With the way constitutional—or permitless—carry is getting so common, it’s understandable that you might believe reciprocity doesn’t matter anymore. But the truth is that the laws vary wildly by state, and reciprocity continues to be relevant. We’ve put together this guide to help you understand the nuances of reciprocity and how it affects you as a lawful gun owner.
What Is Reciprocity?
Concealed carry reciprocity is the term used to reference the states that allow lawful gun owners with concealed carry permits issued by a different state to carry in their own state under that permit. For example, if you’re a resident of Washington State and have a current CPL (Concealed Pistol License), you could legally carry in North Carolina under your Washington State CPL. The idea behind reciprocity is that it allows lawful gun owners to legally carry their firearms in states they’re not residents of, all without being forced to get a carry permit in the non-resident state. Before permitless carry caught on, reciprocity was incredibly important, and knowing which states would honor your carry permit was a must. You might think that means reciprocity no longer matters, but it does.
Constitutional or Permitless Carry?
Permitless carry—often referred to as constitutional carry—is the legal ability to carry a firearm without a carry permit. There are regulations, of course. You must be otherwise legally allowed to possess and carry a firearm, and carrying is still not allowed in every location in the state. In Texas, permitless carry still doesn’t allow things like carrying in schools or businesses with a posted 51% sign (meaning 51% or more of their revenue is generated by alcohol sales). Never assume permitless means it’s a free-for-all or that your concealed carry permit is obsolete, because that isn’t true.
Do You Need a Concealed Carry Permit?
There are numerous benefits to maintaining a current concealed carry permit. Reciprocity is certainly one of those benefits, because not all states have permitless carry (and many never will). At the time of this writing, 29 states have some form of permitless carry—it isn’t identical in every state, meaning 21 do not. Getting your concealed carry permit could give you reciprocity with one of those 21 states. On top of that, having your permit in states with permitless carry can grant you the ability to carry in locations you otherwise could not. States like Texas allow you to carry your firearm within 1000 feet of school grounds only if you have a current permit and are not entering the building itself. Considering how many roads run close enough to be within that 1000 feet, you can see how beneficial it would be to keep your carry permit current.
At this time, the following states don’t have permitless carry:
- Washington
- Oregon
- California
- Nevada
- Colorado
- New Mexico
- Minnesota
- Wisconsin
- Illinois
- Michigan
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Connecticut
- New Jersey
- Delaware
- Rhode Island
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Hawaii
- Washington, D.C.
Reciprocity
If a state honors your carry permit from a different state, their laws and regulations still apply. Just because you’re in Wisconsin with a Washington State CPL doesn’t mean you’re operating under Washington’s laws. As long as you’re in Wisconsin, you must know and follow that state’s laws regarding firearms and carry. The excuse of being from another state—but hey, I have my carry permit—isn’t a valid legal defense. Always check the laws for every state you plan to travel through or visit.
To take advantage of reciprocity, a few things must apply:
- Your permit must be current.
- The state you’re visiting must honor your state of residence’s carry permit at the time of your visit.
- The firearm you intend to possess and carry must adhere to that state’s laws.
- You must know and follow the laws and regulations of the state you’re visiting. Claiming ignorance isn’t a valid legal defense.
Reciprocity and Open Carry?
The answer to whether reciprocity applies to open carry or concealed carry can only be answered on a state-by-state basis. Different states have varying laws regarding what type of carry is allowed. It’s important to understand that this also applies to permitless carry, because not every state with permitless carry applies it to both open and concealed carry. Check the laws of the state you’re traveling through or visiting. Don’t just take the word of someone on social media—check for yourself.
Should You Get Your Permit?
You might be wondering if reciprocity matters to you. Maybe you reside in a permitless carry state, or perhaps you’re considering not renewing your carry permit because you haven’t been traveling. Reality is, it’s wiser to maintain your carry permit than to let it lapse (and if you don’t have one, you should get one). That includes getting carry permits for multiple states to make your reciprocity possibilities greater.
READ MORE ABOUT GUN LAWS: The Reasonable Person: The Legalese of Self-Defense
It’s impossible to accurately predict whether you’ll ever need to travel and enjoy the benefits of carry permit reciprocity. There could be an emergency with a family member or friend, an unexpected move, or a national disaster that forces you to cross state lines. The point here is that it always benefits you to be prepared.
Nationwide Reciprocity
Many gun owners talk about the possibility of nationwide reciprocity, with or without a carry permit. While nothing is impossible, the idea of a federal law allowing gun owners to carry in all 50 states is a bit much. Certain states will always be more restrictive. That means even if nationwide reciprocity were to become a thing, individual states would still have the ability to make their own laws. California and Washington wouldn’t suddenly drop their gun control measures, and despite the (currently imaginary) reciprocity, you’d still be required to adhere to their laws while you’re in that state. So while it would be fantastic to have nationwide reciprocity, it also wouldn’t make carry totally straightforward or exactly the same across the country.
Check out USCCA’s current reciprocity map here.
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