24/7 Wall St. Insights

• The rate of federal gun tracings ranges from about 20 for every 100,000 people to over 350 per 100,000.
• While some states have strict gun laws, other states possess relatively lax regulations.
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Americans tend to take their Second Amendment right to bear arms quite seriously. In fact, about one-third of U.S. adults confess to owning a gun. Additionally, four in 10 adults live in a home alongside a gun. Despite the fact that the majority of gun owners say they primarily own the weapon for protection, only about half of Americans believe gun ownership increases safety. A whole 49% percent say guns do more to reduce safety, by allowing almost anyone to obtain such a dangerous weapon.

The United States is an incredibly large country, with each state possessing its own gun laws. While some states have strict gun laws, other states possess relatively lax regulations. According to Sitemark, the states with the most adopted gun safety policies are California, Illinois, and New York. Meanwhile, Mississippi is the state with the most relaxed gun policies.

Everytown Research & Policy’s website provides details on the type of gun laws and the rate of gun violence within each state. This information plays a role in understanding why a given state has or does not have a large number of guns circulating. Using the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) firearm tracking data, 24/7 Wall Street ranked states by the number of firearms traced by the ATF in 2022 for every 100,000 people. We also used population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2022 American Community Survey calculations.

Across the 50 states, the rate of federal gun tracings ranges from about 20 for every 100,000 people to over 350 per 100,000. The top 15 states on this list alone account for nearly half of all federal firearm tracings in 2022, despite being home to only about 36% of the U.S. population — excluding territories and Washington, D.C.

While the concentration of federal firearm investigations varies considerably by geography, certain patterns hold up across the 50 states. For example, handguns—such as pistols, revolvers, and derringers—are far more likely to be used in a crime than rifles or shotguns.

More easily concealed than long guns, handguns accounted for over 50% of all federally traced firearms in 49 of the 50 states. In the majority of states, over 80% of the firearms traced by the ATF in 2022 were handguns. Not surprisingly, the bulk of all firearms traced are chambered for 9mm, .40 caliber, or .22 caliber ammunition — all popular handgun rounds.

Why We Are Writing About State Gun Ownership

Though the history of American’s right to possess arms dates back centuries, it remains at the forefront of our collective consciousness. Firearm possession is pivotal in many of our headlining new stories, for better or worse. It is a hot, albeit heavily nuanced, topic in both our private homes and our nation’s capital. To remain educated on the issues, we must seek to understand the laws of each state, the types of guns Americans choose, and the rate at which weapons are used for violence. Comparing data state-by-state is useful in this endeavor.

50. Hawaii

• Total traced in 2022: 287
• Per capita: 19.9 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (49.5%), rifles (29.6%), shotguns (13.2%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (54), .22 Cal and 12 GA (25 each), .45 Cal (16)

49. Vermont

• Total traced in 2022: 299
• Per capita: 46.2 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (64.5%), rifles (22.7%), shotguns (11.7%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (86), .22 Cal (35), and 12 GA (27)

48. New Hampshire

• Total traced in 2022: 710
• Per capita: 50.9 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (71.0%), rifles (18.3%), shotguns (8.7%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (267), .22 Cal (100), 12GA (50)

47. Massachusetts

• Total traced in 2022: 3,665
• Per capita: 52.5 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (82.9%), rifles (10.3%), shotguns (4.0%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (1,630), .40 Cal (329), .22 Cal (298)

46. Connecticut

• Total traced in 2022: 1,917
• Per capita: 52.9 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (83.6%), rifles (10.0%), shotguns (4.8%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (824), .40 (202), .22 Cal (161)

45. New Jersey

• Total traced in 2022: 5,248
• Per capita: 56.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (85.2%), rifles (8.2%), shotguns (5.2%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (2,388), .40 Cal (507), .22 Cal (416)

44. Wyoming

• Total traced in 2022: 340
• Per capita: 58.5 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (68.5%), rifles (20.6%), shotguns (9.4%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (94), .22 Cal (44), 12GA (25)

43. New York

• Total traced in 2022: 11,987
• Per capita: 60.9 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (82.1%), rifles (10.3%), shotguns (5.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (4,969), .380 (1,134), .22 Cal (1,126)

42. Idaho

• Total traced in 2022: 1,495
• Per capita: 77.1 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (72.6%), rifles (17.5%), shotguns (8.1%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (508), .22 Cal (236), .40 (105)

