Concealed Carry Laws 2026: Federal Rules and State Basics

Quick answer: In 2026, 29 states let eligible adults carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The other 21 don’t allow permitless carry, and since the Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision, states can’t make you prove a special need to get a permit. Federal law still bars certain people from having guns and bans guns in some places nationwide, such as federal buildings and post offices. There is still no national reciprocity law, so check the law of each state you’ll be in.

Permitless vs. permit states in 2026

Twenty-nine states now allow permitless (often called “constitutional”) carry for adults who can legally have a gun. That count comes from Handgunlaw.us’s list (last updated September 5, 2026). No new state has been added since Louisiana and South Carolina in 2024. See the full list, with dates, on our constitutional carry states 2026 page.

North Carolina is the one to watch. Its permitless carry bill, Senate Bill 50, was vetoed by the governor on June 20, 2025. The state Senate voted to override the veto on July 29, 2025. The House has not held its override vote. It has been put on and taken off the House calendar many times, most recently on April 6, 2026, per the North Carolina General Assembly.

Permitless carry doesn’t erase every rule: each state sets its own minimum age and banned places. Handgunlaw.us also notes that some permitless states still require a permit to carry in certain places. Check your state’s own law for the details.

What Bruen changed for permit states

In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen (decided June 23, 2022), the Supreme Court held that the Second and Fourteenth Amendments protect an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home.

New York had made applicants show “proper cause,” a special need for self-protection beyond that of the general public. The Court struck that rule down, noting that other constitutional rights don’t require people to prove “some special need” to the government. At the time, the Court counted New York plus California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and the District of Columbia as having this kind of rule.

Bruen did not end permits. The Court said nothing in its ruling should suggest that “shall-issue” permit systems are unconstitutional. Those systems use objective criteria and often require a background check or a safety course. The Court also said it could assume carry bans in some “sensitive places” are settled, naming legislative assemblies, polling places and courthouses.

In June 2026 the Court applied Bruen again in Wolford v. Lopez. It struck down a Hawaii law that barred permit holders from carrying on private property open to the public unless the owner expressly said yes.

Who can’t have a gun under federal law

Federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), makes it a crime for these people to ship, transport, possess or receive a firearm or ammunition:

• Anyone convicted of a crime punishable by more than one year in prison. Some offenses are excluded, including a state misdemeanor punishable by two years or less (§ 921(a)(20)).
• Fugitives from justice.
• Unlawful users of, or people addicted to, a controlled substance.
• Anyone adjudicated as a “mental defective” or committed to a mental institution.
• People in the U.S. illegally, and most people admitted on a nonimmigrant visa (the statute lists exceptions).
• Anyone dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces.
• Anyone who has renounced U.S. citizenship.
• Anyone subject to certain domestic-violence restraining orders issued after a hearing.
• Anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

Two recent rulings matter. In 2024 the Court rejected a facial challenge to the restraining-order ban (United States v. Rahimi). On June 18, 2026, in United States v. Hemani, it held that prosecuting one marijuana user under the drug-user ban violated the Second Amendment. The Court said its decision “is narrow” and left other questions about the law open.

Minimum age to buy a handgun from a dealer

Under 18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(1), a licensed dealer may not sell or deliver any firearm or ammunition to someone it knows or has reasonable cause to believe is under 18. For firearms other than rifles and shotguns, such as handguns, and their ammunition, the limit is 21. This rule has been challenged in court. In January 2025, the Fifth Circuit held the under-21 handgun sales ban unconstitutional in Reese v. ATF. On June 30, 2026, the Supreme Court declined to hear two other challenges to that ban (dockets 25-24 and 25-132). If you are 18 to 20, check the current rule before you buy.

Reciprocity: there is no national carry law

No federal law makes every state honor every other state’s carry permit. The bill that would do so in this Congress is H.R. 38, the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2025. It was introduced January 3, 2025. The House Judiciary Committee approved it 18-9 on March 25, 2025. Its latest action, on October 3, 2025, was being reported to the House (H. Rept. 119-337) and placed on the Union Calendar, No. 289. It has not had a House floor vote.

Until that changes, whether your permit works in another state depends on that state’s law. See our concealed carry reciprocity maps to start, then confirm with the other state’s official sources.

Driving through other states: federal “safe passage”

18 U.S.C. § 926A lets a person who is not barred from having guns transport a firearm from any place where they may lawfully have and carry it to any other such place. The conditions are strict:

• The firearm must be unloaded.
• Neither the firearm nor any ammunition can be readily accessible or directly accessible from the passenger compartment.
• In a vehicle without a separate trunk, the firearm or ammunition must be in a locked container other than the glove compartment or console.

This protects transporting a gun, not carrying it loaded on your person.

Places federal law restricts guns

The school-zone license exception is narrow. It applies only if you are licensed by the state the school zone is in, and only if that state’s law makes officials check that you are qualified before issuing the license. By its wording, it doesn’t cover a permit from another state, and permitless carry isn’t a license.

