Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp Backs Constitutional Carry of Handguns

Constitutional carry, sometimes referred to as permitless carry, is when a state allows for the legal carrying of a handgun. Whether the gun is holstered, concealed or openly in view does not affect its legality. Additionally, citizens do not require a gun license or a permit.

The so-called Vermont carry is a controversial topic in light of the Second Amendment to the U.S Constitution, of which protects the right to keep and bear arms.

This form of gun ownership is contrasted to states that employ a 'concealed carry' form of legislature.

Like all laws, the scope and specificity of constitutional carry varies from state to state. Generally, constitutional carry does not extend to 'long' firearms, such as rifles, and is typically reserved for handguns.

No licensing or even firearm training is required, in the given states, to carry a handgun.

However, some states employ restrictions on who constitutional carry is applicable to. For example, some states restrict by age and residency.

Gun ownership advocates promote constitutional carry states as an example of an effective demonstration of the second amendment. Yet critics of the law argue for greater restrictions on gun ownership, with harsher requirements to acquire firearms, and stricter rules for carrying in public.

As for the science, a 2017 article in the Atlantic states that gun laws seem to have a minimal effect on violent crime.

In a report by the National Bureau of Economic Research, researchers simulated fictional states to mimic the real-life states that allow for right to carry laws. Their ultimate findings were that violent crimes were estimated to be between 13-15% higher in states with right to carry laws than without.

The topic continues to be debated in politics and in academia, yet the researchers were clear in their conclusions that when it comes to an easy-to-access supply of guns, "the harm outweighs the benefit."

Currently, the following 21 states have some form of constitutional carry law:

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

However, the execution of these laws varies between states, as well as between counties. For instance, in North Dakota, permitless carry is allowed only for residents, while non-residents need a permit. In Mississippi, permitless carry is only allowed in certain manners of carrying. In Oklahoma, premitless cary is allowed for both residents and non-residents who are 21 years or older, as well as non-residents who are 18 years or older.