Guns

Permits to carry concealed guns

20 public statements from 2026 candidates · 1 related bill

§1The range of views

Why this matters: It decides what a person must do before carrying a hidden handgun in public, such as taking a class, and where they are allowed to carry it.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

Whether adults who can legally own a handgun should need a state permit, such as one that requires training and a background check, to carry it concealed in public.

  1. No permit needed for adults who can legally own a gun
  2. Require a permit, with a background check and training
  3. Require a permit and bar carrying in more places, such as parks, public transit and bars

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

No permit needed for adults who can legally own a gun (15)

  • Brian Lambert FL-14
    His campaign website says he supports constitutional carry nationwide for law-abiding adults, with no permit required.1
  • Scott Eckhard Jewett FL Governor
    His campaign website says he supports constitutional carry and open carry in Florida.2
  • Dean Ocean Abrams FL Governor
    His campaign website says he supports constitutional carry, which it says is already Florida law, and open carry.3
  • Houston Gaines GA-10
    His campaign website says that in the Georgia legislature he has supported Constitutional Carry.4
  • Erin Houchin IN-9
    Her campaign website lists among her record in the Indiana Senate that she authored legislation to make Indiana a constitutional carry state.5
  • Bob Onder MO-3
    His campaign website says he was a Missouri Senate leader in passing Constitutional Carry in 2016 and sponsored a bill it calls Metro Carry to allow people to exercise their constitutional rights on public transit.6
  • Mahesh (Max) Ganorkar NC-4
    His campaign website calls for constitutional carry across the country, saying law-abiding citizens must be able to protect themselves without unnecessary restrictions.7
  • Pat Harrigan NC-10
    His campaign website says he supports constitutional carry as a fundamental right and will fight to protect the right to keep and bear arms.8
  • Jack Codiga NC-12
    His platform page, under a heading that calls the Second Amendment a person's permit, says states should not impose burdensome legal requirements on carrying a firearm.9
  • Lily Tang Williams NH-2
    Her campaign website says she supports a national constitutional carry law and will work to repeal gun control laws she considers unconstitutional, including gun-free zones.10
  • Robbie Mahrou NH-2
    His campaign website says New Hampshire has been a constitutional carry state since 2017 and should stay one, and lists backing the National Constitutional Carry Act (H.R. 645) while keeping the federal law that removes carry rights from people convicted of a violent felony.11
  • Stephen Villee NH Governor
    His campaign website says he would veto any return to requiring a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver.12
  • Justin Murphy NJ Senate
    His campaign website says he supports constitutional carry.13
  • David Hatley TN Governor
    His campaign website says he would support rewriting Tennessee's carry law so that lawful handgun carry by law-abiding adults is the default.14
  • Victor L. Scoggin TN Governor
    His campaign website lists constitutional carry among his issues.15

Statements that don't match one option (5)

  • Shawn Harris GA-14
    His campaign website says he supports the right of law-abiding citizens to carry firearms in public, and that gun owners should be trained on the firearms they own and store them safely.16
  • Zebulon Featherly MI-1
    His campaign website says people should have to complete firearm safety education in some situations, including when applying for a concealed carry permit, and that the training should be government-funded and free for anyone who wants it.17
  • Jerri Green TN Governor
    Her platform calls for bringing back training and testing for gun owners, especially for concealed carry permits.18
  • Ted Brown TX Senate
    His campaign website says he would protect concealed carry rights and end gun-free zones.19
  • Eric Barlow WY Governor
    His campaign website says he supported legislation to strengthen concealed carry rights and sponsored a bill that has restored firearm rights to hundreds of Wyoming residents.20

§3Related bills

Why this matters: Bills from 2023–2026 that bear on this issue, with how Congress handled them.