CCCW Educational Article:

Open Carry Firearm States List and Descriptions

William Bass

Tue August 18th, 2009

Open carry is a citizen's right to carry a gun without concealment, but a majority of states have a lot of grey areas that could cause you problems if you open carry. Most states have restrictions on carrying a gun. States that allow open carry and those states that don't are detailed below. The list is current as of August 18, 2009 and divided into 4 categories:

Permissive Open Carry States which means the states have passed full preemption regarding all firearm laws. 

These states permit open carry to all law-abiding citizens without a criminal record without any special permit or firearms license. The open carry is legal for a citizen on foot or in a motor vehicle. The states that allow this are Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Virginia, Alaska and Kentucky.

Licensed Open Carry States allows open carry to all law-abiding citizens once they apply and are approved for a permit or firearms license. They can also carry on foot or in their motor vehicle. The states that require a permit or license for open carry are Utah, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Hawaii and Massachusetts.

Anomalous Open Carry States open carry in these states are generally lawful, but the state itself may have other stiff restrictions to deter citizens from carry a firearm open. The laws in these states are very grey and could cause you a lot of problems if you go toting a gun around openly. The states that have a lot of grey area on open carry are Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana , Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maine, Delaware and New Hampshire. 

You shouldn't carry open firearms in these states just to avoid a charge of bringing terror to the people which only requires a citizen to see you carry open firearms and saying they are in fear. You will get charged.

Non-Permissive Open Carry States which means these states don't allow open carry of firearms or is only lawful under very limited situations such as hunting, traveling to and from a hunting site or in self defense. The laws are very grey in these states and you risk being arrested if you carry a firearm in the open. These states consist of Texas, Oklahoma, Washington D.C., Arkansas, Illinois, South Carolina, New York and Florida.

Here's another article that may be of interest that talks about the importance of Conceal and Carry and how lawmakers just don't understand that criminals will obtain guns no matter what law is in place. Click here to read article.

Remember, just because you can't open carry a firearm you can apply and receive a permit or license to carry a concealed weapon as long as you pass your states firearm checks. Also, always follow the laws for carrying a concealed weapon-ignorance is not a valid reason for not knowing your states laws in carrying a concealed firearms.

Sources:

Wikimedia

National Rifle Association