Air travel: TSA treats a gun as “loaded” for civil penalties if you can reach both the gun and its ammunition.

Private property and posted signs

As a rule, property owners decide who comes onto their property. In Wolford, the Supreme Court said owners of businesses open to the public can admit or exclude people carrying guns. What the Court struck down was Hawaii’s attempt to flip the default, so that carry was banned unless the owner gave express consent.

Whether a “no guns” sign has the force of law depends on your state. For example, North Carolina’s permit law says a permit doesn’t allow concealed carry “on any private premises” where the person in control has posted a conspicuous notice banning it (G.S. 14-415.11(c)(8)). Read your own state’s statute. If an owner or employee asks you to leave, leaving is the safe choice.

Checklist: how to check your state’s law

• Go to official sources. Read the statute on your state legislature’s website. Also check the state attorney general’s or state police’s carry page.
• Check the date. Carry laws change. Note when the page you’re reading was last updated and when any new law takes effect.
• Know the banned places. Each state keeps its own list, on top of the federal places above.
• Know whether you must tell police. Some states require it. North Carolina, for example, says permit holders must tell an officer they have a permit and are carrying when the officer approaches or addresses them, and must show the permit and ID if asked (G.S. 14-415.11(a)).
• Carry your permit and ID. North Carolina’s statute requires permit holders to carry both while carrying a concealed handgun.

State quick answers: 16 states at a glance

Each line below is the short answer. The sections that follow give the rules, the source and the date each source showed. Last checked November 3, 2026.

• North Carolina: permit still required for concealed carry. The permitless-carry bill (S50) was vetoed in June 2025 and the House has not voted to override.
• Tennessee: no permit needed at 21, or at 18 for qualifying military. Two optional permits exist.
• Texas: no license needed at 21. A License to Carry still matters for college campuses and other states.
• Minnesota: permit required to carry a handgun in public. Sherburne County’s sheriff lists 18 as the minimum age to apply.
• Louisiana: no permit needed at 18 since July 4, 2024.
• Georgia: no license needed for a “lawful weapons carrier”. Public carry stays limited to 21 and over, with a military exception.
• Missouri: the concealed-carry ban does not apply to people 19 or older, or 18 or older and serving in or honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, who are transporting a lawfully possessed concealable firearm in a vehicle’s passenger compartment.
• South Carolina: no permit needed at 18 since March 7, 2024.
• Colorado: permit required for concealed carry. Permits are issued by the county sheriff to residents 21 and older.
• Virginia: permit required for concealed carry. Out-of-state permits are honored now, but the rule narrows on July 1, 2027.
• Michigan: Concealed Pistol License required. Applicants must be 21 and a Michigan resident for six months.
• Nevada: permit required to carry a concealed firearm. In Las Vegas, LVMPD issues it after an eight-hour Nevada-certified class; see our Las Vegas CCW guide.
• Connecticut: state permit required to carry a pistol or revolver, starting with a 60-day temporary permit from your town; see our Connecticut pistol permit guide.
• Indiana: no license needed at 18 for people who are not prohibited. Licenses are still issued and are fee-exempt.
• Florida: no license needed for people who meet the license criteria. Non-residents 21 or older may carry if they meet Florida’s license criteria or have their home-state license with them.
• Alabama: no permit needed since January 1, 2023. You must tell an officer you are armed if asked.

North Carolina concealed carry laws

North Carolina still requires a concealed handgun permit to carry a pistol concealed (G.S. 14-269, read November 4, 2026). You apply to the sheriff of the county where you live; you must be 21, a resident for 30 days and complete an approved course with live fire, and the permit is valid for five years. Permitless carry (SB 50) has not become law: the House has not taken its veto-override vote.

Our full North Carolina concealed carry guide covers who qualifies, how to apply, fees, renewal, carry rules and where a permit does not let you carry.

Tennessee concealed carry laws

No permit needed at 21. Tennessee Code § 39-17-1307(g) lets a person carry a handgun without a permit if they are at least 21, or at least 18 and an honorably discharged veteran, a National Guard member, or an active-duty service member who has completed basic training, so long as they lawfully possess the handgun and are in a place where they are lawfully present. The code was shown as current through January 2, 2024.

Ages 18 to 20. A court-approved settlement in Beeler v. Long, approved March 27, 2023, committed the Attorney General’s office not to prosecute 18- to 20-year-olds for carrying a handgun without a permit, and the Highway Patrol was instructed not to cite them. In 2025 the legislature lowered the age for an enhanced handgun carry permit from 21 to 18 in House Bill 1332, Public Chapter 356, signed May 8, 2025. The Department of Safety’s FAQ states the minimum age for a Tennessee handgun carry permit is 18. The permitless-carry statute itself still reads 21 on the version we checked, so the 18-to-20 position rests on the settlement and on holding a permit, not on the statute’s text.

