Open carry in the United States

In the United States, open carry is the practice of visibly carrying a firearm in public places, as distinguished from concealed carry, where firearms cannot be seen by the casual observer. To "carry" in this context indicates that the firearm is kept readily accessible on the person, within a holster or attached to a sling. Carrying a firearm directly in the hands, particularly in a firing position or combat stance, is known as "brandishing" and may constitute a serious crime, but is not the mode of "carrying" discussed in this article. The practice of open carry, where gun owners openly carry firearms while they go about their daily business, has seen an increase in the United States in recent years, and is a hotly debated topic in gun politics. This has been marked by a number of organized events intended to increase the visibility of open carry and public awareness about the practice. Proponents of open carry point to history and statistics, noting that criminals usually conceal their weapons, in contrast to the law-abiding citizens who display their weapons. As of 2025, almost all US states allow for open carry either without a permit or with a permit/license. According to 2022 Gun death and violence in the United States by state data, none of the 7 US states with the lowest gun death rates (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, California) have permitless handgun open carry, and only 2 of the 7 have permitless long gun open carry. Also according to 2022 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, all 9 US states with the highest gun death rates (Mississippi, Louisiana, New Mexico, Alabama, Missouri, Montana, Alaska, Arkansas, South Carolina) have permitless handgun and long gun open carry. The gun rights community has become supportive of the practice, while gun control groups are generally opposed.