open carry
noun
US
: the act or practice of carrying a firearm openly in public or the legal right to do so
In Pennsylvania, open carry is generally allowed without a license, but Philadelphia does require a license.—
Joshua Gillin
Joshua GillinThe next frontier for gun-rights advocates is "open carry," epitomized last year by protests in which permitted gun owners carried firearms in plain view at Starbucks coffee shops.—Patrik Jonsson
Patrik JonssonThree more states ban concealed carry but not open carry.—Hank Johnson and Mitch Seabaugh
—often used before another nounHank Johnson and Mitch Seabaughopen carry laws/legislation
compare concealed carry
Examples of open carry in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The state allows open carry and concealed carry for firearms including handguns and rifles.
—Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
Despite the open carry law, some establishments prohibit guns from being brought inside, leaving patrons to keep them in their cars, according to Cowan.
—Ashley R. Williams and Victor Blackwell, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for open carry 
Hannah Pinski, The Courier-Journal, 25 Mar. 2024
Despite the open carry law, some establishments prohibit guns from being brought inside, leaving patrons to keep them in their cars, according to Cowan.
—Ashley R. Williams and Victor Blackwell, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
See all Example Sentences for open carry
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'open carry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Open carry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/open%20carry. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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