Two optional permits. The Enhanced Handgun Carry Permit allows open or concealed carry, costs $100, or $65 for active or honorably discharged military, and is issued for eight years. Applicants must complete a department-approved handgun safety course within one year of applying, with classroom and range hours, unless exempt for military or law enforcement background. The Concealed Handgun Carry Permit must be carried concealed at all times, costs $65, lasts eight years, and does not allow carry at any school or university, public or private. Its competency options include a hunter safety course, military service, a prior firearms license, or a certified course of at least 90 minutes.

Posted property. A property owner may prohibit weapons by posting a “NO FIREARMS ALLOWED” sign with the pictogram and statutory citation the law describes. Possessing a weapon on properly posted property is a Class B misdemeanor with a $500 fine.

Texas concealed carry laws

Texas has allowed eligible adults to carry a handgun without a License to Carry since September 1, 2021 (House Bill 1927). A visible handgun must be in a holster, and Penal Code 46.03 still bars firearms in places such as schools, polling places, courts and secured airport areas (official statute text, read November 4, 2026). DPS still issues the License to Carry, which helps with reciprocity and campus carry.

Our full Texas concealed carry guide covers who can carry without a license, the age rules, the 30.05/30.06/30.07 signs, and LTC fees, training and benefits.

Minnesota concealed carry laws

Minnesota requires a Permit to Carry to carry a handgun in public; carrying without one is a gross misdemeanor under Minn. Stat. 624.714. Apply to your county sheriff (non-residents to any Minnesota sheriff) with training from a certified instructor within the past year; the sheriff has 30 days, and the permit lasts five years. DPS says sheriffs now issue permits to qualified applicants 18 to 20 (Minnesota DPS, read November 4, 2026).

Our full Minnesota permit to carry guide covers who qualifies, training, fees, renewal, where you cannot carry, and which out-of-state permits Minnesota honors.

Louisiana concealed carry laws

No permit needed at 18. Act 1 of the 2024 Second Extraordinary Session (Senate Bill 1) made it lawful for any person 18 or older who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. It took effect July 4, 2024.

Why keep a permit. Louisiana permits remain available. News coverage at the time of the change noted that if you travel, you still need a permit for reciprocity with other states.

Georgia law on concealed weapons

No license needed for a lawful weapons carrier. Georgia law lets a “lawful weapons carrier” carry a weapon without a license. The term means any person who is licensed or eligible for a license under Code § 16-11-129 and who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a weapon. Senate Bill 319 also covers residents of other states who would be eligible but for residency and anyone licensed to carry in another state.

Age. A weapons carry license may not be issued to anyone under 21, except a person aged 18 to 20 who has completed basic military training and is serving or was honorably discharged. On May 28, 2025 the Georgia Supreme Court unanimously upheld the ban on people under 21 carrying handguns in public. Military members are exempt, and people under 21 may still have a handgun on their own property, in their vehicle, at work, and while hunting, fishing or sport shooting.

Why get the license anyway. The probate court issues the Weapons Carry License, valid for five years. Chatham County charges $77 for a new license and $30 to renew. The court notes Georgia no longer requires a Georgia resident who is a lawful weapons carrier to hold a license to carry concealed in Georgia. Fees vary by county.

Missouri concealed carry laws

Carrying in a vehicle at 19. The unlawful-use-of-weapons statute’s ban on carrying concealed does not apply to a person 19 or older, or 18 or older and a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or honorably discharged from them, who is transporting a concealable firearm in the passenger compartment of a motor vehicle, so long as the firearm is otherwise lawfully possessed. The version shown was effective August 28, 2026.

South Carolina concealed carry laws

No permit needed at 18. H. 3594 was signed on March 7, 2024 and took effect immediately. Anyone 18 or older who is not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm may carry openly or concealed without a permit. A person who is not otherwise prohibited may store a firearm anywhere in a vehicle, whether occupied or unoccupied.

Duty to inform. The State Law Enforcement Division states that a permit holder or a person carrying without a permit does not have a duty to notify an officer that they are carrying a firearm.

Why keep a CWP. The permit program continues because it gives reciprocity with recognizing states and makes buying from a dealer easier. SLED may not charge a fee for the permit training course and must offer it in every county at least twice a month.

Colorado concealed carry laws

Colorado requires a Concealed Handgun Permit to carry a concealed handgun outside your home, business or property, or a private vehicle; otherwise it is a class 1 misdemeanor. County sheriffs issue permits to legal Colorado residents 21 and older, and since July 1, 2025 the training class must be at least 8 hours, in person, with a live-fire exercise and a written exam (C.R.S. 18-12-105, 18-12-202.5 and 18-12-203; CBI, read November 4, 2026).

Our full Colorado concealed carry guide covers who qualifies, training, fees, the 90-day decision, renewal, places you cannot carry, and reciprocity.

CCW laws in Virginia

A permit is required. Carrying a pistol hidden from common observation is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Exceptions include your own residence and its curtilage, your own place of business, and a handgun secured in a container or compartment in a personal private vehicle. Holding a valid permit is an affirmative defense. The code page was updated November 3, 2026.

