Concealed Carry Crime Stats 2025: The Impact of Open Carry on Crime in the U.S.

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Methodology

Violent crime and homicide rates are sourced from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) WONDER Database. All data used in this article is from those sources and cross-referenced with local reports to ensure accuracy.

Although 29 states have permitless carry (also referred to as Constitutional carry), only 20 enacted legislation to that effect prior to 2023 – when violent crime and homicide data became accessible. This analysis covers those 20 states where crime vs. legislation trends can be analyzed.

Violent crime, as defined by the FBI, includes homicide, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

States with Concealed Carry

Twenty-nine states have permitless concealed carry legislation in 2025. Vermont has never required a permit to carry ¹. Twenty of the 29 states with permitless carry enacted laws to that effect during or after 2021. Sixteen enacted laws allowing permitless carry after 2015.

Alaska, Arizona, and Wyoming have allowed permitless carry for over a decade, while Alabama, Louisiana, and South Carolina’s laws took effect in mid-2024. ¹⁰

[Graphic Source: Concealed Carry and Reciprocity]

Does Concealed Carry Reduce Crime?

Between January, 2000 and January, 2023, the 20 states that had permitless carry saw a collective decrease in violent crime rates of 2.88 per 100k. The average violent crime rate in these states was 354 per 100k; around 10% lower than the national violent crime rate of 391 per 100k.

Although the data aren’t definitive – and multiple variables impact criminality, including incarceration rates, policing, and socioeconomic factors – no evidence suggests that permitless carry legislation increases violent crime rates.

5 Reasons Concealed Carry Is Argued to Be Bad

Critics argue that concealed carry laws increase gun violence, create complications for law enforcement, and pose unnecessary risks to unarmed civilians in sensitive areas. It is also argued that there is little evidence that freedom to carry reduces crime, and a lack of training requirements may increase the risk of firearm misuse.

1. Concealed Carry Increases Gun Violence

Despite having varied concealed carry regulations, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, and Texas recorded the highest numbers of firearm-related homicides in 2024.

Conversely, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wyoming recorded the lowest numbers of firearm-related homicides. Some of these states require permits and training before allowing residents to carry, while others do not. This suggests that concealed carry laws are not reliable indicators of public safety on their own.

2. Concealed Carry Presents Unnecessary Challenges for Law Enforcement

While critics argue that permitless carry laws make it harder for police to distinguish threats, the National Police Association has reported that armed civilians actually help police stop active threats.

Furthermore, armed civilians are better equipped to protect themselves when police are unavailable.

3. Concealed Carry Poses Risk to Unarmed Civilians in Sensitive Places

Critics of concealed carry legislation often raise concerns about firearms in sensitive places such as schools, courthouses, government buildings, and hospitals. States with concealed carry legislation maintain restrictions in sensitive places, however, and continue to provide armed security in many areas.

4. Concealed Carry Legislation Does Not Decrease Crime

While some studies suggest a link between concealed carry and increased violent crime, broader crime trends show overall decreases in most states that allow permitless carry. This suggests that other factors may have a greater impact on criminality than concealed carry freedoms.

5. Lack of Training Requirements May Result in More Gun Violence

Concealed carry legislation often has no training requirements, which critics argue may result in more gun violence. However, a correlation does not exist between such training requirements and gun violence.

Crime Rates in Concealed Carry States

Data on the number of concealed carry permit holders who commit crimes are limited, although current evidence shows no clear correlation between increases in crime and the presence of armed civilians.

As of early 2025, 29 states in the United States allow individuals to carry firearms without a permit. Twenty of these states passed permitless carry legislation prior to January 2023.

Violent Crime Rates and Concealed Carry States Fast Facts:

• Of the 20 states that recently began allowing permitless carry, 12 saw decreases in violent crime.

• As of 2024, 12 out of 20 states that recently began allowing permitless carry had violent crime rates below the national average.

• Missouri, New Hampshire, and Tennessee had the steepest declines in violent crime rates after enacting permitless concealed carry legislation.

• Alaska, West Virginia, and Wyoming had the highest increases in violent crime rates after adopting concealed carry legislation.

Open Carry States Crime Statistics

California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, and Washington, D.C. do not authorize the open carrying of firearms.

As reported by the FBI’s UCR, five of the aforementioned seven states (62%) have violent crime rates above the national average in 2023:

• California - 508.2 per 100k

• Connecticut - 150.2 per 100k

• Illinois - 310.1 per 100k

• New Jersey - 221.3 per 100k

• South Carolina - 471 per 100k

• Washington, D.C. - 1,150.9 per 100k

Note: Some other states require permits for open carry, but it is prohibited in the states listed above. The term “open carry” refers to wearing or displaying a firearm, whereas concealed carry means concealing it.

Wrap-Up

Concealed carry legislation is one of many factors that may contribute to increases or decreases in crime. States with permissive or restrictive concealed carry legislation have varying violent crime trends. Ultimately, the relationship between armed civilians and restrictive gun laws is not proven to impact crime rates one way or another.

Sources

1. Concealed Carry and Reciprocity
2. CDC WONDER
3. FBI Crime Data Explorer