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The right to carry firearms in each U.S. state
Illinois and Wisconsin are "no-issue" states : concealed carry is generally forbidden.
In 10 "may-issue" states, applicants must often present a reason for carrying a firearm to an issuing authority, who then decides (based on his/her discretion) if the applicant receives a permit. These are : Alabama, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maryland, Massachussetts, New Jersey and New York.
The 38 remaining states are "shall-issue" states : there, concealed carry permits are issued to all qualified applicants.
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A 2005 Gallup poll throughout the U.S.A. (1,012 adults) found the following levels of firearm ownership :
| Category | Percentage Owning a Firearm |
| Households | 42% |
| Individuals | 30% |
| Male | 47% |
| Female | 13% |
| White | 33% |
| Nonwhite | 18% |
| Republican | 41% |
| Independent | 27% |
| Democrat | 23% |
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In the same poll, gun owners stated they own firearms for the following reasons :
| Protection Against Crime | 67% |
| Target Shooting | 66% |
| Hunting | 41% |