Our full Virginia concealed carry permit guide covers who can apply, the nine ways to show competence, fees, the 45-day rule, renewal and nonresident permits.

Out-of-state permits today. A valid permit from another state authorizes a holder who is at least 21 to carry concealed in Virginia, with government-issued photo ID, where that state offers verification of permit validity. The State Police say the law requires Virginia to recognize permits from all states that issue them.

Change coming July 1, 2027. A 2026 amendment, Chapter 879, limits recognition from July 1, 2027 to states whose requirements are “substantially similar” to Virginia’s, as determined by the Attorney General, with a registry maintained on the Virginia Criminal Information Network. Virginia residents who do not hold a Virginia permit will not be able to use an out-of-state permit, except active-duty service members and their spouses. Re-check this section in mid-2027.

Michigan carry laws

Michigan requires a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to carry a concealed pistol outside your home, business or land; carrying without one is a felony. Applicants must be 21, have lived in Michigan for six months and complete a pistol safety course of at least 8 hours with 3 hours of range time; the fee is $100, and the county clerk must decide within 45 days after fingerprinting (Michigan State Police and MCL 28.425b, read November 4, 2026).

Our full Michigan CPL guide covers the requirements, training, application steps, renewal, and pistol-free areas.

Indiana concealed carry laws

No license needed at 18. A person who is at least 18 and not otherwise prohibited from carrying or possessing a handgun under state or federal law is not required to obtain a license. The code was shown as current through January 1, 2026. Indiana State Police date the permitless carry option to July 1, 2022 and recommend speaking to an attorney about your compliance with IC 35-47-2-1.5 before carrying under it.

Licenses are free. The five-year and lifetime Licenses to Carry Handgun are fee-exempt, and a person may hold both at once. Applications, fingerprinting and payments are handled online.

Florida concealed carry laws

Florida allows concealed carry without a license for anyone who meets the criteria for a license (section 790.01, 2026 Florida Statutes), and a person carrying that way must carry valid ID and show it to an officer on demand (section 790.013). FDACS still issues a Concealed Weapon License, which is valid for seven years and helps when you travel to states that honor it (FDACS, read November 4, 2026).

Our full Florida concealed carry guide covers who qualifies, training that counts, fees, processing time, renewal, where a license does not let you carry, and open carry.

Alabama concealed carry laws

No permit needed since January 1, 2023. House Bill 272 eliminated the requirement to obtain a concealed carry permit to lawfully carry a pistol in any area not specifically prohibited by law, and repealed § 13A-11-73. The act took effect January 1, 2023. Anyone 18 or over who is not prohibited by state or federal law may carry a handgun without a permit.

You must answer if asked. Section 3 of the act provides that any person with a pistol concealed on their person or in a vehicle they occupy who is asked by an officer acting in the line of duty whether they are armed “shall immediately inform the law enforcement officer” that they have a pistol or firearm. The act also bars a driver or occupant from knowingly touching a handgun during a traffic stop unless directed by the officer, as a Class A misdemeanor. A Baldwin County sheriff’s captain summarized it the same way: if an officer asks, you have to tell them.

Permits continue. Sheriffs still issue permits under § 13A-11-75. St. Clair County, for example, lists a one-year permit at $15 and a five-year permit at $75, and advises residents who travel to keep a permit because other states recognize it while permitless carry may not be honored. Alabama honors a handgun license from any state while the holder is not an Alabama resident.

Carrying legally and comfortably: holsters and belts

In Texas, a handgun in plain view in a vehicle must be in a holster, carried by someone 21 or older or licensed, and displaying a handgun in public is an offense unless it is carried in a holster. More states now allow permitless carry, which the Crime Prevention Research Center counted at 29 as of December 2025.

Our Cloudster Pillow holster wedge is a soft, adjustable-fill memory-foam wedge that attaches with velcro to the back of any IWB or appendix holster. It tilts the grip in to stop printing and cushions the holster edge that digs in when you sit, and it is made in the USA by a small family business. The Kore gun belts we carry are listed on the site’s belt category page.

Quick-answer lines to add to “State quick answers”

• Wisconsin: license required to carry concealed. Carrying without one is a Class A misdemeanor unless you hold a Wisconsin or recognized out-of-state license.
• New York: license required, with 16 hours of in-person live curriculum plus 2 hours of live fire, an interview and four references.
• New York City: the NYPD License Division issues handgun licenses, applications are online only, and a license from elsewhere in the state is not valid in the city without a special permit from the police commissioner.
• Illinois: license required. You must be 21, hold a valid FOID card and complete 16 hours of training.
• Washington: Concealed Pistol License required to carry concealed outside your home or business. Apply at 21 to your local police or sheriff.

Wisconsin concealed carry laws

A license is required. Under Wisconsin Statute 941.23, a person who carries a concealed and dangerous weapon is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor, unless they are a licensee under s. 175.60 or an out-of-state licensee as that section defines it. The statute page showed changes through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247.

