Most states have regulations governing gun ownership for foster parents; having guns locked and stored in safes, with ammunition locked and stored separately, is a standard requirement. The goal is to ensure the safety of children, many of them troubled, in foster care.

But around the country, some foster parents and lawmakers, as well as gun rights advocates, are pushing back, especially in states that bar concealed permit-holders from carrying their weapons if they are caring for foster children.

In 2011, Texas lawmakers passed a measure explicitly allowing foster parents to carry weapons in their cars. In Nevada, the State Legislature adopted a bill in 2015 that overturned state regulations and explicitly allowed foster parents to possess guns if they are law enforcement officers or have permits to carry concealed weapons.

“We felt that it wasn’t right for them to have this ridiculous ruling, because there are so many families out there that use firearms for protection,” said Valerie Wilson, 42, who, along with her husband, Brian, was denied a foster license in Las Vegas because Mr. Wilson carried a gun with a concealed carry permit.