50 State Guide to Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Laws

50 State Guide to Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Laws

///IMPORTANT NOTICE: THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE///

"What self-defense tools can I carry and where (in what state) can I carry them?" These are two of the most important questions you can ask yourself as the holder of a Concealed Carry Weapon permit, or CCW. As CCW permit holders ourselves, we know! Below is a chart we assembled to help address this question before your depart on your next trip to other states. While this chart is certainly not legal advice, it is designed to give you the basic overview so you can seek proper, formal legal advice and clarification before your trips. The chart also covers more than just firearms and includes other defensive tools such as knives, batons, Pepper Spray/OC, and SAPs, most of which can be carried in our new EDC Travel Sling

EDC Travel Sling cross-body travel and everyday carry bag by Qore Performance

Enjoy and safe travels!

State Knife State Preemption - Knife Pepper Spray OC Baton/billy club Sap Stun Gun/Taser/Pulse CCW effect State Preemption - CCW
AL OK OK OK no OK Nothing Yes
AK OK (some age restrictions) OK OK probably OK OK Nothing Yes
AZ OK (some age restrictions) yes - state law controls (cities can't be more restrictive) OK OK probably OK OK may carry any "deadly weapon" Yes
AR OK OK - 150cc or less OK - if not possessed "with a purpose to employ as a weapon against a person" no OK may carry baton, billy club, or sap Yes
CA OK (no double-edged, no switchblades over 2", no disguised knives, no undetectible knives) no - some cities are more restrictive OK - 2.5 oz. or less no no OK Nothing No (counties may regulate on county-owned property)
CO OK (blade 3.5" or smaller) OK OK no OK Nothing No
CT OK (no double-edged, no blades over 4", no switchblades over 1.5") OK no no no - in home only Nothing No
DE OK (blade 3" or shorter, no switchblades, no undetectible knives) OK no no no may carry stun gun, Taser, etc. (except New Castle County, Wilmington, or Newark), baton, billy club, sap, or other deadly weapon Yes
FL OK (blade 4" or shorter unless concealed weapons permit) not clear - some cities may be more restrictive OK - 2 oz. or less no no OK may carry knife over 4", baton/billy club, tear gas guns, or sap Yes
GA OK (blade 12" or shorter unless concealed weapons permit) yes - state law controls (cities can't be more restrictive) OK OK OK OK (but not within 1,000 feet of K-12 school) may carry knife over 12" Yes
HI OK (no double-edged, no switchblades, no undetectable knives) OK - 0.5 oz. or less no no no Nothing No
ID OK (blade 6" or shorter unless concealed weapons permit) OK no no OK may carry knife over 6" or baton/billy club, sap, or any "deadly weapon" Yes
IL OK (blade less than 3", no switchblade unless you have a Firearms Owner's ID card) no - some cities are more restrictive OK no no no Nothing Yes
IN OK OK OK OK stun gun OK - not Taser may carry Taser Yes
IA OK (blade less than 5", no switchblades, no disguised knives) OK no no no may carry baton, billy club, sap, or any "dangerous weapon" Yes
KS OK OK no no OK Nothing Yes
KY OK (constitutional carry?) OK no no OK may carry baton or billy club, blackjack, slapjack, nunchaku, shurikent, artificial knuckles No (cities & counties may regulate on city or county-owned property)
LA OK (so long as not automatic & concealed; may openly carry switchblade) OK no no OK nothing Yes
ME OK (so long as not double-edged or switchblades) not clear - some cities may be more restrictive OK no no OK nothing Yes
MD OK (but not double-edged or switchblades) OK no no OK may carry baton, billy club, sap or any "dangerous weapon" no
MA OK (but not double-edged or switchblade) OK OK no no may carry stun gun, Taser, etc. w/resident firearm license no
MI OK (no OTF switchblades or double-edged) OK - 1.2 oz. or less 18% or less no no no may carry stun gun, Taser, etc. Yes
MN OK (no switchblades) OK no no OK nothing Yes
MS OK (but no double-edged blades or switchblades) OK OK no no may carry stun gun, Taser, etc. No (cities & counties may regulate on city or county-owned property)
MO OK to conceal if folding knife & blade under 4"; may open carry any legal knife OK no no OK may carry baton, billy club, sap, or other lethal weapon No (cities & counties may regulate on city or county-owned property)
MT OK - no limitations (except schools - no blades over 4") Yes - but local gov't may restrict on their property OK no not clear OK may carry baton, billy club, sap, or other lethal weapon Yes
NE OK so long as blade is 3.5" or shorter OK no no OK Nothing no
NV OK - but no switchblades, double-edged blades, or part of belt buckle OK - 2 oz. or less no - unless written permission from county sheriff no OK Nothing Yes
NH OK - no limitations OK OK no OK Nothing Yes
NJ OK - no limitations OK - 0.75 oz. or less no no OK Nothing Yes
NM OK - no switchblades, butterfly knives, or double-edged OK no no no may carry stun gun, Taser, etc. w/concealed carry permit; may carry baton/billy club, sap or "deadly weapon" Yes
NY OK - no double-edged no - some cities are more restrictive (think NYC) OK - canister must be small enough to fit in pocket (no bear-sized canisters) no no OK Nothing no
NC OK - no double-edged OK - 150 cc or less container OR 50 cc or less cartridge/shell no no no Nothing no - local gov't may ban around recreation areas
ND OK - no swithblades, double-edged, or blades 5" or longer OK no no it depends (no permit needed for Axon StrikeLight) may carry stun gun, Taser, etc. w/concealed carry permit; may carry baton/billy club, sap, or any "dangerous weapon" Yes
OH OK - no switchblades, butterfly knives, or double-edged OK no no OK Nothing Yes
OK OK - no "offensive" weapons (vague) OK no no OK Nothing Yes
OR OK - no switchblades, butterfly knives, or double-edged OK no no OK Nothing No
PA OK - no switchblades or knives with no common lawful purpose OK no no OK Nothing Yes
RI OK - no double-edged or blades over 3" OK no no no Nothing Yes
SC OK - no restrictions OK - 50 cc or less no no OK Nothing Yes
SD OK - no restrictions OK OK OK OK Nothing Yes
TN OK - no restrictions OK no no OK Nothing Yes
TX OK - but no blades over 5.5" at certain locations (jails, bars, certain sporting events, etc.) yes - state law controls (cities can't be more restrictive) OK - canister must be "small" (no bear-sized canisters) OK OK OK Nothing no - local gov't may restrict in parks or public transit
UT OK - no restrictions OK OK OK OK Nothing Yes
VT OK - no switchblades with blade 3" or longer OK OK no OK N/A - no permits issued b/c Constitutional carry Yes
VA OK - no double-edged or switchblades OK no no OK Nothing No
WA OK - no double-edged or switchblades OK no no OK Nothing no - cities may restrict in stadiums or convention centers
WV OK - no restrictions OK no no no may carry stun gun, Taser, baton, sap, or other deadly weapon w/concealed carry permit Yes
WI OK - no restrictions OK - 2 oz. or less; canister must have safety feature built into trigger 10% or less no no no OK to conceal carry Taser or billy club (not clear if sap fits definition of billy club) Yes
WY OK - no restrictions OK no no OK OK to carry baton or billy club or any other "deadly weapon" Yes
DC OK - no switchblades or knives with no utilitarian purpose N/A OK no no OK Nothing N/A - federal district