Who can get a license. The Wisconsin Department of Justice states that Wisconsin residents can apply for authorization to carry a concealed handgun after completing the required training and passing a firearms eligibility background check. Under s. 175.60(3), an applicant must be at least 21, a Wisconsin resident or a military member stationed in the state for a term scheduled to last at least one year, and not prohibited from possessing a firearm under state or federal law.

Training the state accepts. First-time applicants must provide one of six forms of proof: a Wisconsin Hunter Education certificate or a substantially similar program from another state; a current or expired concealed carry license from another state that has not been revoked for cause, with form DJ-LE-289; documentation of small arms training in the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserves or National Guard, such as a DD-214 or DD-256 showing an honorable or general under honorable conditions discharge; a letter from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Standards Board or a police department confirming service as an officer; documentation of private security training with a Firearms Certification of Proficiency; or a certificate from a firearms safety course run by a national or state organization that certifies instructors, a law enforcement agency, a technical college, a college or university, or a certified instructor.

Cost, validity and timing. A new license costs $40 and requires approved training. A renewal costs $22, requires no new training, and expires five years from the renewal issue date or from the original expiration date, whichever is later. The Department processes renewals and new applications within 21 days. The statute sets the same 21-day deadline and five-year term. You may renew as early as 120 days before expiration and up to 90 days after. The residential address on the application must match the one registered with the Department of Transportation or the application will be denied. The Department runs an online license website for new applications, renewals, address changes and status checks. These pages show no publication date, so they were checked on November 3, 2026.

Visitors. Wisconsin recognizes licenses from states whose requirements are substantially similar to Wisconsin law, including a background check that covers criminal history and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, and only for holders who are at least 21. A Wisconsin resident must hold a Wisconsin license to carry in Wisconsin, even if they also hold a valid license from another state. Some states are recognized only for certain license types, and a few are not recognized at all, so check the Department’s reciprocity page rather than a copied list.

New York concealed carry laws

New York requires a concealed carry license from your county or local licensing officer, or from the NYPD License Division in New York City. Applicants need a 16-hour classroom course and a 2-hour live-fire course, four character references and an in-person interview, and must be 21 unless honorably discharged from the military (Penal Law 400.00, read November 4, 2026). A license from elsewhere in the state is not valid in New York City without a special permit from the city’s police commissioner.

Our full New York pistol permit guide covers who issues it, the NYPD process and fees, how long it takes, and renewal and recertification.

Illinois concealed carry laws

Illinois requires a Concealed Carry License from the Illinois State Police to carry a concealed firearm, and open carry is not allowed. Applicants must be at least 21, hold a valid FOID card if they live in Illinois, and complete 16 hours of training; the resident fee is $150 (Illinois State Police, read November 4, 2026).

Our full Illinois concealed carry license guide covers the qualifications, training topics, fees, timing, renewal and nonresident rules.

Washington concealed carry laws

Washington requires a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to carry a pistol concealed outside your home or fixed place of business, and to keep a loaded pistol in a vehicle (RCW 9.41.050). Apply at 21 to your city police or county sheriff, not the Department of Licensing; the state fee is $36 plus FBI charges, the license lasts five years, and from May 1, 2027 applicants will need certified training (RCW 9.41.070, read November 4, 2026).

Our full Washington concealed pistol license guide covers who qualifies, what to bring, fees, renewal, the 2027 training rule and restricted places.

Is there a US-wide concealed carry permit?

The bill that would change how permits work across state lines, H.R. 38, does not create a national permit. As reported to the House on October 3, 2025, H.R. 38 would let a person carry a concealed handgun in another state only if they are not federally prohibited, are carrying a valid photo identification document, and are either carrying a valid state-issued license or permit or are “entitled to carry a concealed firearm in the State in which the person resides”. In other words, it relies on a state permit or on your being entitled to carry concealed in your home state. The bill’s current status is covered in the section above.

What H.R. 38 would not override. The reported text says the section “shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property,” or laws that restrict firearms “on any State or local government property, installation, building, or base”. Posted private property and state and local government buildings would still follow state law.

What it would add on federal land. The same text says a person carrying under the bill could do so in areas open to the public in a unit of the National Park System, a unit of the National Wildlife Refuge System, public land under the Bureau of Land Management, land managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, land managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, and land managed by the Forest Service.

A second bill takes a different route. H.R. 645, the National Constitutional Carry Act, introduced January 23, 2025, would bar any state or political subdivision from imposing “a criminal or civil penalty on, or otherwise indirectly limit the carrying of firearms (including by imposing a financial or other barrier to entry) in public by residents or nonresidents of that State who are citizens of the United States and otherwise eligible to possess firearms under State and Federal law”. Check Congress.gov for the latest action before relying on either bill.

