Report Highlights
- There are 26 states with permitless concealed carry freedoms
- Washington, D.C., has the highest rate of firearm-related homicides even though it has strict carry laws
- 83% of states with permitless concealed carry have a homicide rate at or below the national average
- 45% of states with no permitless concealed carry laws have homicide rates above the national average
- 3 out of 5 of the safest five states in the U.S. have permitless concealed carry
- 2 out of 5 of the top five most dangerous states in the U.S. have permitless concealed carry, and 3 out of 5 require permits for concealed carry
- 84% of states have a lower violent crime rate in 2022 than they did before permitless concealed carry
In 2023 there are several states with open carry and permitless concealed carry laws.
However, there isn’t a positive correlation between permitless carry and criminality.
The following sections explore crime rates and homicides in states with and without permitless concealed carry laws.
States with Concealed Carry vs. Permit Required
State laws vary widely regarding when and how citizens can carry a concealed firearm.
Twenty-six U.S. states have permitless concealed carry, and Mississippi has some limitations regarding which calibers and how citizens can carry without a permit. However, nineteen states and Washington D.C. require permits for concealed carry of firearms.
Does Concealed Carry Reduce Crime
One of the more pressing questions about crime in the U.S. is whether permitless concealed carry reduces violent crimes and homicides. Unfortunately, we don’t have the data to support a conclusion on the subject.
However, several states with permitless concealed carry have lower crime rates today than they did before the passage of these new laws. Moreover, you’ll find the states with the highest and lowest crime rates have varying concealed carry laws.
By definition, only twenty-six states allow citizens to conceal carry firearms without a permit. Other states implement restrictions on how one can carry a firearm, and others require training and permits for any carry (open or concealed).
Moreover, it’s important to note that permitless concealed carry laws do not make it easier to obtain a firearm. Although state laws vary, Federal laws restrict certain individuals from purchasing and possessing firearms nationwide (even if purchased from private sellers).
There isn’t a strong correlation between concealed carry rights and crime.
Concealed Carry Reduces Crime Stats
Due to many states converting to permitless concealed carry after January 2021, and delayed reporting from the FBI on violent crime rates, we are still discovering the effectiveness of permitless concealed carry on crime.
However, we can explore crime trends in states that had permitless carry prior to January 2021.
83.3% of states that passed permitless concealed carry had a violent crime rate lower than before the bill’s passage. 84% of all states that have adopted concealed permitless carry laws have a lower violent crime rate in 2022 than they did the year before adopting the laws.
The national average of homicide rates is a good indicator of whether permitless concealed carry impacts homicides in the U.S.
States with the Most Relaxed Open Carry Laws and Crime
67% of states with concealed permitless carry have a violent crime rate below the national average.
Note: Vermont has never required permits for concealed carry and has never exceeded the national average of violent crimes.
State Homicides Before and After Permitless Carry
83% of states that have had permitless concealed carry for more than two years have homicide rates at or below the national average.
Crime Rates in Concealed Carry States
Washington, D.C., has the highest rate of violent crime and homicides per capita, with strict open carry laws requiring permits to purchase and carry.
However, it seems that whether one can open carry, conceal carry, or only do so with a permit, there is little effect on firearm-related homicides and violent crimes.
States with the Highest Violent Crime Rates (2022)
Of the five states with the lowest violent crime rates, only two allow concealed carry without a permit.
Note: Mississippi has restrictions regarding where and how individuals can conceal carry a firearm.
- New Mexico – Permit Required for Concealed Carry – 778.28/100k
- Louisiana – Conceal Carry (No Permit) – 639.44/100k
- Colorado – Open Carry (with restrictions) – 423.06/100k
- South Carolina – Permit Required – 530.68/100k
- Arkansas – Conceal Carry (No Permit) – 671.93/100k
The top five states in the U.S. for violent crimes have varying levels of concealed carry laws.
