In Which US States Are Guns in Highest Demand?

By Melly Alazraki Published Oct 15, 2:10PM EDT

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In Which US States Are Guns in Highest Demand? — © GEORGE FREY / AFP via Getty Images

Around 40% of Americans told Pew Research they live in households where guns are present, and 32% reported personally owning at least one gun. The majority of gun owners say the reason they own a gun is for personal protection, while the second top reason is hunting. However, some states have a higher percentage of gun owners than others. (Also see, States Where the Most People Bought Guns In the First Half of 2024.)

To identify the states where the most people bought guns in June 2024, 24/7 Wall St. used data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System. States are ranked on the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS in June 2024 for every 1,000 residents. Background rechecks for existing gun permits were excluded. Population data is from the Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates program, and data on the number of age-adjusted deaths due to firearms for every 100,000 people is from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While background checks do not correspond one-to-one with gun sales, they remain the best proxy of gun sales, and if anything, can be indicative of trends. June’s unadjusted background check figures were the lowest of the year, at 1.96 million compared to 2 million in May 2024. They were also significantly lower than last year, specifically 9% lower than the 2.15 million background checks initiated in June 2023.

Why this matters

There are no official means to track legal gun sales. Therefore, firearm background checks remain the best estimates to gun sales, especially trends. Still, background checks have limitations, and now the measure may further change with the closing of the “gun show loophole.” Meanwhile, some checks are conducted without them involving a sale, such as rechecks, confusing the matter further. With the former president’s assassination attempt in an election year and the issue of gun rights and gun control always an important topic, keeping apprised of trends in gun sales can help provide some context.

50. Hawaii

Waikiki Gun Shop and Indoor Range by pasa47

Waikiki Gun Shop and Indoor Range (BY 2.0) by pasa47

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 0.9 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 1,228 (the lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 4.5 deaths per 100,000 residents (3rd lowest)
Total population, 2023: 1,435,138 (11th lowest)

49. New York

New York City, Manhattan, Little Italy, 183 Grand St. : ' John Jovino Gun Shop ' by (vincent desjardins)

New York City, Manhattan, Little Italy, 183 Grand St. : ' John Jovino Gun Shop ' (BY 2.0) by (vincent desjardins)

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 1.1 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 21,651 (23rd highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 5.3 deaths per 100,000 residents (5th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 19,571,216 (4th highest)

48. New Jersey

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 1.3 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 12,193 (18th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 5.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (4th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 9,290,841 (11th highest)

47. Rhode Island

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 1.4 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 1,564 (2nd lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 3.1 deaths per 100,000 residents (the lowest)
Total population, 2023: 1,095,962 (7th lowest)

46. Iowa

Checking out guns at the gun shop by freddthompson

Checking out guns at the gun shop (BY-SA 2.0) by freddthompson

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 2.1 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 6,850 (11th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 11.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (10th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 3,207,004 (20th lowest)

45. Nebraska

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 2.2 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 4,409 (6th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 12.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (14th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 1,978,379 (14th lowest)

44. Massachusetts

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 2.6 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 18,295 (25th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 3.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (2nd lowest)
Total population, 2023: 7,001,399 (16th highest)

43. Maryland

Next Door to Church (BY 2.0) by jcantroot

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.0 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 18,318 (25th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 13.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (16th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 6,180,253 (19th highest)

42. Illinois

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.3 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 40,848 (9th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 14.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (20th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 12,549,689 (6th highest)

41. California

Sporting Goods Store - Bridgeport, California by clickfarmer

Sporting Goods Store - Bridgeport, California (BY 2.0) by clickfarmer

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.3 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 127,403 (2nd highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 8.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (7th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 38,965,193 (the highest)

40. Nevada

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.4 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 10,912 (15th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 18.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (15th highest)
Total population, 2023: 3,194,176 (19th lowest)

39. Georgia

Mossberg Pawn Shop (BY-SA 2.0) by kenteegardin

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.5 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 38,161 (12th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 19.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (14th highest)
Total population, 2023: 11,029,227 (8th highest)

38. Ohio

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.5 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 40,932 (8th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 15.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (25th highest)
Total population, 2023: 11,785,935 (7th highest)

37. Delaware

FN America pistol | Armor Piercing Pistol Isolated on White Background Right

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.7 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 3,787 (4th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 11.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (12th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 1,031,890 (6th lowest)

36. Vermont

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.8 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 2,470 (3rd lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 12.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (13th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 647,464 (2nd lowest)

35. Washington

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.8 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 29,962 (18th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 12.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (15th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 7,812,880 (13th highest)

34. Kansas

Kansas+guns | Please Check All Firearms at the Greeter's Desk

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.9 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 11,428 (16th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 16.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (21st highest)
Total population, 2023: 2,940,546 (17th lowest)

33. Kentucky

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.9 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 17,653 (22nd lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 18.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (16th highest)
Total population, 2023: 4,526,154 (25th lowest)

32. Louisiana

Al's Gun Shop, Lake Charles, Louisiana (Al A.H. Giertz) by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D.

Al's Gun Shop, Lake Charles, Louisiana (Al A.H. Giertz) (CC0 1.0) by Gary Lee Todd, Ph.D.

