#Duty to inform state how to#

The decision held that issuing authorities had to have a real reason to deny an applicant who otherwise met all requirements giving local authorities total authority on how New Yorkers could exercise their constitutional rights was a bridge too far. This case challenged the use of the 'good cause' requirement in New York's Sullivan Act, which was the template for may-issue laws nationwide. In June of 2022, the Supreme Court of the United States released its decision on New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. May Issue States And New York State Rifle And Pistol v. This guide will discuss what the permit issuing laws are in each state, so you'll know what you're in for. “Open carry” simply refers to carrying a firearm openly and where visible while in public, rather than concealed upon your person.

“Open carry” is another term you will hear referred to regularly in this guide.

The may-issue states are CA, CT, DE, HI, MA, MD, NJ, NY, and RI…but may-issue states are currently in a state of flux, due to the Supreme Court's decision in NYS Rifle & Pistol Association v. Of the remaining 25 states, all but nine are 'Shall-Issue.' In some shall-issue states, the issuing authority has limited discretion to deny a permit if they have a compelling and demonstrable reason why the applicant shouldn't be allowed to carry a gun. Non-prohibited persons can carry in those states without needing a permit, but can still get a permit if they want to.

The idea is the 'Second Amendment doesn't mention a permit' and non-prohibited persons, therefore, have every right to carry a gun without needing a permission slip.Īt the time of this writing, 25 states have constitutional carry laws. “Constitutional Carry” is probably the easiest concept to understand on this list. Just like shall-issue, 'may issue' states typically use that exact wording in the actual laws.Ĭonstitutional Carry: there is no permit required to carry a concealed firearm, so long as the person is not legally prohibited from possessing one. May Issue: the issuing authority can decide to deny the permit application, even if the applicant meets all the requirements they aren't obligated to grant it. These states typically have the phrase “ shall issue' in the concealed carry permit laws, hence the name. Shall Issue: if the applicant meets the requirements, the state is required to issue the permit. States can be grouped into three types: “Shall Issue”, “May Issue” and “Constitutional Carry.” What those terms mean is whether a state requires a permit to carry a gun in public, and the type of law that governs how the permit is issued. Here are a few key terms and their definitions. To better understand the concealed carry permit process, you should familiarize yourself with these terms and what they mean. In this guide, you may find three common phrases you are unfamiliar with. If you need actual legal advice, please seek out a qualified attorney. We are not responsible for any errors or omissions herein. This is a discussion of publicly available information. We also include relevant links to state laws and state agencies for you to learn more.īear in mind, this is not legal advice. We'll tell you if you need a permit, what you need to do to get it, and a general overview of each state.

In this guide, we're going to give you a brief overview of every state when it comes to their concealed carry laws. Concealed carry laws dictate whether a permit is required, how you go about getting one, who can get one, where you can carry and more. Laws vary from state to state, and it is on you to know what the laws are in your state.

#Duty to inform state how to#

The first step in concealed carry is knowing how to do so lawfully. (Click on a state to jump to that section) Alabama