| State |
Open Carry |
Concealed Carry |
With CHP |
Other Permit |
Comment |
| Alabama |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Alaska |
Legal |
Legal (21+ years old) |
N/A |
N/A |
| Arizona |
Legal |
Legal (21+ years old) |
N/A |
N/A |
| Arkansas |
Vague |
Vague |
Yes |
Yes |
Technically only illegal “with a purpose to employ as a weapon against a person.” |
| California |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
Yes |
| Colorado |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Connecticut |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
No |
On duty security guards may carry a baton. |
| Delaware |
Legal |
Illegal |
Yes |
No |
| District of Columbia |
Legal |
Vague |
No |
No |
Illegal to conceal “any deadly or dangerous weapon.” Similar cases suggest general hostility to carry. |
| Florida |
Legal |
Illegal |
Yes |
No |
| Georgia |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Hawaii |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
No |
Fish Bats don’t count, unless carried as a weapon. |
| Idaho |
Legal |
Vague |
Yes |
No |
Illegal to conceal “any deadly weapon,” but doesn’t apply outside a city if 18 + years old or on private property with owner’s permission. |
| Illinois |
Vague |
Vague |
No |
? |
Illegal to carry a billy “with intent to use the same unlawfully against another” or in a government building. |
| Indiana |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Iowa |
Legal |
Vague |
Yes |
No |
Illegal to conceal any “dangerous weapon” which is very broadly applicable. |
| Kansas |
Legal |
Illegal |
No |
No |
Illegal to conceal a “billy.” |
| Kentucky |
Legal |
Illegal |
Yes |
No |
| Louisiana |
Legal |
Vague |
No |
No |
Illegal to conceal any “instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon.” |
| Maine |
Legal |
Vague |
No |
No |
| Maryland |
Legal |
Vague |
Yes |
No |
Could be a “dangerous or deadly weapon,” but isn’t named explicitly. Law has self-defense provision. Similar cases suggest state must prove criminal intent. |
| Massachusetts |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
Only prohibited when arrested on a warrant or during a breach of peace. |
| Michigan |
Vague |
Vague |
No |
No |
Illegal to carry with intent to use unlawfully against another “any other dangerous or deadly weapon or instrument.” |
| Minnesota |
Vague |
Vague |
No |
No |
Illegal to possess any “instrumentality customarily used or intended for probable use as a dangerous weapon. |
| Mississippi |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Missouri |
Legal |
Vague |
Yes |
No |
Illegal to conceal “any other weapon readily capable of lethal use.” |
| Montana |
Legal |
Illegal |
Yes |
No |
| Nebraska |
Legal |
Vague |
Yes |
No |
Illegal to conceal “any other deadly weapon,” but burden lies with the state. Law has self-defense provision. |
| Nevada |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
Yes |
Can obtain written permission from the county sheriff. |
| New Hampshire |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| New Jersey |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
Yes |
Guards with CHP and training certification are permitted to carry |
| New Mexico |
Vague |
Vague |
Yes |
No |
Illegal to carry “any other typed of deadly weapon.” |
| New York |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
No |
| State |
Open Carry |
Concealed Carry |
With CHP |
Other Permit |
Comment |
| North Carolina |
Legal |
Vague |
No |
No |
| North Dakota |
Legal |
Illegal |
Yes |
No |
| Ohio |
Legal |
Vague |
No |
No |
| Oklahoma |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
No |
| Oregon |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Pennsylvania |
Vague |
Vague |
No |
No |
Illegal to possess “other implement for the infliction of serious bodily injury which serves no common lawful purpose.” Case law indicates self-defense is not a “common lawful purpose.” |
| Rhode Island |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
No |
No exception noted for private security. |
| South Carolina |
Legal |
Vague |
No |
No |
Illegal to conceal “a deadly weapon usually used for the infliction of personal injury.” |
| South Dakota |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Tennessee |
Illegal |
Illegal |
No |
Yes |
| Texas |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Utah |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Vermont |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Virginia |
Legal |
Vague |
Spring-loaded baton is illegal, but could possibly be extended to any “weapon of like kind.” |
| Washington |
Legal |
Vague |
No |
No |
Illegal to conceal “other dangerous weapon” |
| West Virginia |
Legal |
Legal |
N/A |
N/A |
| Wisconsin |
Legal |
Legal |
Yes |
No |
| Wyoming |
Legal |
Vague |
Yes |
No |
Illegal to conceal a “deadly weapon.” |
