Open Carry of Firearms in the United States of America

In our blog we have already touched upon the issue of concealed carry of firearms, as this topic is very controversial and is a matter of constant debate and discussion. Therefore, it would be unfair not to at least slightly touch upon the topic of open carry of firearms in the United States. Open carry implies such a form of having a weapon in public places that others involuntarily become aware of the fact that you have it. This is achieved due to partial or complete visibility of the weapon of the owner. It is not for nothing that we mentioned both options of open carry, as in the legislation, depending on the state, this term has its own understanding. Usually, firearms are carried in this way on a belt or in a holster, but there are other options. By the way, open carry provides very quick and easy access to the weapon, which can be a very important factor in a critical situation.

Here, everything is quite simple. The Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States gives every citizen the right to keep and carry firearms. Accordingly, open carry is permitted in almost all states of America. Supporters of open carry emphasize the fact that a law-abiding citizen, unlike a criminal, will not conceal the firearms he has. Despite the overwhelming majority of states that allow open carry, below we will consider in more detail the 4 main categories of legislation in relation to this issue.

No additional permits or licenses are required here. These states prioritize the Constitution and have only age restrictions. In the vast majority of states, such as Alabama, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, a person must be at least 18 years old. Some states, including Texas, a special place for firearms enthusiasts, have raised this threshold to 21 years.

Such states usually allow open carry but have local legislative restrictions, such as a ban on carrying in certain places. Some states allow open carry of firearms only after issuing the appropriate license or permit. In such states, as practice shows, each specific case is considered separately. Examples of such legislation are states such as Massachusetts and Connecticut.

In such states, open carrying of weapons is usually prohibited, but here, on the contrary, certain exceptions apply, which may be related, for example, to territorial affiliation and its population density, as well as to the person himself. Similar rules apply in Colorado and Missouri.

As the category name suggests, you won't be able to carry a gun openly. But these states may have some minor exceptions, such as allowing you to carry a gun openly on hunting grounds, designated ranges, or within a specific county. Florida and California are prime examples of such policies.

The main thing is to comply with the law of the state in which you live. The choice of how exactly to carry a firearm often depends on various circumstances. Whether to carry it openly or to obtain a special permit for concealed carry is a matter of your personal preference. The main thing is to undergo professional training, observe safety rules, conduct regular training, including dry fire shooting. To achieve better results, you can resort to the help of high-tech shooting simulators, such as the iShooter laser target shooting system, which will allow you to conduct effective training even in your own apartment.