Right to Carry States

It all depends what the meaning of "right to carry" is. New York has "right to carry" law, but it's danged near impossible in NYC to get a license. The rest of the state varies from county to county.
 
Like JimPage above said, they all have some sort of carry law(s). Most states permit it, while others, like NJ have a de-facto ban on carry.
 
MurrayNevada said:
Do all 50 States have right to carry laws now?
Click to expand...
I'm going to have to pick nits here, and offer that state laws do not establish a right to carry a firearm. State laws set forth conditions under which the state grants you permission to carry a firearm.

Enumerations of rights are typically found in the constitutions of the various states, and NOT all state constitutions convey or [purport to] guarantee that right. Some proclaim the right but then go back on themselves and require a permit to carry. Others proclaim the right but only for defense of the state (Massachusetts, for example).

I guess I have to ask what your real question is. Are you asking which states have established a right to bear arms in the state's constitution, or are you asking in which states is there some legal avenue under which a person can carry a firearm?
 
Aguila Blanca said:
I'm going to have to pick nits here... Enumerations of rights are typically found in the constitutions of the various states, and NOT all state constitutions convey or [purport to] guarantee that right. Some proclaim the right but then go back on themselves and require a permit to carry. Others proclaim the right but only for defense of the state (Massachusetts, for example).
Click to expand...
I don't think you're picking nits at all. :) This is a very important detail to understand.

For instance, in "gun-friendly" shall-issue Texas, Article I, Section 23 of the state constitution reads as follows:
RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime.
Click to expand...
IOW the state recognizes the RKBA in theory, but the Legislature gets to say how the right is exercised in practice, with a "view to prevent crime," whatever that means. FWIW for most of the state's history, this provision was used to prohibit civilian concealed carry, and the state continues to prohibit civilian open carry, although this may change in the current legislative session.
 
Last edited:
Yep. I mentioned Massachusetts, largely because I find it so ironic that the state where the American Revolution began -- because the British wanted to disarm the colonials -- doesn't have a strong right to keep and bear arms.

Article XVII. The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature; and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it.
Click to expand...
(Emphasis added)

https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution
 
A great big thank you goes out to the republicans in the Kansas house and senate and governor sam brownback. We will soon be able to carry concealed without the licensure, fee, etc, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top