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There are 5 new states that became Constitutional Carry in 2021. About 10 states put forth legislation in favor of it, but only 5 of them were successful of being signed into law. Read my article, New States Considering Constitutional Carry in 2021, to see some of the other states that introduced legislation.
This makes a total of 21 states where Constitutional Carry is the law.
Despite what you hear and read from the media, a majority of people want their gun rights. With the surge of new gun owners, I predict more people will be in favor of restoring their gun rights.
Even if people are not in favor, the Constitution protects the rights that have been given to us.
The hope is that more states will continue to adopt this law. If we have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then we all should have the right to protect it.
he 5 states that restored their rights in 2021 are: Utah, Montana, Iowa, Tennessee and Texas. Most of these states had to put in a lot of work to get their constitutional right back. Some of them, it took years of failure before finally being successful in 2021. It took the effort of the citizens, gun groups and representatives, in each of these states to get their bill signed.
Utah
On February 12, 2021, Governor Spencer Cox signed HB60 into law. It allows open and concealed carry for anyone 21 and over. Anyone 18-20 can only conceal with a provisional permit or open carry with an empty chamber (2 actions from firing).
Utah has been trying to get this passed since 2013. They passed HB76 through the House and Senate in 2013, but the then governor Gary Herbert vetoed the bill.
Representatives continued to try, with the threat of veto from Herbert, they were unsuccessful.
Once he retired, they were able to finally get it done. Governor Cox signed the bill his first year as governor.
Montana
Governor Greg Gianforte signed HB102 into law on February 18, 2021. It allows all residents and non-residents over 18 to conceal carry without a permit. Permitless open carry was already legal. It also removed certain “gun free” zones in different locations across the state.
Montana had been trying since 2011 to pass Constitutional Carry.
In two different years, bills were introduced that passed the House and Senate, but were then vetoed by two different governors. First was in 2011, and the other was in 2015.
Governor Gianforte signed Constitutional Carry into law in his first few months as governor.
Iowa
HB756 easily passed the Iowa House and Senate. It was signed by Governor Kim Reynolds on April 2, 2021.
Along with other provisions, it removes the requirement for a permit to conceal or open carry for anyone 21 or over.
Iowa used to require a permit to purchase a gun. It also removed that requirement.
Tennessee
Governor Bill Lee signed Senate Bill 765 on April 8, 2021. It passed through the House and Senate overwhelmingly, while many law enforcement and groups spoke out against it.
The bill allows for open and concealed carry of handguns only, not rifles or shotguns. It is for anyone 21 and older, as well as military members 18-20.
It has faced criticism for being handguns only, and also for the 21 age limit.
There may be amendments in the future, to add long guns and lower the age to 18.
Texas
Texas was finally able to get Constitutional Carry, when Governor Greg Abbott signed HB1927 into law on June 16, 2021.
It took some work for the bill to make it to his desk. It first passed the House. Then when it didn’t appear to have the votes in the Senate, the bill was amended by the Senate, and that version was passed.
The House rejected the amended version, and then formed a conference committee.
They ultimately came up with a compromised version they could agree on, which then allowed the legislation to pass the House and Senate.
Texans can now carry a handgun, open or concealed without a permit, if they are at least 21. Long guns were already legal to carry without a license.
Constitutional Carry States in 2021
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