The desire to carry firearms without permits is gaining traction. More states are starting to listen.
Indiana is the most recent state to act. Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, signed House Bill 1296 into law Monday, giving Hoosiers the right to carry without a permit. Alabama and Ohio recently passed similar bills, and Georgia ’s Legislature is closer to adopting such a measure, making it the 25th state to do so.
Permitless carry is the next frontier for safeguarding Second Amendment rights.
“Constitutional carry” laws allow law-abiding residents to carry handguns without a permit. Similarly, states with “permitless carry” laws allow citizens to carry, though they may require them to meet certain qualifications, like minimum age. Permitless carry isn’t a fringe policy — Vermont was one of the first states to adopt this expansion of gun rights — nor will permitless carry lead to the Wild West: Those boasting criminal records, including prohibited possessors, are ineligible from participating. And firearms training is always encouraged in light of these rules changes.