Half of America Has Moved to Constitutional Carry Gun Rights

Just the News: Gov. Ron DeSantis [last] week signed legislation into law that makes Florida the 26th state to allow Americans to carry firearms on their person for self-defense without a permit as one of the fastest moving affirmations of the Seconf Amendment continues to sweep the country.

All eyes are now turning to Nebraska and South Carolina, two states expected to take up such legislation in coming months. Gun rights activists say the summer 2020 riots and the subsequent rise in violent crime in many blue cities gave a jolt to a constitutional carry movement they long wanted to see gain steam.

Over half the states now have constitutional carry. Gun rights are heading in the opposite way of you. pic.twitter.com/jmAl51oVUB

— Nim (@RealNim12) April 8, 2023

“The bottom line is Americans watched years, certainly a year of riots and arson and looting. And they decided that they needed to be able to exercise their Second amendment rights. Not everybody wants to do that. But they recognize the right to do so,” retired Army Lt. Col. Willes Lee, a top official in the National Rifle Association, told John Solomon Reports podcast on Thursday.

The rapid succession of states to adopt permitless or constitutional carry laws — as well as major lawsuits seeking to protect gun rights from blue state and Biden administration regulations and bans — are expected to be major points of conversation at next week’s NRA spring meeting in Indianapolis.

🇺🇸BREAKING: Gov. @RonDeSantisFL Signs NRA-Backed Constitutional Carry

Over Half of U.S. States (26) Now Embrace Constitutional Carry

— NRA (@NRA) April 3, 2023

Florida’s law, generally regarded as “permitless carry,” allows for individuals to carry a concealed firearm that is not visible to others. It does not permit the open carry of weapons.

Permitless carry and “constitutional carry” are not strictly the same, but the terms are often used interchangeably.

Generally, “permitless” states may require that individuals meet additional requirements apart from a permit to carry. Constitutionally carry states, meanwhile, impose no restrictions on an individual’s right to carry beyond their legal eligibility to purchase a firearm, accord to the U.S. Concealed Carry Association.

Some states with constitutional carry allow both open and concealed carry without permits while others only allow for one or the other.

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