Need a Permit to Carry a Concealed Firearm? Not In These States
As the number of states ending permit requirements for residents to carry concealed firearms increases, law enforcement and critics alike warn that the newfound freedom endangers communities and police.
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In 2021, Arkansas, Iowa, Montana, Tennessee, Texas and Utah have enacted “constitutional carry” measures, no longer requiring residents to hold a permit to carry a concealed firearm. This now brings the total number of states that have such freedoms in place to 21, with more states advancing to enact the same change, reports Pew Stateline. Ohio, Louisiana, and South Carolina recently passed similar bills that would eliminate a requirement for gun owners to take an eight-hour class and undergo a background check to carry a concealed firearm in public. Proponents say permitless carry laws remove an onerous and time-consuming step for people who want to arm themselves for self-protection. However, gun safety advocates and law enforcement agencies argue that having more people with concealed firearms in public places endangers communities and police officers alike. A September, 2021 study seemingly backs up that claim, as researchers found that since Wisconsin enacted a law in 2011 allowing residents to carry concealed weapons with a permit, gun-related homicides and aggravated assaults have risen.
