# Concealed Weapons/Exposed Weapons

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-weapons-exposed-weapons/228834>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 12, 2004, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-weapons-exposed-weapons/228834 "2004-02-12T13:57:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![quicken78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/919ad9/32.png) [@quicken78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/quicken78)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-weapons-exposed-weapons/228834/1 "2004-02-12T13:57:06Z")

</div>

Wondering if somebody could provide me with info on whether there are some states in the US where, if you carry a weapon, it _must_ be concealed and others where it _must_ be exposed? I think that I heard that somewhere but can’t find anything on a simple Google search.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5ac83/32.png) [@BF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BF)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-weapons-exposed-weapons/228834/2 "2004-02-12T14:09:14Z")

</div>

From [NRA’s web site](http://www.nraila.org/media/misc/compendium.htm).

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-weapons-exposed-weapons/228834/3 "2004-02-13T01:32:52Z")

</div>

> [@quicken78](#):
>
> Wondering if somebody could provide me with info on whether there are some states in the US where, if you carry a weapon, it _must_ be concealed and others where it _must_ be exposed? I think that I heard that somewhere but can’t find anything on a simple Google search.

Nothing official here, just a tidbit. When I recieved my full carry permit back in 1979 (New York) I had to appear before a county judge (Dutchess County) before he signed off on my permit. His words at that time were that I could carry a pistol fully concealed, or, fully in view (in a holster) nothing in between. In other words, not stuck in my belt so only the handle could be seen.  
Fwiw.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2004, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/concealed-weapons-exposed-weapons/228834/4 "2004-02-13T01:51:51Z")

</div>

> [@quicken78](#):
>
> Wondering if somebody could provide me with info on whether there are some states in the US where, if you carry a weapon, it _must_ be concealed and others where it _must_ be exposed? I think that I heard that somewhere but can’t find anything on a simple Google search.

Try this:

[Packing . Org](http://www.packing.org/)

It may give you a start.

Tripler  
It’s got other goodies too.