Who this is for: Gun owners who carry or plan to carry — especially those shopping the private market — who need to understand how carry laws interact with private purchases.
What you’ll learn:
- The current constitutional carry landscape across the US
- Which states require permits for concealed carry and what that process involves
- How reciprocity works and which states honor which permits
- How carry laws affect what you can legally purchase in a private sale
- Key carry restrictions that apply everywhere regardless of permit status
Concealed carry law has changed dramatically over the past decade. Twenty years ago, a handful of states had shall-issue permit systems. Today, over half of US states have constitutional carry — permitless carry for eligible adults. The landscape shifts every legislative session. If you carry, or intend to carry a firearm purchased through a private sale, understanding your state’s current law is not optional.
The Constitutional Carry Expansion
Constitutional carry — the ability to carry a concealed firearm without a government-issued permit — was the law in only a handful of states as recently as 2015. As of 2025, 29 states have enacted some form of permitless carry. The most recent additions include Georgia (2022), Indiana (2022), Alabama (2023), and Florida (2023).
States with constitutional carry include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Wyoming, and Louisiana.
Constitutional carry doesn’t eliminate all restrictions — prohibited persons can’t carry in any state regardless of the law, and there are still places where carry is prohibited (schools, federal buildings, certain businesses). But it removes the permit requirement for otherwise eligible adults.
States That Still Require Permits
The remaining states — including California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii, Connecticut, Illinois, and others — still require a permit for concealed carry. Some of these are “shall-issue” (the state must issue a permit if you meet the requirements) and some are “may-issue” (the issuing authority has discretion). Since the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling in NYSRPA v. Bruen, most may-issue states have faced court challenges that have moved them toward shall-issue or been forced to change their licensing standards.
Permit Requirements Generally Include
- Application to local law enforcement or state agency
- Background check (NICS or state equivalent)
- Firearms safety training course (varies by state — 4 to 16 hours typically)
- Fee (typically $50–$150)
- Fingerprinting in some states
- Processing time (days to months depending on jurisdiction)
Reciprocity: Carrying Across State Lines
If you have a concealed carry permit from your home state, reciprocity agreements determine where that permit is honored out of state. No universal federal reciprocity exists. Each state sets its own recognition rules.
States with broad reciprocity (honor many other states’ permits): Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, Utah, Florida, Arizona, and most constitutional carry states. States with very limited or no reciprocity: California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Illinois. These states do not recognize most or any out-of-state permits.
The US Concealed Carry Association and the USCCA maintain current reciprocity maps that are updated as laws change. Always check the specific reciprocity status of the state you’re entering before carrying there.
How Carry Laws Interact With Private Purchases
The connection between carry law and private purchases is more direct than most buyers consider. When you buy a handgun in a private sale for carry purposes, the gun must be legal to carry in your state and any state you plan to carry it in. Several considerations apply:
Magazine Capacity Restrictions
California, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington have magazine capacity restrictions (typically 10 rounds maximum). If you purchase a handgun privately in one of these states and plan to carry it, the magazines must comply with state law. Buying a handgun with standard-capacity 15-round magazines in a restricted state means you may need to use compliant 10-round magazines for carry.
Suppressor and SBR Carry
Even in states where suppressors and SBRs are legal to own, carry restrictions vary. Some states specifically prohibit carrying suppressed firearms in public. Others have no specific restriction. Know your state’s rules on carrying NFA items before purchasing and attempting to carry them.
Purchase Eligibility vs. Carry Eligibility
Being eligible to purchase a firearm doesn’t automatically mean you’re eligible to carry it. Some states have additional restrictions on carry eligibility beyond purchase eligibility. Drug-related convictions that don’t disqualify someone from federal purchase eligibility may still affect carry permit eligibility in certain states. Know both thresholds.
Universal Carry Restrictions: Where You Can’t Carry Regardless of Permit
Federal law prohibits carry in these locations regardless of state permit status:
- Federal buildings and courthouses
- Post offices
- Military installations
- Schools under the Gun-Free School Zones Act (with limited exceptions)
- Airports (beyond security checkpoints)
State law adds additional prohibited locations that vary significantly. Common additions: state courthouses, polling places during elections, places of worship (some states), hospitals, bars (some states prohibit carry when consuming alcohol), and government buildings. Know your state’s specific list before carrying anywhere unfamiliar.
Implications for Private Buyers
When shopping 2A Marketplace for a handgun you intend to carry, factor in your state’s carry laws during the purchase decision. A Glock 17 with 17-round magazines is legal to own everywhere but legal to carry with those magazines only in states without capacity restrictions. A suppressor-ready handgun is an excellent purchase in a suppressor-legal state and a paperweight upgrade in one of the few states that prohibit suppressor ownership.
Key Takeaways
- 29 states now have constitutional carry (permitless carry for eligible adults) — check if your state is on the list
- States without constitutional carry require permits that involve training, background checks, fees, and processing time
- Reciprocity varies significantly — always check the specific states you’ll carry in before crossing state lines with a firearm
- Magazine capacity restrictions in several states affect which configurations are legal to carry even on lawfully purchased firearms
- Federal prohibited locations apply everywhere regardless of state permit status or constitutional carry laws
- When buying a carry gun privately, factor in all carry restrictions before deciding on configuration and capacity
Frequently Asked Questions About Concealed Carry Laws
Do I need a permit to carry concealed in my state?
It depends on your state. As of 2025, 29 states have constitutional carry and don’t require a permit for eligible adults to carry concealed. The remaining states require permits with varying requirements. Check your state’s current law — this changes frequently.
Does my concealed carry permit work in other states?
Only in states that have reciprocity agreements with your home state. There’s no universal federal reciprocity. Check a current reciprocity map (USCCA, NRA-ILA) before carrying in any state other than the one that issued your permit.
Can I buy a gun in a private sale and carry it the same day?
In constitutional carry states without waiting periods, potentially yes — assuming you’re eligible to possess and carry the firearm. In states with waiting periods or permit requirements, no. Know your state’s specific rules before attempting to carry a newly purchased firearm.
How do magazine capacity restrictions affect private purchases?
If your state restricts magazine capacity (California, New York, New Jersey, and others limit standard magazines to 10 rounds), you may need to purchase compliant magazines separately or verify that included magazines are legal for your state before completing a private purchase.