The Most Pro-2A States for Relocation (and the Ones to Avoid)

Dear Shadow Tribe,

For anyone weighing a move based in part on self-defense and gun rights, the practical differences between various states are large. Roughly 29 states now allow constitutional carry. Most of those also have Stand Your Ground laws and statewide preemption intended to block cities from imposing stricter rules. 

Strongest overall options

These states repeatedly rank at or near the top across carry law, self-defense doctrine, preemption, and independent scorecards such as the 2026 Firearms Policy Coalition index:

• New Hampshire and Kansas. The only two states to score a perfect 100% on the 2026 FPC State Freedom Index. Both have constitutional carry and minimal additional restrictions.
• Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana. Constitutional carry, strong preemption, high gun ownership rates, and low regulatory burden. 
• Texas and Arizona. Constitutional carry, robust Stand Your Ground and Castle Doctrine laws, and large existing gun cultures. Texas is frequently cited for strong civil-immunity provisions in self-defense cases.
• West Virginia, Arkansas, Missouri, South Dakota, Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Tennessee. Constitutional carry in most cases, Stand Your Ground in the majority, and generally permissive rules on common firearms and accessories.

In practical terms, these states let a law-abiding adult carry a handgun without a permit, defend themselves without a duty to retreat when lawfully present, and own standard rifles and magazines without state-level registration or assault-weapon bans. Statewide preemption further reduces the risk that local governments will add their own restrictions.

The Most Anti-Gun, Anti-Self Defense States 

California, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Illinois, Maryland, and Connecticut rank at the bottom of nearly every major gun-rights index. These states typically require permits to purchase or carry, ban or heavily restrict certain rifles and magazines, impose waiting periods or registration-style requirements, and limit reciprocity. Relocation into any of them means accepting more restrictions, significantly higher compliance costs, fewer practical options for carry and ownership, and less legal rights to defend yourself and your family.

For someone prioritizing gun rights when choosing where to live, the gap between the top tier and the bottom tier is huge. The states with constitutional carry plus Stand Your Ground offer the clearest current baseline for pro-gun and pro-self defense living. The eight states named above do not.

Between Shadows and Light, 

   Cade Shadowlight ☠ 

 

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