29 States. 160 Million People. No Permit Required.
Twenty-nine states have eliminated permit requirements for carrying a loaded gun in public. They are home to about 160 million Americans, 46.8% of the population, by the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates. Florida became an open carry state after a court ruling in September 2025 struck down the open carry ban.
29 permitless carry states. About 160 million people covered. Federal reciprocity bill advancing in Congress. Meanwhile, 33 states passed 89 gun safety bills in 2025.
A federal concealed carry reciprocity bill is advancing in Congress that would require all states to honor other states’ carry permits, or lack of permits. This means a person from a permitless carry state could carry a loaded gun in New York City with no background check, no training, and no license.
The Other Direction
In 2025, 33 states passed 89 gun safety bills, bringing the post-Sandy Hook total to over 820 laws. Virginia passed 25 gun reform bills under Governor Spanberger, including an assault weapon sales ban effective July 2026. Colorado banned manufacture and sale of certain semiautomatic firearms and raised the ammunition purchase age to 21. Maine voters approved Extreme Risk Protection Orders by ballot measure in November 2025.
The country is splitting. One half is eliminating requirements. The other half is building the safety framework the federal government refuses to create. The reciprocity bill would override the states that chose safety.
What You Can Do
- Push your state to pass gun safety laws →
- Call your representatives and oppose federal concealed carry reciprocity legislation.
- Read the Guns and Public Safety hub.
Correction, October 14, 2026: An earlier version of this brief said the 29 permitless carry states cover 157.6 million Americans. The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimates put their combined population at about 160 million (Census Bureau).