewide) | 18+ | No |
| Tennessee | 2021 | 21+ | No |
| Texas | 2021 | 21+ | No |
| Utah | 2021 | 21+ | No |
| Indiana | 2022 | 18+ | No |
| Georgia | 2022 | 21+ | No |
| Ohio | 2022 | 21+ | No |
| Alabama | 2023 | 19+ | No |
| Nebraska | 2023 | 21+ | No |
| Florida | 2023 | 21+ | No |
| Louisiana | 2024 | 18+ | No |
| South Carolina | 2024 | 18+ | No |
| Idaho | 2020 | 21+ | No |
States Without Constitutional Carry (21 States)
The following states still require a permit for concealed carry as of 2026:
California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin
Should You Still Get a Permit in a Constitutional Carry State?
Yes, in most cases. Here's why:
- Travel reciprocity: Many non-constitutional-carry states require a permit from your home state to allow carry. Without a permit, you cannot carry legally in these states even if they have reciprocity agreements.
- Permit holders often have additional rights: Some states give permit holders access to locations or exemptions not available to non-permit carriers.
- Non-resident permits: If you live in a constitutional carry state, consider also getting a Utah or Arizona non-resident permit, which are accepted in many additional states.