The one group with a federal carry right. Two federal statutes do authorize nationwide concealed carry, but only for qualified law enforcement officers. Under 18 U.S.C. § 926B (as last amended January 2, 2013), a qualified active officer carrying the required agency identification “may carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce”. Under § 926C, the same applies to a qualified retired officer who, among other conditions, separated in good standing, served ten years in aggregate (or separated for a service-connected disability after any probationary period), and during the most recent 12-month period met the firearms qualification standards for active law enforcement officers. Neither section overrides state laws that let private owners prohibit or restrict concealed firearms on their property, or that prohibit or restrict firearms on state or local government property. If you are not a current or retired officer, these sections do not apply to you.

How states decide whether to honor your permit

Our concealed carry reciprocity maps page walks through how to check a trip state by state. The examples below show different patterns, each from the state’s own source.

Honors any valid permit. Arizona’s Department of Public Safety states that “Arizona and any political subdivision of Arizona shall recognize a concealed weapon, firearm, or handgun permit or license that is issued by another state,” as long as the permit is valid in the issuing state and the holder is legally present and not prohibited from possessing firearms in Arizona. Indiana’s statute says licenses to carry handguns “issued by other states or foreign countries, will be recognized according to the terms thereof but only while the holders are not residents of Indiana,” on the version current through January 1, 2026.

Honors a list, by agreement or one-way recognition. Texas keeps three lists. “Reciprocal” states are those that “recognize each other’s handgun license either by agreement or statute.” “Unilateral” means “one state recognizes another state’s valid license to carry a handgun.” The page’s third list is states and territories with no agreement at all, which included Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, Vermont and the District of Columbia on the version dated September 11, 2020. The Department of Public Safety adds that “license holders are responsible for knowing and following the laws of the state in which they are carrying”, and that a Texas license holder in a reciprocal state “must follow that state’s laws for carrying a handgun”. That page is dated 2020, so confirm the current list before a trip.

Honors none. The California Attorney General’s FAQ answers the question directly: “No. CCW licenses/permits issued in other states are not valid in California”. Under the Attorney General’s travel page, a U.S. citizen over 18 who is not prohibited from having firearms and is temporarily in California may transport a handgun by motor vehicle provided it is “unloaded and locked in the vehicle’s trunk or in a locked container”.

A non-resident permit can widen your map. Some states issue permits to people who live elsewhere. Utah charges $90 for a non-resident permit versus $55 for residents, requires a BCI-certified firearms familiarity course, takes 60 days to process, and issues the permit for five years. Non-residents from some states must also show proof of a home-state permit, “if applicable based on your state of residence.” The fee figures took effect October 1, 2026. Arizona also accepts non-resident applications from U.S. citizens who meet its eligibility rules, at $60 for a new permit and $43 to renew, with a 75-day processing estimate. A non-resident permit only helps in states that recognize that permit, so check the issuing state’s own reciprocity map before you count on it.

One rule holds everywhere. In each example above, the state where you carry decides whether your permit counts.

> Whichever states honor your permit, the holster rides against you for the whole trip. The Cloudster Pillow holster wedge mounts with hook-and-loop Velcro to any IWB or AIWB holster, uses adjustable shredded cooling gel memory foam, and angles the grip into the body to reduce printing and pressure points during all-day appendix or strong-side carry. It comes in Mini, Standard, Deluxe and Monster sizes from $20.00 to $45.00, is USA made, and carries free 30-day returns and a lifetime warranty. Compare the sizes on the holster wedge page.

More places where federal rules apply

The table above covers federal buildings, post offices, national parks, airports and school zones. These rules reach other places a traveler meets.

Federal courthouses and the posted notice. Under 18 U.S.C. § 930 (as last amended January 7, 2008), knowingly possessing a firearm in a federal court facility carries up to two years in prison, against one year for other federal facilities. The statute defines a federal court facility as the courtroom, judges’ chambers, witness rooms, jury deliberation rooms, attorney conference rooms, prisoner holding cells, the offices of the court clerks, the U.S. attorney and the U.S. marshal, probation and parole offices, and the adjoining corridors of any court. The law also requires notice of these rules to be “posted conspicuously at each public entrance,” and no one may be convicted for a federal facility that is not posted unless they had actual notice of the law. Do not rely on a missing notice: a person with actual notice can still be convicted.

VA hospitals and clinics. Department of Veterans Affairs rules (38 CFR 1.218, as last amended August 17, 2015) apply “at all property under the charge and control of VA.” On that property, “no person while on property shall carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, except for official purposes”. The regulation’s fine schedule lists $500 for possession of a firearm carried openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, with an exception only for federal or state law enforcement officers on official business.

Military bases. The two installations below do not honor state permits. Fort Campbell’s page (last modified April 15, 2025) states: “Carrying concealed personal firearms on Fort Campbell is strictly prohibited” and “State concealed weapons permits are not recognized or honored on the installation.” Firearms carried in a vehicle there must be “secured in the trunk,” or encased in a container in a vehicle without one. A 2016 Army news article quoted a Fort Leonard Wood official saying a Missouri permit “or a concealed weapons/carry permit from any state is not recognized or valid on Fort Leonard Wood”; the article also points to Army Regulation 190-11. Read the policy of the installation you are visiting.

