According to National Rifle Association, 40 states have “right-to-carry” laws. Thirty-six have “shall issue laws, requiring carry permits to be issued to applicants who meet uniform standards established by the state legislature.  Three have fairly administered discretionary-issue carry permits systems. Only one, which is Vermont, respects the right to carry without a permit. Alaska, one of the “shall issues” states, has its permit system for the purpose of permit-reciprocity with other states, and also a adopted a no-permit-required law in 2003. 

There are 10 non-right-to-carry states. Eight have restrictedly-administered discretionary-issue systems. Only two, Illinois and Wisconsin, have no permit system and prohibit carrying.
  Archives > News > Handgun carry permits increasing” href=”http://www.spartaexpositor.com/articles/2008/06/03/news/doc4844152c4a63d659876119.txt”>
The Expositor – Sparta Tennessee > Archives > News > Handgun carry permits increasing.