Constitutional Carry

Constitutional Carry

NAGR’s Position: Support

Constitutional Carry States

Constitutional Carry is the basic principle that if you are legally eligible to purchase a firearm, you should be able to carry that weapon, open or concealed, for self-defense without government “permission.”

Constitutional Carry laws recognize the right of every law-abiding citizen to carry a firearm, openly or concealed, on their person, without having to receive government permission in the form of a mandatory state-issued permit.

These laws affirm the nature of our individual God-given right to be armed, as codified in the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which states:

“A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

Constitutional Carry may also be referred to as Freedom to Carry, Permit-less Carry or Vermont Carry.

Constitutional Carry is not “Unrestricted Carry.” It also does not abolish existing permit systems, or their corresponding reciprocity agreements.

Passing a Constitutional Carry bill is a key goal of the National Association for Gun Rights’ State Legislative program. As of April, 2021, 20 states have adopted Constitutional Carry, making it is one of hottest pro-gun fights of the last decade.

For more information, make a selection from the Constitutional Carry topic icons to learn more. For questions that are not addressed in these pages, please contact us.