Army Corps of Engineers lakes and campgrounds. Under 36 CFR 327.13 (as of February 11, 2000), “the possession of loaded firearms, ammunition, loaded projectile firing devices, bows and arrows, crossbows, or other weapons is prohibited unless” an exception applies. The listed exceptions cover law enforcement, hunting and fishing, authorized shooting ranges, and written permission from the District Commander. The regulation makes no reference to state carry permits.

National wildlife refuges. Refuges follow state law under 50 CFR 27.42 (as amended December 10, 2008): “Persons may possess, carry, and transport concealed, loaded, and operable firearms within a national wildlife refuge in accordance with the laws of the state in which the wildlife refuge, or that portion thereof, is located, except as otherwise prohibited by applicable Federal law”.

Amtrak. Firearms and ammunition “may not be carried in carry-on baggage,” so checked baggage must be available on every train in your trip. You must call Amtrak at least 6 hours before travel. All firearms must be unloaded and in an approved, locked hard-sided container no larger than 62 by 17 by 7 inches, with only you holding the key or combination. The container may weigh up to 50 pounds and ammunition up to 11 pounds.

What a gun at a TSA checkpoint costs. TSA’s civil penalty for a loaded firearm at a checkpoint is $3,000 to $12,210 plus criminal referral, rising to $12,210 to $17,062 for a repeat violation. An unloaded firearm is $1,500 to $6,130 plus criminal referral, and the maximum is “$17,062 per violation per person.” Anyone who brings a firearm to a checkpoint is also denied expedited screening for a period that depends on the seriousness of the offense. Neither TSA page mentions a state carry permit as an exception.

The state sections above were written from each state’s official statutes and agency pages; those sources were read again on November 4, 2026. Laws change; check the official source before you carry.

Quick Answers

How many states have permitless carry in 2026?
29, per Handgunlaw.us (September 5, 2026). None added since 2024; North Carolina’s bill awaits a House override vote.

Is there national concealed carry reciprocity?
No. H.R. 38 would create it, but it has sat on the House calendar since October 3, 2025.

Can I carry in a post office?
No. 39 CFR 232.1(l) bans firearms on postal property except for official purposes.

Can I carry in a national park?
Generally yes, under the law of the state the park is in, but not inside park buildings like visitor centers. See our national park carry guide.

Did Bruen get rid of carry permits?
No. It struck down “proper cause” or special-need requirements. Objective “shall-issue” permit systems remain.

Can I drive through a strict state with my gun?
Only under 18 U.S.C. § 926A’s conditions: unloaded, with the gun and ammunition out of reach of the passenger area (or locked up, outside the glove box or console, if there’s no trunk).

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Do you need a permit to carry concealed in Tennessee?
Not at 21 or older, if you lawfully possess the handgun and are somewhere you are lawfully present. The statute also covers people 18 and over who are veterans, National Guard members, or active-duty service members who finished basic training. People aged 18 to 20 are covered by a 2023 settlement in which the state agreed not to prosecute them for permitless carry.

What is the difference between Tennessee’s Enhanced and Concealed permits?
The Enhanced permit allows open or concealed carry, costs $100 and lasts eight years. It requires a department-approved safety course with classroom and range time. The Concealed permit must be carried concealed at all times, costs $65, lasts eight years, and does not allow carry at any school or university.

Can you carry concealed in Louisiana without a permit?
Yes, at 18 or older, if you are not prohibited from possessing a firearm, since July 4, 2024. The same places that were off limits to permit holders remain off limits, and you cannot carry into someone else’s home without consent.

Do you need a license to carry a concealed gun in Georgia?
No, if you are a lawful weapons carrier, meaning you are licensed or eligible for a Georgia license and not prohibited from possessing a weapon. The Georgia Supreme Court upheld the ban on public handgun carry under 21 on May 28, 2025, with an exception for military members.

How old do you have to be to carry concealed in Missouri?
The statute’s exemption for transporting a lawfully possessed concealable firearm in a vehicle’s passenger compartment covers people 19 or older, or 18 or older for members of the U.S. Armed Forces and honorably discharged veterans.

Is South Carolina a constitutional carry state?
Yes. Since March 7, 2024, anyone 18 or older who is not prohibited may carry openly or concealed without a permit, and there is no duty to tell an officer you are carrying.

Do you still need a handgun license in Indiana?
No, if you are at least 18 and not prohibited under state or federal law. State Police still issue five-year and lifetime licenses at no fee.

Does Alabama require a pistol permit, and do I have to tell an officer I am armed?
No permit has been required since January 1, 2023. If an officer in the line of duty asks whether you are armed, you must immediately say so, and you may not touch a handgun during a traffic stop unless the officer directs you to.

Does Wisconsin have permitless carry?
No. Carrying a concealed and dangerous weapon is a Class A misdemeanor unless you hold a Wisconsin license or a recognized out-of-state license. Wisconsin residents must hold a Wisconsin license even if they have another state’s license.