 

 

THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE.  Understand that many of the laws relating to concealed weapons or what qualifies as a weapon is best described as “fuzzy” and is difficult to distill down to a simple yes or no.  We’ve tried to accurately summarize the laws of different states.  In doing so, we have researched the laws of each state and looked at several different open-source websites. 

If you’re going to carry a weapon in public, we strongly encourage you to do the same.  And like all good intelligence work, please find reliable sources and independently verify the information.  In short, be a responsible adult.

Also, this chart makes certain assumptions.  We’re assuming that these items will be carried concealed, so we’re not addressing the carrying of Bowie knives, katanas, or Ulfberhts (Viking swords).  We’re also not addressing ballistic knives, shuriken (throwing stars), felon status, school zones, courthouses, age restrictions, etc.  Additionally, almost all of the items listed are illegal to carry if you’re doing so with unlawful intent.  Stated differently, you’re almost certainly breaking the law if you’re carrying one of these items while you’re up to shenanigans.  You’re smart – you know what we’re talking about.

For further information, here are some online resources:

https://codes.findlaw.com/

https://www.usconcealedcarry.com/resources/ccw_reciprocity_map/

https://knifeup.com/knife-laws/

https://taser.com/pages/state-requirements

https://www.pepper-spray-store.com/pages/all-pepper-spray-state-laws

https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/pepper-spray-laws-by-state

http://weaponlaws.wikidot.com/state-baton-laws

https://my-self-defense.com/self-defense-laws/states-with-the-most-strict-billy-club-laws/

 


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