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Common No Carry Zones
There are federally mandated areas where you can’t carry that are consistent across the country.
Where Can I Find My State’s Gun Laws?
Each state is different. Because of this, tracking down where to find the specific do’s and don’ts can be a challenge.Online
Our guides to state guns laws and state concealed carry laws are a great place to start. If you’re looking for something more specific, or want to find out more about your state’s newly introduced laws, the internet has plenty of other sources, too.
The Department of Justice
In many states, this is the issuing agency for concealed carry permits. There should be some information on the site pertaining to gun laws and may be able to point you in the right direction, even if they are not the issuing body.State Police
The State police issue your CCW permits in some states, such as Michigan. Their site has all of the information and links to the rules and regulations for your CCW permit on it.County Sheriff
States, such as New York, use the sheriff as the go-to agency for issuing your carry permit. While the state laws still apply, there are some counties and municipalities with additional laws.
Some Unusual State Laws
Alaska
Alaska is like the modern day wild West when it comes to guns. There is so much common land up there that it’s hard to say what people can and can’t do, not to mention lots of potentially dangerous wildlife. No permit is necessary if you are over 21 and can legally buy a handgun. However, Alaska does have a permit you can apply for; which is nice if you travel out of the stateCalifornia
California is famous (or maybe infamous) for their plentiful gun regulations. This law, however, surprised me: “California law does not prohibit CCW holders from carrying in a private business establishment, even if they post a sign and/or search people entering. However, they are within their rights to ask you to leave (temporarily or permanently) if they find out – and you are trespassing if you don’t leave after being asked.”Connecticut
Connecticut requires you to have a CCW permit to carry a gun anywhere, even in your own house or on your property. You also need it to transport a handgun. Connecticut also has some interesting exceptions to their gun-free zones at schools: “It is unlawful to possess a firearm on public or private elementary or secondary school property. This prohibition shall not apply to a person with a firearm carrying permit, with permission from school officials, or while traversing school property with an unloaded firearm for the purpose of gaining access to lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, provided entry is not prohibited by school officials.”
Illinois
Illinois is one of the few states that requires you to have a Firearms Owner’s Identification Card (FOID). You need to show your FOID whenever you purchase a firearm or buy ammo. If you want to be able to carry concealed, you’ll need a concealed carry permit as well. However, your Illinois concealed carry permit may not be valid in certain areas like Cook County, where Chicago is.New Hampshire
In New Hampshire, you do not need a permit to carry a concealed gun.New Jersey
New Jersey is a lot like New York in regards to gun laws and concealed carry with a dash of Illinois sprinkled in for good measure. You have to have an ID card for owning and purchasing a gun, as well as purchasing and possessing ammo. They were also one of the states trying to pioneer the use of smart guns.New York
Finding the specific laws for New York is not that easy. While you can get a permit that covers the state of New York, you still need one specific for the city of New York. State permits are issued by the licensing officer for the city or county. New York City permits are issued by the city’s police commissioner.Utah
Utah has one of the most widely accepted non-resident concealed carry licenses in the United States. It’s also one of the few states that you can carry a gun in a school, though only in certain circumstances.Conclusion
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"Guns OK in post office parking lots, federal judge rules"
posted on CNN web /2013/07/11/us/guns-post-office/index.html
"When States pass “Constitutional Carry” laws, they are based on provisions IN THEIR STATES’ CONSTITUTION that refer to the RIGHT to carry IN THAT INDIVIDUAL STATE – NOT on the Second Amendment to the US Constitution.
Since those State Constitutions are each written differently, SOME states interpret that RIGHT to apply ONLY to THEIR OWN citizens, while other states – such as West Virginia – extend that right to ANYONE age 21 or older who either legally resides in the US or is a US Citizen AND is not prohibited by either FEDERAL or STATE Law from possessing a firearm (yet there ARE state carry permits they do NOT recognize – an oddity that MAY get corrected in a future legislative session).
Personally, I’d like to keep the FEDS fingers OUT OF the ‘reciprocity cookie jar’ – one only has to look at the ‘reciprocity mess’ the US Department of Transportation has made of commercial drivers licenses, regulating who can drive with what, where, for how long and introducing expensive layers of useless bureaucracy."
If a company bans a person from carrying a weapon....do they then accept the financial responsibility if a person is injured by an individual (gang banger for instance) who injures me which keeps me from taking care of my family?
Well, since you’re going to cheap shot the guy on grammar Joe, maybe you ought to capitalize the first word of your first sentence? Just say’n…
A neighbor taught me a LOT about gun safety. He could read and write and do basic math. He definitely wasn’t brilliant, and made grammar mistakes. But apparently you think he’d be “under qualified” to carry a gun, because of this?
You should reference CT PA 98-129 re. revisions to eligibility to carry a firearm on school grounds in CT. In PA 98-129 the wording was changed and the qualifier of holding a carry permit was struck from the wording - other qualifiers have also been removed or revised since the writing which you’ve referenced
Cook county has an assault weapons ban but an IL CCL is valid for the entire state. http://www.senategop.state.il.us/Portals/0/14%20Concealed%20Carry%20v4.pdf
I have a free app on my iPhone, "Legal Heat," which is pretty handy for both local laws and for traveling CCW across state lines.
not free... requires payment and a renewing subscription
https://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/management/upload/Firearms-in-IMRparks2-2010.pdf
"Congress approved a new law allowing loaded rearms in national parks starting Feb. 22, 2010. That means people can openly carry legal handguns, ri es, shotguns and other rearms and also may carry concealed guns as allowed by state statute."
West Virginia just passed laws allowing any resident of the state to carry concealed without a permit.
The North Carolina House recently did the same. However, I imagine it will get veto'd by the governor when it makes it to his desk.
This is why we need a national reciprocity law so that all the states have to accept an out of state license. I can drive my 3000-4000 pound vehicle (an instrument that kills way more people every year then guns) to any state. I bet the states raised the same questions of training and licensing requirements when that was first passed too, but they were forced to do it. We should be able to do the same with a CCW.
D.C. Is almost as bad
In Maryland no one gets a permit unless there is "a good reason" basically if you work in security. No one else can get them. If you have a gun in your car the ammo has to be stored as far away from the firearm as possible, it cant be within reach. You have to be going to the range or from the range, you will be arrested. No one ever talks about it but Maryland by far has the most unconstitutional laws in the country
Carry everywhere, all the time.
Also, National Parks are under the local state laws from what I understand: "In accordance with 16 USC 1a-7b, in any national park, a person may possess a firearm if such possession is in compliance with the laws of the State in which the national park area is located" (cited: https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/csp/colorado-gun-laws)
Thanks Dustin!
My understanding of Colorado Law is that you can have weapon in your car on school grounds/federal property as long as it is concealed and car is locked once you leave the vehicle.
The same goes for South Carolina. You can possess a firearm in you car (vehicle) as long as it is concealed, and the vehicle is attended, or locked.
I'm so happy to live in the free state of Indiana. Although it can sometimes be an issue traveling through the not-so-free state of Illinois to the west. While he was still the Governor, Mike Pence signed a law to allow for vehicle carry at schools provided you are either attending a school even(I.E. a football game), or dropping off\picking up someone at the school. Before, it was such a hassle to have to either go home to disarm or park off school grounds.