41. Washington

• Total traced in 2022: 6,191
• Per capita: 79.5 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (75.9%), rifles (14.6%), shotguns (8.2%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (2,329), .22 Cal (680), .40 Cal (483)

40. Rhode Island

• Total traced in 2022: 1,017
• Per capita: 93.0 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (79.4%), rifles (12.7%), shotguns (5.7%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (426), .22 Cal (106), .40 Cal (86)

39. Minnesota

• Total traced in 2022: 5,327
• Per capita: 93.2 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (79.5%), rifles (12.1%), shotguns (7.5%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (2,433), .22 Cal (413), .40 Cal (399)

38. Iowa

• Total traced in 2022: 3,196
• Per capita: 99.9 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (80.7%), rifles (10.4%), shotguns (7.0%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (1,536), .22 Cal (269), .380 Cal (220)

37. Maine

• Total traced in 2022: 1,398
• Per capita: 100.9 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (67.8%), rifles (20.0%), shotguns (10.4%)
• Popular chambering: .22 Cal (297), 9mm Cal (205), .38 Cal (136)

36. Michigan

• Total traced in 2022: 10,145
• Per capita: 101.1 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (84.7%), rifles (9.6%), shotguns (4.7%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (4,748), .40 Cal (1,166), .45 Cal (604)

35. South Dakota

• Total traced in 2022: 929
• Per capita: 102.1 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (67.3%), rifles (21.5%), shotguns (10.1%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (318), .22 Cal (147), 12GA (64)

34. Utah

• Total traced in 2022: 3,453
• Per capita: 102.1 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (78.6%), rifles (13.9%), shotguns (6.5%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (1,473), .22 Cal (365), .45 Cal (251)

33. North Dakota

• Total traced in 2022: 832
• Per capita: 106.8 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (72.7%), rifles (16.8%), shotguns (10.0%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (308), .22 Cal (121), 12GA (65)

32. Nebraska

• Total traced in 2022: 2,141
• Per capita: 108.8 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (75.2%), rifles (14.5%), shotguns (8.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (896), .22 Cal (217), .40 Cal (181)

31. Arkansas

• Total traced in 2022: 3,494
• Per capita: 114.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (80.3%), rifles (12.2%), shotguns (4.7%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (1,486), .40 Cal (361), .22 Cal (289)

30. Montana

• Total traced in 2022: 1,305
• Per capita: 116.2 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (64.1%), rifles (24.2%), shotguns (9.0%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (348), .22 Cal (180), .45 Cal (116)

29. West Virginia

• Total traced in 2022: 2,104
• Per capita: 118.5 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (70.4%), rifles (19.1%), shotguns (9.4%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (705), .22 Cal (274), .380 Cal (165) 

28. Oregon

• Total traced in 2022: 5,586
• Per capita: 131.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (71.1%), rifles (19.8%), shotguns (7.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (1,932), .22 Cal (736), .40 Cal (388) 

27. Pennsylvania

• Total traced in 2022: 17,543
• Per capita: 135.2 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (78.7%), rifles (12.9%), shotguns (7.0%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (7,898), .40 Cal (1,557), .22 Cal (1,522)

26. Colorado

• Total traced in 2022: 7,917
• Per capita: 135.6 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (80.6%), rifles (12.1%), shotguns (6.3%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (3,377), .40 Cal (694), .22 Cal (650)

25. Wisconsin

• Total traced in 2022: 8,007
• Per capita: 135.9 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (86.1%), rifles (9.0%), shotguns (4.3%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (4,121), .40 Cal (718), .22 Cal (545)

24. Oklahoma

• Total traced in 2022: 5,657
• Per capita: 140.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (81.8%), rifles (12.2%), shotguns (5.0%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (2,350), .40 Cal (562), .22 Cal (516)

23. California

• Total traced in 2022: 56,262
• Per capita: 144.2 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (76.6%), rifles (15.2%), shotguns (6.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (22,580), .40 Cal (5,493), .22 Cal (4,914)

22. Kansas

• Total traced in 2022: 4,521
• Per capita: 153.9 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (82.9%), rifles (10.0%), shotguns (6.1%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (2,016), .40 Cal (470), .22 Cal (333)

21. Illinois

• Total traced in 2022: 19,706
• Per capita: 156.6 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (88.6%), rifles (6.0%), shotguns (3.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (10,031), .40 Cal (2,376), .45 Cal (1,263)