How do I get a Wisconsin concealed carry license?
Apply through the Department of Justice’s online license website after completing accepted training and passing a background check. You must be 21, a Wisconsin resident and not prohibited from possessing a firearm. A new license costs $40, is processed within 21 days and lasts five years; renewals cost $22 with no new training.

Which out-of-state permits does Wisconsin honor?
Wisconsin honors licenses from states with substantially similar requirements, for holders at least 21 years old. A few states are recognized only for certain license types, and some are not recognized at all. Check the Department of Justice reciprocity page for the current list.

How does concealed carry reciprocity work between states?
Wisconsin, for example, honors licenses only from states it judges to have substantially similar requirements, and Illinois accepts non-resident applications only from residents of states it considers substantially similar. Wisconsin also requires visitors to be at least 21, honors some states only for certain license types, and requires its own residents to hold a Wisconsin license regardless. Check the destination state’s official page before you travel.

Funnel note

Searchers on these keywords are mostly deciding how to get a permit, so the honest next step is comfort once they carry. (Internal note only; this premise is unsourced and must not appear in page copy.) Proposed closing line for the state block, placed before the earlier draft’s “Carrying legally and comfortably” section:

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Link target: https://cloudsterpillow.com/shop/cloudster-pillow-dark-holster-wedge/

Is there a US-wide concealed carry permit?
H.R. 38 would not create one. It would make states honor a state-issued permit, or a person’s entitlement to carry concealed in their home state, together with photo ID. The federal statutes that do authorize nationwide concealed carry, 18 U.S.C. §§ 926B and 926C, cover qualified active and retired law enforcement officers.

Would H.R. 38 let me carry anywhere in another state?
No. The bill text preserves state laws that let private property owners prohibit concealed firearms and that restrict firearms on state and local government property. It would, however, allow carry in public areas of national parks, wildlife refuges, BLM, Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Forest Service land.

Does LEOSA let retired officers carry in every state?
A qualified retired officer carrying the required identification “may carry a concealed firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce”. Among other conditions, they must have served ten years in aggregate (or separated for a service-connected disability) and, during the most recent 12-month period, met the firearms qualification standards for active law enforcement officers. The law does not override state laws on private property or on state and local government property.

Which states recognize my permit?
That depends on the state you are entering, not the one that issued the permit. Arizona honors any valid out-of-state permit, Indiana honors them for non-residents, Texas keeps reciprocal, unilateral and no-agreement lists, and California honors none. Start with our concealed carry reciprocity maps, then read the official page of each state on your route.

What is the difference between reciprocity and unilateral recognition?
Texas defines reciprocal states as those that “recognize each other’s handgun license either by agreement or statute,” and unilateral recognition as “one state recognizes another state’s valid license to carry a handgun”.

Can I get a permit from another state to carry in more places?
Some states issue non-resident permits. Utah’s costs $90 for non-residents, requires a BCI-certified course, and runs five years. Arizona accepts non-resident applications from U.S. citizens at $60. The permit helps only in states that recognize it, so check the issuing state’s reciprocity map.

Can I carry in a VA hospital with my permit?
No. On property under VA control, no one may carry firearms “either openly or concealed, except for official purposes”. The listed fine is $500, with an exception only for federal or state law enforcement on official business.

Does my permit work on a military base?
Not at the installations we checked. Fort Campbell states that state concealed weapons permits “are not recognized or honored on the installation” and that concealed carry of personal firearms there is prohibited; firearms in a vehicle go in the trunk or an enclosed container. In 2016 a Fort Leonard Wood official said the same for a permit “from any state”. Read the policy of the specific installation before you drive onto it.

Can I carry on Amtrak?
Not in carry-on bags. Amtrak says firearms “may not be carried in carry-on baggage”; they travel only in checked baggage, unloaded, in a locked hard-sided container, with at least 6 hours’ notice by phone.

What happens if I forget my gun is in my carry-on at the airport?
TSA’s civil penalty for a loaded firearm at a checkpoint is $3,000 to $12,210 plus criminal referral, and $1,500 to $6,130 for an unloaded one. TSA also treats an unloaded gun with accessible ammunition the same as a loaded one. You also lose expedited screening for a period of time.

Is a federal courthouse different from other federal buildings?
Yes. A federal court facility carries up to two years in prison for knowingly possessing a firearm, against one year for other federal facilities. The law requires the notice to be posted at each public entrance, and a person cannot be convicted for an unposted facility unless they had actual notice of the rule.

Can I carry in a national wildlife refuge?
Yes, under the law of the state the refuge is in. The regulation allows people to “possess, carry, and transport concealed, loaded, and operable firearms within a national wildlife refuge in accordance with the laws of the state” where it sits, except where federal law prohibits it.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Laws and court rulings change. For your situation, read your state’s current statutes or ask a licensed attorney. Sources: the U.S. Code, 39 CFR 232.1, Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit opinions, Congress.gov, NPS, TSA and the North Carolina General Assembly (all linked above), plus Handgunlaw.us for the state count. Checked October 2026.