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
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
Kansas City is one of them, meaning open carry is more restricted than concealed carry within city limits.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024
Together, a pair of bills would ban firearm possession at absentee ballot counting locations and prohibit the open carry of firearms at voting locations as well as absentee ballot drop boxes and clerks' offices during the 40-day absentee voting period.
—Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024
However, Kansas City requires a state permit to open carry within city limits.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024
On a party-line vote last November, Democrats in the state House passed legislation banning the open carry of firearms at polling locations, early voting sites, clerk's offices and ballot drop boxes and a complete prohibition on the possession of firearms at absentee ballot counting centers.
—Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2024
In 2014, former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed a law blocking municipalities from restricting the open carry of guns, for instance.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2024
In Washington state, open carry is allowed for both long guns and handguns without a license, which means individuals can carry a firearm in many public areas, although private property owners may prohibit firearms on their property.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 24 Oct. 2023
In 2016, the state legalized open carry for permit holders; then the legislature got rid of the need for a permit.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2023
Ashley R. Williams and Victor Blackwell, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024
Kansas City is one of them, meaning open carry is more restricted than concealed carry within city limits.
—Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 19 Jan. 2024
Together, a pair of bills would ban firearm possession at absentee ballot counting locations and prohibit the open carry of firearms at voting locations as well as absentee ballot drop boxes and clerks' offices during the 40-day absentee voting period.
—Detroit Free Press, 29 Feb. 2024
However, Kansas City requires a state permit to open carry within city limits.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 16 Feb. 2024
On a party-line vote last November, Democrats in the state House passed legislation banning the open carry of firearms at polling locations, early voting sites, clerk's offices and ballot drop boxes and a complete prohibition on the possession of firearms at absentee ballot counting centers.
—Detroit Free Press, 12 Feb. 2024
In 2014, former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed a law blocking municipalities from restricting the open carry of guns, for instance.
—Jenna Barackman, Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2024
In Washington state, open carry is allowed for both long guns and handguns without a license, which means individuals can carry a firearm in many public areas, although private property owners may prohibit firearms on their property.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 24 Oct. 2023
In 2016, the state legalized open carry for permit holders; then the legislature got rid of the need for a permit.
—Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, 23 Sep. 2023
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 19 Apr. 2024.
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