Twenty-Five U.S. States Now Recognize Constitutional Carry

This story is based on a recent NRA-ILA article.
Half the USA’s 50 states now recognize a Constitutional right to carry firearms. Constitutional Carry eliminates the need for government permission before a law-abiding individual can exercise their right to bear arms. A citizen can carry without attaining a CCW permit and/or paying special fees. This is a significant milestone, achieved with the recent passage of Constitutional Carry legislation in Georgia. Georgia Governor Kemp is expected to sign Georgia’s new Constitutional Carry act today, making Georgia the 25th U.S. state to recognize such rights. SEE: Fox News Report on Georgia law.

When Gov. Kemp signs the legislation, Georgia will join Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming, in allowing law-abiding individuals to carry a concealed handgun without a government-issued permit.

Before Georgia adopted Constitutional Carry, Ohio passed similar legislation last month, with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signing S.B. 215, permitting firearms carry by Ohio citizens. READ Ohio Report.

According to the NRA: “The NRA paved the way for Constitutional Carry by first leading the charge for right-to-carry nearly 40 years ago. Today, every state, and the District of Columbia, provides for the carrying of a firearm for self-defense outside the home in some form, and half the nation recognizes the Second Amendment protects law-abiding citizens’ right to self-defense as an inherent and inalienable right.”

The modern carry movement in America began in earnest in 1987 when NRA helped pass a law legalizing concealed carry outside the home for all law-abiding gun owners in Florida. This law established a “shall issue” permitting regime in Florida, meaning the state was required to issue a carry permit to anyone who applied and could legally possess a firearm. Over the next 15 years, NRA successfully worked to establish right-to-carry laws in 42 states.

Constitutional Carry legislation, which eliminates the need for government permission before law-abiding gun owners can carry concealed firearms, was the natural next step after the success of “shall issue” legislation. In 2003, NRA helped to pass constitutional carry legislation in Alaska. Seven years later Arizona joined the fold, followed by Wyoming, Kansas, and Maine. Ten additional states passed similar legislation by 2019. And in the last two years, nine states have become constitutional carry states.

“This is a monumental moment for the Second Amendment, NRA members and gun owners nationwide,” said Jason Ouimet, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “Half the country now rightfully recognizes the fundamental right to carry a firearm for self-defense as enshrined in our Constitution – as opposed to a government privilege that citizens must ask permission to exercise. Passing this essential legislation has been a priority for the NRA for many years, and we’re thrilled to celebrate this huge success.”