States with the Lowest Violent Crime Rates (2022)
Of the five states with the lowest violent crime rates, three allow concealed carry without a permit.
Note: Mississippi has restrictions regarding where and how individuals can conceal carry a firearm.
- Maine – Conceal Carry (no permit) – 108.58/100k
- New Hampshire – Conceal Carry (no permit) – 146.38/100k
- Vermont – Conceal Carry (no permit) – 173.42/100k
- New Jersey – Permit Required – 195.37/100k
- Connecticut – Permit Required – 181.59/100k
The five lowest crime rate states are typically concealed carry states.
States with the Highest Firearm Homicides (2022)
The five states with the highest firearm-related homicide rates in 2022 include only three with permitless concealed carry laws. Mississippi places restrictions on where and how one can conceal a firearm, and New Mexico law states that the firearm must be visible.
- Mississippi – Limited Concealed Carry – 17.3
- Louisiana – Permit Required – 16.0
- Alabama – Permitless Concealed Carry – 12.4
- Missouri – Permitless Concealed Carry – 10.2
- New Mexico – Permit Required – 10.3
Note: These are per capita rates measured at one for every 100,000 people.
States with the highest homicide rates and corresponding concealed carry laws.
States with the Lowest Firearm Homicides (2022)
Four of the five states with the lowest firearm-related homicides have permitless carry.
- Wyoming – Conceal Carry (no permit)
- Vermont – Conceal Carry (no permit)
- Rhode Island – Permit Required
- North Dakota – Conceal Carry (no permit)
- New Hampshire – Conceal carry (no permit)
The five states with the lowest firearm-related homicides in 2022.
Concealed Carry Permit Holders and Committing Crimes
Concealed carry permit data is protected information and, therefore, unavailable to the public. The FBI, DOJ, and BJS do not collect data on CCW holders and violence. While there is much speculation on how many concealed carry permit holders commit violent crimes with their firearms, the data isn’t sound.
However, we can look into incarceration rates and Federal firearms charges to better understand how people obtained their firearms and if they were possessing them lawfully.
In a 2019 study, only 10% of inmates who used a firearm during the commission of a crime purchased it lawfully. The remaining respondents acquired their firearms by theft, black market sales, and friends or family members.
Furthermore, a study in 1997 found that 83% of offenders arrested with a firearm were already prohibited from possessing it due to prior offenses. In 2012 and 2018, Missouri, Alabama, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina have consistently held the highest record of felons in possession of a firearm (before those states relaxed conceal carry requirements).
Firearm offenders are more likely than non-firearm offenders to re-offend in a shorter period. A 2005 report revealed that 68.1% of firearm offenders reoffended within 8 years. The issue of whether those concealed carrying are doing so lawfully is further compounded by the fact that the average incarceration period for firearm offenders in 2018 was only 64 months.
Therefore, it stands to reason that those incarcerated for firearm-related violent crimes were not in lawful possession of a firearm and were not permitted to conceal carry.
The methods by which criminals incarcerated for crimes involving firearms obtained their weapons.
Defensive Use Cases 2023
In August 2023, there were thirteen incidents where women effectively used firearms in defensive situations. While the FBI, DOJ, and BJS don’t track defensive use cases (especially where a bullet is not fired), it’s important to consider how often those carrying firearms use them as deterrents and non-lethal defense.
According to recent estimates, there are 1.67 million cases of defensive use of a firearm in the U.S. Nearly 10% of these cases occurred in public, while 3.2% occurred in a workplace. However, in 81.9% of cases where a firearm was used in defense, no shot was fired.
Estimated defensive firearms use cases in the U.S. so far in 2023.
Sources
- National Firearms Survey (Defensive Use)
- Women Use Firearms for Defense
- Prison Firearm Ownership Survey
- 1997 Study on Inmates and Firearms
- Felons in Possession of Firearms 2018
- Felons in Possession of Firearms 2012
- Firearm Offenses Recidivism Rates
Concealed Carry Crime Stats 2023: The Impact of Open Carry on Crime in the U.S. originally appeared in The Resistance Library at Ammo.com.
