Constitutional Carry, otherwise known as permitless carry or unlicensed carry, is the act of citizens carrying concealed firearms without the need to acquire a permit. In these states, there are no laws prohibiting the open carry of a firearm, so long as the carrier is legally allowed to purchase and own firearms.
Some Constitutional Carry states still issue permits for those who choose to acquire one, while others don’t issue permits at all.
Constitutional Carry states that issue permits to residents only include Alaska, Montana, and Wyoming.
Constitutional Carry states that issue permits to both residents and nonresidents include Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and West Virginia.
In September 2021, Texas removed the requirement to have a permit when carrying a handgun, classifying itself as a Constitutional Carry state.
Vermont is the only Constitutional Carry state that does not issue any type of permit.