California led the way in gun safety in the United States as of January 2024, with a composite score of 89.5 based on the presence of 50 key gun safety policies. New York followed, with a score of 83.5, while Illinois rounded out the top three with a score of 83.
Illinois joins the no-assault weapons club
In 2023, Illinois came in seventh place for gun law strength; by 2024, this ranking rose to third, signifying that the state holds some of the strongest gun safety laws nationwide. However, this swift rise up the ranks also suggests that Illinois is still taking action against gun violence, particularly after seven people were killed and dozens were injured in a mass shooting in Chicago during a Fourth of July parade in 2022. In recent years, Illinois has consistently improved state legislation on gun safety and has enacted multiple measures to prevent further harm from firearms, including a statewide ban on assault weapons which was approved in January 2023. The Midwestern state joined eight other states, as well as Washington, D.C., which prohibits military-style weapons.
Permissive open carry states dominate the bottom of the class
Receiving only three points each, Arkansas and Mississippi represent the lowest composite score for gun law strength nationwide. Arkansas and Mississippi are amongst the 25 U.S. states that do not require any permit to carry concealed guns in public, and are permissive open carry states as well. Moreover, both states do not require a permit or a background check to purchase a handgun and also neglect to necessitate any firearm safety training before making the purchase. Such gun safety laws are considered crucial to ensure that firearms are handled properly and do not cause anyone harm. However, it is also important to note that countries with strong safety measures may still experience high rates of gun violence due to illegal gun trafficking. As a result, taking legal action may not fully address all gun-related violence in the area, especially if there remains an illicit way for people to obtain a gun without restriction.
FAQs
Leading states for gun law strength in the U.S. 2024
What states are the hardest to get guns? ›
The 10 states with the strongest gun laws, in ranking order, were California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Illinois, New York, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland and Colorado. The states with the least stringent gun laws were Wyoming, Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Idaho, Montana, Mississippi, South Dakota, Kansas and Arizona.
What are the gun laws in the US in 2024? ›
U.S. gun laws 2024, by state
As of 2024, 21 U.S. states required background checks and/or permits for the purchase of a handgun. A further 13 states had regulations on openly carrying firearms in public, however, only California, Connecticut, Florida, and Illinois had completely prohibited open carry for all firearms.
How many guns are in the US in 2024? ›
There are currently more than 6 million registered firearms of the estimated 500 million in circulation. It's important to note that the 1934 National Firearms Act and U.S. vs. Miller require registration for some firearms, but not all firearms require registration.
What state is the hardest to get a gun permit? ›
Report Highlights:
- Hawaii is the #1 worst state for gun owners due to strict purchasing and carry laws, as well as defying the Supreme Court on the individual's right to carry.
- California is the #2 worst state for gun owners due to its permit-to-purchase and reciprocity laws.
Leading states for gun law strength in the U.S. 2024
California led the way in gun safety in the United States as of January 2024, with a composite score of 89.5 based on the presence of 50 key gun safety policies. New York followed, with a score of 83.5, while Illinois rounded out the top three with a score of 83.
What state has the most loose gun laws? ›
Mississippi has the weakest gun laws in the country and the highest gun death rate.
What state has the best concealed carry? ›
U.S. Gun Laws and Regulations: A State by State Look
| Rank | State | CCW |
|---|
| 1 | Alaska | Constitutional carry |
| 2 | Arizona | Constitutional carry |
| 3 | Wyoming | Constitutional carry |
| 4 | Montana | Constitutional carry |
34 more rowsFeb 2, 2022
Data showed that California was the most heavily regulated state in the country in 2022, while Idaho was the least. The top three most restricted industries nationwide were waste management and remediation services, petroleum and coal products manufacturing, and chemical manufacturing.
What is the new ATF rule for 2024? ›
April 2024
The rule also clarifies what it means for a person to be ''engaged in the business'' of dealing in firearms and to have the intent to ''predominantly earn a profit'' from the sale or disposition of firearms. In addition, it clarifies the term ''dealer'' and defines the term ''responsible person.
Forty-four states have a provision in their state constitutions similar to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. The exceptions are California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.
Can state gun laws override federal ones? ›
Q: Do Federal Gun Laws Override State Laws? A: Yes, federal laws, including those regarding gun control, will supersede a state's laws on the particular matter.
What state sells the most guns? ›
Approximately 16.7 million firearms were sold in the U.S. in 2023, a 4% decline from 2022. Texas, Florida, and California lead the nation in total gun sales, accounting for 22% of guns sold in 2024 to date.
How many guns can you own in United States? ›
Summary of Federal Law
Federal law does not limit the number of guns a person may buy in any given time period. However, federal law does require federal firearm licensees (“FFLs”) to report multiple sales of handguns to ATF and other specified law enforcement agencies.
What state has the most armed citizens? ›
Montana has the highest percentage of residents who own guns, with 65.7% of the population.
What state sells the most guns in the US? ›
Texas sold the most guns in 2023
The top three states for gun sales in 2023 have the most residents. According to SafeHomes' analysis of the FBI data, these are the states with the most firearm sales in 2023: Texas: 1,347,589. Florida: 1,316,471.
What is the strictest state in America? ›
California named most regulated state from 2019-2022
State RegData datasets ranked California as America's most regulated state each year from 2019 to 2022.
What state is the most heavily armed? ›
Texas was the state with the highest number of registered weapons in the United States in 2021, with 1,006,555 firearms. Rhode Island, on the other hand, had the least, with 4,887 registered firearms.