20. Florida

• Total traced in 2022: 36,335
• Per capita: 163.3 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (83.4%), rifles (8.9%), shotguns (4.0%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (16,508), .40 Cal (3,474), .380 Cal (2,815)

19. Alaska

• Total traced in 2022: 1,200
• Per capita: 163.6 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (79.2%), rifles (14.3%), shotguns (5.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (384), .45 Cal (119), .40 Cal (118)

18. Missouri

• Total traced in 2022: 10,157
• Per capita: 164.4 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (89.4%), rifles (6.5%), shotguns (3.1%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (4,635), .40 Cal (1,298), .45 Cal (714)

17. Delaware

• Total traced in 2022: 1,676
• Per capita: 164.6 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (83.5%), rifles (10.1%), shotguns (5.8%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (843), .22 Cal (153), .40 Cal (121)

16. Indiana

• Total traced in 2022: 11,320
• Per capita: 165.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (84.2%), rifles (9.2%), shotguns (5.0%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (5,315), .40 Cal (1,202), .22 Cal (815)

15. Virginia

• Total traced in 2022: 14,465
• Per capita: 166.6 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (82.5%), rifles (10.8%), shotguns (55.3%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (6,473), .40 Cal (1,635), .22 Cal (966)

14. Kentucky

• Total traced in 2022: 7,524
• Per capita: 166.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (80.8%), rifles (11.0%), shotguns (5.1%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (3,247), .40 Cal (697), .22 Cal (633)

13. Ohio

• Total traced in 2022: 20,520
• Per capita: 174.5 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (86.0%), rifles (7.3%), shotguns (4.1%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (10,242), .40 Cal (1,867), .380 Cal (1,527)

12. Maryland

• Total traced in 2022: 11,137
• Per capita: 180.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (75.1%), rifles (13.3%), shotguns (9.2%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (4,708), .40 Cal (1,046), .22 Cal (885)

11. Mississippi

• Total traced in 2022: 5,353
• Per capita: 182.2 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (83.8%), rifles (10.6%), shotguns (4.5%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (2,421), .40 Cal (609), .22 Cal (384)

10. New Mexico

• Total traced in 2022: 3,955
• Per capita: 187.1 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (79.9%), rifles (12.6%), shotguns (6.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (1,679), .22 Cal (343), 40 Cal (336)

9. Nevada

• Total traced in 2022: 5,959
• Per capita: 187.5 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (85.8%), rifles (8.9%), shotguns (4.2%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (3,026), .40 Cal (473), .22 Cal (420)

8. Texas

• Total traced in 2022: 56,466
• Per capita: 188.0 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (85.3%), rifles (8.3%), shotguns (3.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (27,952), .40 Cal (5,878), .380 Cal (3,838)

7. Arizona

• Total traced in 2022: 14,019
• Per capita: 190.5 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (80.0%), rifles (13.3%), shotguns (4.9%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (6,257), .40 Cal (1,215), .22 Cal (1,095)

6. Alabama

• Total traced in 2022: 10,519
• Per capita: 207.3 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (85.7%), rifles (9.2%), shotguns (4.3%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (4,597), .40 Cal (1,219), .380 Cal (804)  

5. Georgia

• Total traced in 2022: 22,656
• Per capita: 207.6 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (89.1%), rifles (6.9%), shotguns (3.4%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (11,578), .40 Cal (5,272), .380 Cal (1,533)

4. South Carolina

• Total traced in 2022: 12,106
• Per capita: 229.2 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (83.6%), rifles (8.4%), shotguns (4.7%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (5,573), .40 Cal (1,162), .380 Cal (905)

3. North Carolina

• Total traced in 2022: 25,085
• Per capita: 234.5 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (81.0%), rifles (11.4%), shotguns (6.3%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (11,331), .40 Cal (2,333), .22 Cal (1,886)

2. Tennessee

• Total traced in 2022: 17,182
• Per capita: 243.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (83.7%), rifles (9.4%), shotguns (4.8%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (7,505), .40 Cal (1,886), .22 Cal (1,133)

1. Louisiana

• Total traced in 2022: 16,235
• Per capita: 353.7 per 100,000 people
• Type: handgun (83.7%), rifles (10.5%), shotguns (4.4%)
• Popular chambering: 9mm (7,498), .40 Cal (2,049), .22 Cal (1,000)

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