We have a 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
45 of the 50 states also have “Second Amendments”
Declarations of the right to own and use firearms at the state level
Only 5 states (and the District of Columbia) restrict the rights of their citizens
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. While the Second Amendment applies to all states, each state has its own laws regarding firearms and the right to bear arms.
Most state constitutions include language similar to the Second Amendment, while others may provide additional or more restrictive protections for gun ownership.
In general, state constitutions that include language similar to the Second Amendment recognize the right of citizens to keep and bear arms for self-defense, hunting, and other lawful purposes. However, a few states also impose certain restrictions on firearms, such as background checks or waiting periods for gun purchases, or may prohibit certain types of weapons altogether.
Alabama
“That every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.”
Article 1, Section 26
Alaska
“A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. The individual right to keep and bear arms shall not be denied or infringed by the state or political subdivision of the State.”
Article 1, Section 19
Arizona
“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the State shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men.”
Article 2, Section 26.
Arkansas
“The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep for their common defense.”
Article 2, Section 5
California
(none)
Colorado
“The right of no person to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall be called in question; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons.”
Article II, Section 13.
Connecticut
“Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.”
Article 1, Section 15
Delaware
“A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and state, and for hunting and recreational use.”
Article 1, §20.
District of Columbia (D.C.)
(none)
Florida
“(a) The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law.
Article 1, Section 8
Georgia
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.”
Article 1, Section 1, Paragraph VIII
Hawaii
“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Article 1, Section 15
Idaho
“The people have the right to keep and bear arms, which right shall not be abridged; but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to govern the carrying of weapons concealed on the person, nor prevent passage of legislation providing minimum sentences for crimes committed while in possession of a firearm, nor prevent passage of legislation providing penalties for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon, nor prevent the passage of legislation punishing the use of a firearm. No law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition. Nor shall any law permit the confiscation of firearms, except those actually used in the commission of a felony.”
Article 1, Section 11.
Illinois
“Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Section 22, Article I of the Illinois Bill of Rights
Indiana
“The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State.”
Article 1 Section 32.
Iowa
Iowa has no State Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. However, the Iowa Constitution does guarantee certain inalienable rights—among which are “defending life” and “protecting property.”
Article 1, Section 1
Kansas
“The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and : security; but standing armies in time of peace, are dangerous to • liberty, and shall not be tolerated, and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.”
Kansas Bill of Rights Section 4
Kentucky
“All men are by nature, free and equal, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights, among which may be reckoned: … 7) the right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state, subject to the power of the general assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.”
Article 1, Section 1, Paragraph 7
Louisiana
“The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms is fundamental and shall not be infringed. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.”
Old one – “The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged, but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to prohibit the carrying of weapons concealed on the person.”
LA State Constitution – Article 1, Section 11
Maine
“Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned.”
Article 1, Section 16
Maryland
(none)
Massachusetts
“The people have a right to keep and bear arms for the common defense. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature, and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it.”
Declaration of Rights, Article 17
Michigan
“Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.”
Article 1, Section 6
Minnesota
(none)
Mississippi
“The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but the legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons.”
Article 3 Section 12
Missouri
“That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned; but this shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons.”
Article 1, Section 23
Montana
“The right of any person to keep or bear arms in defense of his own home, person, and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but nothing herein contained shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons.”
Article 2, Section 12
Nebraska
“All persons … have certain … rights, among these are … the right to keep and bear arms for security or defense of self, family, home, and others, and for lawful common defense, hunting, recreational use, and all other lawful purposes, and such rights shall not be denied or infringed by the state or any subdivision thereof.”
Nebraska Constitution art. 1, sec. 1
Nevada
“Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes.”
Article 1, Section 11, Paragraph 1
New Hampshire
“All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property, and the state.”
Part 1, Article 2-a
New Jersey
(none)
New Mexico
“No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms.”
Article II, Section 6
New York
(none)
North Carolina
“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, and, as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be maintained, and the military should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power. Nothing herein shall justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons, or prevent the General Assembly from enacting penal statutes against that practice.”
Article 1, Section 30
North Dakota
“All individuals . . . have certain inalienable rights, among which are . . . to keep and bear arms for the defense of their person, family, property, and the state, and for lawful hunting, recreational, and other lawful purposes, which shall not be infringed.”
Article 1, Section l
Ohio
“The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up; and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.”
Article 1, Section 4
Oklahoma
“The right of a citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power, when thereunto legally summoned, shall never be prohibited, but nothing herein contained shall prevent the legislature from regulating the carrying of weapons.”
Article 2, Section 26.
Oregon
“The people shall have the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of themselves and the state, but the military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power.”
Article 1, Section 27
Pennsylvania
“The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.”
Article 1, Section 21
Rhode Island
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Article 1, Section 22
South Carolina
“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”
Article 1, Section 20
South Dakota
“The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be denied.”
Article VI, Section 24
Tennessee
“That the citizens of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.”
Article 1, Section 26
Texas
“Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime.”
Article 1, Section 23
Utah
“The individual right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the State as well as for other lawful purposes shall not be infringed; but nothing herein shall prevent the legislature from defining the lawful use of arms.”
Article 1, Section 6
Vermont
“That the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power.”
Chapter 1, Article 16
Virginia
“That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.”
Article 1, Section 13
Washington
“The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.”
Article 1, Section 24
West Virginia
A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home, and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use.
Art. 3, Sec. 22
Wisconsin
The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose.
WISC. CONST. art. 1, § 25
Wyoming
“The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be denied.”
Article 1, Section 24