If there is one amendment outside of the freedom of speech that Americans protect with all their might, it’s the Second Amendment. The right to bear arms is one of the most beloved principles in America today, as is the right to self-defense. The challenge for most Americans is that the right to self-defense varies, in some cases, considerably state by state.
Alabama
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/shutterstock_1072528004-scaled-1.jpg)
Alabama allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit.
Alaska
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry3-GBz.jpg)
Alaska allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Arizona
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry34-8wC.jpg)
Arizona allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Arkansas
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/imageForEntry6-bhM.jpg)
Arkansas allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Florida
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shutterstock-458888506-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
Florida prohibits the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Georgia
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry30-RAG.jpg)
Georgia allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Idaho
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/imageForEntry2-MHx.jpg)
Idaho allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Indiana
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shutterstock-664154032-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
Indiana requires a permit for the open carry of handguns but allows the open carry of long guns. A permitless concealed carry law makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Iowa
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry29-bAT.jpg)
Iowa allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Kansas
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry3-3Bx.jpg)
Kansas allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Kentucky
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry17-lZs.jpg)
Kentucky allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Louisiana
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/imageForEntry39-E83.jpg)
Louisiana allows the open carry of handguns and long guns. It has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal for residents with military service only to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Michigan
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/imageForEntry35-CH2.jpg)
Michigan allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a concealed carry law that makes it illegal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Mississippi
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry30-L2x.jpg)
Mississippi allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Missouri
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/shutterstock_544847566-scaled-1.jpg)
Missouri allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Montana
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/imageForEntry14-fEm.jpg)
Montana allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Nevada
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shutterstock_1493107232-scaled-1.jpg)
Nevada allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a concealed carry law that makes it illegal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
New Hampshire
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry29-NsY.jpg)
New Hampshire allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
North Carolina
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shutterstock-2350617095-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
North Carolina allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a concealed carry law that makes it illegal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
North Dakota
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry13-9m2.jpg)
North Dakota allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Ohio
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shutterstock-518190841-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
Ohio allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Oklahoma
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/imageForEntry10-Na0.jpg)
Oklahoma allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Pennsylvania
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry10-UEE.jpg)
Pennsylvania allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a concealed carry law that makes it illegal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
South Carolina
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry34-dqx.jpg)
South Carolina requires a permit for the open carry of handguns but allows the open carry of long guns. It has a concealed carry law that makes it illegal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
South Dakota
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/shutterstock-158187410-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
South Dakota allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Tennessee
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry12-rwj.jpg)
Tennessee allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state does not require people to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Texas
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/shutterstock-681676399-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
Texas allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Utah
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/shutterstock-2147131951-huge-licensed-scaled-1.jpg)
Utah allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
West Virginia
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry6-WoJ.jpg)
West Virginia allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
Wyoming
![](https://history-computer.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/imageForEntry3-hWQ.jpg)
Wyoming allows the open carry of handguns and long guns and has a permitless concealed carry law that makes it legal to carry a weapon in public places without a permit. The state gives people no obligation to retreat from dangerous confrontations in public.
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