Key Takeaways
- The National Association for Gun Rights advocates for nationwide Constitutional Carry, citing data from the safest states without permit requirements.
- Recent data shows that crime decreased in Florida and Ohio after adopting Constitutional Carry laws, contradicting opponents’ claims.
- The safest states include Maine, New Hampshire, and North Dakota, all of which permit lawful carry without a permit.
- Strict gun control states like California and New York report higher death rates compared to Constitutional Carry states.
- Twenty-nine states now support the principle of carrying firearms without government permission, aligning with Second Amendment rights.
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The National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR) is making the case for nationwide Constitutional Carry, pointing to data showing that nine of the fifteen safest states in the country recognize the right to carry a firearm without a permit.
In a recent post on X, the organization stated, “The data is clear. The Constitution is explicit. It is time to enforce Constitutional Carry nationwide.” NAGR also highlighted that crime declined in both Florida and Ohio after those states adopted Constitutional Carry laws.
The data shared by NAGR ranks states by crude death rate per 100,000 residents. Several of the safest in the nation are states that have removed permit requirements for lawful carry. At the top of the list are Maine, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, Iowa, and Nebraska, all of which are Constitutional Carry states.
Nine of the fifteen safest states in the country are Constitutional Carry states. Crime declined in both Florida and Ohio after they passed Constitutional Carry.
The data is clear. The Constitution is explicit. It is time to enforce Constitutional Carry nationwide. https://t.co/SVrkwpEnb4 pic.twitter.com/rCJ2YR6Dht
— National Association for Gun Rights (@gunrights) April 17, 2026
Vermont has historically allowed permitless carry, and the other eight states have adopted Constitutional Carry in more recent years. Their consistent presence at the top of state safety rankings pushes back against a common claim used to oppose permitless carry, which argues that removing licensing requirements leads to more violence.
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Further down the rankings are several states known for strict gun control. California reported 1,676 deaths at a rate of 4.3 per 100,000. New York reported 528 deaths at 2.7 per 100,000. New Jersey, Washington, and Connecticut also trail multiple Constitutional Carry states in the data NAGR shared.
The reference to Florida and Ohio reflects a pattern gun rights advocates have pointed to since those states joined the growing list of Constitutional Carry jurisdictions. Rather than producing the chaos predicted by opponents, both states reported decreases in crime following the policy change.
Constitutional Carry is grounded in the text of the Second Amendment, which protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. Requiring a government permit to exercise a fundamental civil right has long been viewed as inconsistent with the plain language of that protection. Twenty-nine states have now aligned their laws with that principle, allowing law-abiding citizens to carry without first seeking government permission.
For lawful gun owners, the case for nationwide Constitutional Carry is both a constitutional argument and a practical one. The states with the most freedom in this area are not only holding their own on safety. Many of them are leading the nation.