Having my loaded and chambered pistol on me at all times is very soothing and a great way to relieve anxiety, especially when shopping in a Walmart or any other time I must be in close proximity to niggers or any other types of democrats.
Doctor … it hurts when I do this …
Well, then, don’t do it …
YAJ,
FAFO in action! Why would you shop at Walmaggot? The clientele are almost as bad as the staff. I told Mrs. L in no uncertain terms ‘I will not eat anything from there’! I used to deliver to walmaggot distribution centers all over this country. Fuck mall wart!
Starve the beast.
Peace, L.
The conclusion would be gun carry laws don’t have much impact on crime, but do?
I liked the line that “…ONLY 26 states permit concealed carry without permit…”
Only 26? Out of 50? Interesting phrasing, perhaps hinting at author’s bias?
It seems it’s the people who live in your state that determine incidence of crime.
Period.
The homicide rate depends on the number of black people and – to a lesser degree – Hispanics.
Black-on-black shootings get at least some reporting — heyjackass.com comes to mind — but hispanic-on-anyone shootings and other crimes rarely gets reported to keep up the agenda about keeping the borders open …
Look at the historically black parts of LA County — Watts, Compton, South Central — all now overwhelmingly wetback areas. They outbred the blacks — and, when necessary, just outright killed them …
Is it them Boo Boo (It’s always them)……
Thanks! I’m always telling people about Kennesaw, which, BTW, is a quarter blacks, who are also legally required to be armed there. It is a rather safe place. An armed society is a polite society, as the Heinlein wrote.
I am no math savant – well actually, I am – but I have issue with these two bullet points:
“ 83% of states with permitless concealed carry have a homicide rate at or below the national average
45% of states with no permitless concealed carry laws have homicide rates above the national average”
Welp, those cannot be true. You see, let A = states with permit less carry, and B = states without. Therefore, A + B = total states. The math is .83 times 26 plus .55 times 25 = 40 states below the national average.
That is statistically impossible. According to those data sets there are 40 states with below average homicide rates. That is simply bullshite.
So I stopped reading there. When an article has such obviously incorrect data, that is meant to mislead, there is no point giving it any credence whatsoever.
Yup, that “triggered” me too….
How have you been Llpoh?
Hi Card – all good with me! Hope you are well. Just trying to keep the monkeys honest! Same as it ever was!
‘bullet’ points? Stop the punishment, please …
Some States allow CC without a permit … some States allow CC WITH a permit … I can see how the math is a bit confusing … but I’m not sure it’s wrong, just poorly written.
it is wrong.
I’m getting different numbers.
83% of 26 is 21.58, round up to 22
45% of 24 is 10.8, round up to 11 and subtract it from 24 to get 13
So, I get 35 states below the average, and 15 above. Seems possible if those 15 states have a lot more violent crime than average. Illinois probably contributes an oversized portion compared to, say, North Dakota.
Also this:
“ 3 out of 5 of the safest five states in the U.S. have permitless concealed carry
2 out of 5 of the top five most dangerous states in the U.S. have permitless concealed carry, and 3 out of 5 require permits for concealed carry”
Laughably statistically insignificant. That means it is fifty fifty statistically. Ie if you toss a coin, statistically you will get 3 heads and two tails, or vice versa. It is statistically insignificant.
What horseshit.
I believe it should be permitless open carry. Everyone should be able to clearly see what everyone else is packing. This will make the vast majority of people behave themselves.
Funny how Red States that are more White, Christian, Conservative…and employed…have less of the undesirable classes with weapons. Apparently the Democrat plantations and their crime, corruption, lack of ethics or accountability is more attractive. It’s gonna be a hard, possibly fatal lesson, when these bangers flee the melting cities for the Red countryside during SHTF.