Which U.S. states currently prohibit carrying firearms at political demonstrations or on capitol grounds?
Executive summary
A single, definitive list of U.S. states that bar firearms at political demonstrations or across entire capitol grounds does not exist in the provided reporting; instead, advocacy groups, think‑tanks and news outlets document overlapping but inconsistent counts and categories — for example, the Council of State Governments reported 34 states plus Washington, D.C., prohibit possession on capitol grounds while other trackers report smaller totals for more expansive bans on demonstrations or both open and concealed carry [1] [2] [3]. The practical picture is a patchwork: some states ban firearms in capitols, some ban them specifically at demonstrations or licensed gatherings, and many more allow carry but restrict loaded long guns or open carry in certain capitol zones [4] [5].
1. How many states prohibit guns on capitol grounds — tallies, and why they differ
The most comprehensive single tally in the reporting comes from the Council of State Governments, which found that 34 states plus Washington, D.C., prohibit possession of firearms on capitol grounds, with 16 states permitting personal firearms in some form inside statehouses [1]; by contrast, Giffords’ tracking gave a lower figure — 23 states that prohibit firearms “to some degree” within state capitols, reflecting a narrower or differently defined universe of prohibitions [2]. These divergent totals arise because groups use different definitions (complete bans, partial bans, bans only on open carry or loaded long guns, bans that apply only inside buildings vs. across grounds) and because state laws are changing rapidly after highly visible armed demonstrations [1] [6].
2. Demonstration bans: limited lists and competing counts
On the question of political demonstrations specifically, Giffords reported that 16 states prohibit concealed carry, open carry, or both at demonstrations, protests or licensed public gatherings — a narrower category than capitol‑grounds bans and therefore yielding a smaller number [2]. The Trace’s 2020 review reached a different outcome: only seven states plus D.C. were found to bar firearms at rallies outright, with 36 states either explicitly allowing carry at rallies or preempting local bans [7]. Advocacy organizations note that preemption laws in many states block local restrictions, meaning municipal bans on weapons at protests are often invalid even where local officials wish otherwise [7] [8].
3. Which states are explicitly cited in reporting as restricting certain carry types at capitols or protests
Some sources list named states or specific statutory restrictions: Everytown and related reporting identify 17 states that prohibit the open carry of loaded long guns on capitol grounds (AR, CO, IN, IA, ME, MD, MO, NC, ND, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, VA, WA, WV) and note six states (and DC) that broadly prohibit open carry of loaded long guns around capitols [4]. Washington State is repeatedly cited as having enacted bans on open carry on the capitol campus and specific limits around demonstrations as of recent legislative action and analysis [9] [10]. The federal Capitol and its grounds are also subject to a federal prohibition except as authorized by the Capitol Police Board [6] [11].
4. Why the patchwork matters — enforcement, intimidation, and the political frame
Legal patchiness has practical consequences: armed demonstrations have been linked to canceled sessions and intimidation of lawmakers in multiple states, prompting some legislatures to tighten location restrictions while other statehouses loosen them as a political statement about gun rights [5] [12]. Reporting from Everytown, ICNL and advocacy groups frames restrictions as public‑safety measures after incidents around legislative buildings, while gun‑rights advocates emphasize preemption and the right to carry; both frames shape which laws are proposed, enacted or rolled back in different states [4] [13].
5. Bottom line and limitations of available reporting
From the provided sources: one reputable survey counted 34 states plus D.C. prohibiting firearms on capitol grounds (CSG) while advocacy trackers report smaller counts for bans specifically at demonstrations (Giffords: 16 states; The Trace: seven states + D.C.) and Everytown documents a set of named states restricting loaded long guns on capitol grounds [1] [2] [7] [4]. Because the sources use different definitions, update cycles and advocacy lenses, a definitive state‑by‑state roster cannot be assembled from these materials alone; compiling an accurate, current list would require consulting each state’s statutes or an up‑to‑date legal database beyond the provided reporting [2] [1] [5].