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Ten days before Kansas City hosted its first World Cup game of the summer, a shooting took place near Englands base camp in the city, raising the issue among World Cup fans of gun safety in the United States.
Local officials were quick to downplay concerns for World Cup travelers, only for an Uber carrying fans to Argentinas opening match against Algeria at Kansas City Stadium to be caught in a shooting spree a few days later.
Advertisement The issue of gun violence is an unavoidable one, with guns far more prevalent in American society than elsewhere in the world.
Thats in part because, in the U.S., the Second Amendment guarantees every Americans right to bear arms and with it being up to individual states to establish laws around gun ownership and gun safety, the issue remains a hotly debated one nationwide.
So, as we enter the knockout phase of the tournament and fans make plans to move to different cities, what should they know about gun safety across the 11 U.S.
host cities? Are guns allowed in World Cup stadiums? No, guns are strictly prohibited in World Cup stadiums.
This is true even at stadiums in states where gun laws are more relaxed because the stadium operators govern what is allowed on what is their private property.
Its worth noting that all NFL venues which are hosting most World Cup matches this summer have a strict ban on guns.
As for FIFA, the governing body also lists weapons as part of its prohibited items policy, which includes explosives, detonators, work tools, helmets, lighters, matches, smoke bombs, spray cans, etc.
The policy states that anyone found to be carrying any of these items may be refused entry to the stadium.
What about in other World Cup venues, like fan fests? The rules are almost identical for all official FIFA fan festivals: no guns or weapons of any kind.
In New York and New Jerseys fan zones, anything that could be used as a weapon is prohibited from entry.
Kansas City is more explicit, making it clear that all firearms are prohibited from its official fan festival.
Its worth mentioning here, too, that private establishments can enforce their own rules and some states establish strict rules against carrying a firearm into any bar, restaurant or facility that serves alcohol, even if a person is otherwise legally allowed to carry a gun.
What are the laws around carrying guns in U.S.
host cities? Every state has its own gun laws, and the stadiums are spread across nine states (Georgia, Massachusetts, Texas, Missouri, California, Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington).
You can also add Kansas and New York, which share hosting duties with Missouri and New Jersey, respectively, meaning fans may be traveling between both states for matches.
Advertisement Even in states where a person is legally able to carry a gun, there are areas where guns remain prohibited by federal law, including federal buildings, courthouses, and airports.
Here is a general rundown of gun-carry laws in states hosting World Cup matches: - Atlanta (Georgia): Georgia is permit-less carry or constitutional carry state, meaning anyone 21 or older (or 18 or older if active-duty military) and legally eligible to own and possess a firearm can carry a handgun without a license, openly or concealed.
- Boston (Massachusetts): Massachusetts, which has some of the strictest gun laws in the U.S., requires a license to carry (LTC) or a firearm identification card to possess or carry concealed firearms in the state.
The state issues LTCs through local police departments upon passing a background check, suitability evaluation and a state-approved firearms safety course.
It does not recognize or honour concealed carry permits from other states.
- Dallas, Houston (Texas): A permit-less carry state, meaning anyone 21+ who is legally allowed to possess a firearm under state and federal law can carry a handgun in most public places.
The state allows for open or concealed carry, but any handgun carried in public view must be in a holster.
- Kansas City (Missouri): Another permit-less carry state.
In Missouri, the law allows any person 19+ who can legally possess a firearm in the state to openly or concealed carry without a permit.
There are no background checks, training or registration required for private firearm sales.
- Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Area (California): California has the strongest gun laws in the United States, requiring universal background checks, a 10-day waiting period and a minimum age requirement of 21 for all firearms purchases, and strict limits on concealed carry in public.
Concealed carry is only legal in the state with a state-issued Carry Concealed Weapon license.
California also does not recognize permits from other states.
- Miami (Florida): Another permit-less carry state, allowing anyone 21+ to legally carry a concealed firearm without a permit.
Open carry is also permitted for eligible individuals, unless in restricted areas, like courthouses, police and sheriff offices, certain government buildings or school properties.
Handguns must also be securely holstered.
- New York/New Jersey (New Jersey): New Jersey strictly prohibits open carry and requires permits for all persons who want to carry concealed.
To receive a permit, you must be 21+ and have no disqualifying criminal record, mental health history or any issues with drug or alcohol.
A person must also complete the states Civilian Carry Assessment and Range Evaluation, which includes an in-person firearms training course and a live-fire qualification.
- What about New York City?: Gun laws in nearby New York City align closely with those in the Garden State.
To carry a handgun, a person must be 21+ and have a NYC-issued Carry License, which requires a 16-hour safety course, a two-hour live-fire training course and a written test.
The state does not recognize permits from other states.
- Philadelphia (Pennsylvania): The city has stricter requirements than the rest of Pennsylvania, requiring permits for all methods of carrying.
You must be a city resident, at least 21 years old and a U.S.
citizen.
- Seattle (Washington): The city and state allow open carry for anyone 21+ without a permit, and concealed carry with a Washington Concealed Pistol license.
To receive a permit, a person must pass a background check, with the state honoring out-of-state concealed permits from a limited number of states.
What is the distinction between open carry and concealed carry? The obvious and primary difference between the two is the visibility of a firearm.
States with open-carry laws allow weapons to be visible to the public so long as a person is following state laws.
Meanwhile, concealed carry means a firearm must be entirely hidden from public view.
Do all law enforcement agents carry guns? Yes, it is safe to assume most law enforcement in the U.S.
carry weapons.
There are some exceptions, however, for certain policing roles like traffic enforcement.
The reality remains that with this World Cup, which is the largest edition FIFA has organized to date, it features some of the most stringent security measures ever for a sporting event, upping the visibility of law enforcement in and around host cities.