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 3.9 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 17,954 (24th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 28.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (2nd highest)
Total population, 2023: 4,573,749 (25th highest)

31. Virginia

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.0 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 35,288 (14th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 14.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (23rd lowest)
Total population, 2023: 8,715,698 (12th highest)

30. Florida

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.1 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 92,817 (3rd highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 14.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (18th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 22,610,726 (3rd highest)

29. New Mexico

Larry's Discount Gun Shop by Stefan Andrej Shambora

Larry's Discount Gun Shop (CC BY 2.0) by Stefan Andrej Shambora

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.2 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 8,875 (12th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 27.3 deaths per 100,000 residents (3rd highest)
Total population, 2023: 2,114,371 (15th lowest)

28. Indiana

Gun shop (BY 2.0) by sarahstierch

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.2 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 28,839 (19th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 17.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (17th highest)
Total population, 2023: 6,862,199 (17th highest)

27. Texas

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.2 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 128,605 (the highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 15.3 deaths per 100,000 residents (25th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 30,503,301 (2nd highest)

26. North Carolina

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.3 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 46,827 (7th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 16.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (20th highest)
Total population, 2023: 10,835,491 (9th highest)

25. South Carolina

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.4 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 23,735 (21st highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 20.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (9th highest)
Total population, 2023: 5,373,555 (23rd highest)

24. Minnesota

Bill's Gun Shop and Range (CC BY 2.0) by Eugene Kim

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.4 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 25,373 (20th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 9.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (8th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 5,737,915 (22nd highest)

23. Michigan

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.7 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 47,064 (6th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 15.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (24th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 10,037,261 (10th highest)

22. Maine

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.8 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 6,657 (10th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 11.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (11th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 1,395,722 (9th lowest)

21. Connecticut

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 4.9 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 17,702 (23rd lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 6.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (6th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 3,617,176 (22nd lowest)

20. South Dakota

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.0 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 4,562 (7th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 15.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (24th highest)
Total population, 2023: 919,318 (5th lowest)

19. Mississippi

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.1 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 14,961 (19th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 29.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (the highest)
Total population, 2023: 2,939,690 (16th lowest)

18. Missouri

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.2 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 32,227 (17th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 24.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (5th highest)
Total population, 2023: 6,196,156 (18th highest)

17. Arkansas

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.2 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 16,059 (20th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 21.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (8th highest)
Total population, 2023: 3,067,732 (18th lowest)

16. Tennessee

Holding a gun (BY 2.0) by Erik Cleves Kristensen

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.6 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 39,610 (11th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 20.5 deaths per 100,000 residents (10th highest)
Total population, 2023: 7,126,489 (15th highest)

15. North Dakota

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.6 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 4,367 (5th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 16.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (22nd highest)
Total population, 2023: 783,926 (4th lowest)

14. Oklahoma

2006-08-23 - Road Trip - Day 31 - United States - Oklahoma - Route 66 - Pawn Shop - We Have Guns and Ammo - Sign - Black and White by CGP Grey

2006-08-23 - Road Trip - Day 31 - United States - Oklahoma - Route 66 - Pawn Shop - We Have Guns and Ammo - Sign - Black and White (BY 2.0) by CGP Grey

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.6 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 22,661 (22nd highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 19.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (13th highest)
Total population, 2023: 4,053,824 (23rd lowest)

13. Colorado

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.7 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 33,383 (16th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 17.1 deaths per 100,000 residents (18th highest)
Total population, 2023: 5,877,610 (21st highest)

12. Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, you get guns with your bikes by firepile

In Wisconsin, you get guns with your bikes (BY 2.0) by firepile

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.7 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 33,645 (15th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 14.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (19th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 5,910,955 (20th highest)

11. Pennsylvania

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 5.8 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 75,594 (4th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 14.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (22nd lowest)
Total population, 2023: 12,961,683 (5th highest)

10. Utah

Sniper rifles (BY 2.0) by denebola2025

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 6.2 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 21,115 (24th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 13.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (17th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 3,417,734 (21st lowest)

9. West Virginia

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 6.5 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 11,505 (17th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 16.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (23rd highest)
Total population, 2023: 1,770,071 (12th lowest)

8. Arizona

Two Guns, Arizona (CC BY 2.0) by Eric Friedebach

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 7.0 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 51,970 (5th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 20.1 deaths per 100,000 residents (12th highest)
Total population, 2023: 7,431,344 (14th highest)

7. New Hampshire

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 7.3 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 10,245 (13th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents (9th lowest)
Total population, 2023: 1,402,054 (10th lowest)

6. Alaska

J J Weyouanna hunting Caribou on the tundra at the mouth of the sepentine river near Shishmaref a tiny island between alaska and siberia in the Chukchi sea.

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 7.6 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 5,585 (9th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 22.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (7th highest)
Total population, 2023: 733,406 (3rd lowest)

5. Alabama

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 8.0 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 40,745 (10th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 25.5 deaths per 100,000 residents (4th highest)
Total population, 2023: 5,108,468 (24th highest)

4. Oregon

Eugene, Oregon Gun Shop by Only in Oregon

Eugene, Oregon Gun Shop (BY 2.0) by Only in Oregon

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 8.5 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 36,124 (13th highest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 14.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (21st lowest)
Total population, 2023: 4,233,358 (24th lowest)

3. Idaho

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 8.7 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 17,115 (21st lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 17.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (19th highest)
Total population, 2023: 1,964,726 (13th lowest)

2. Wyoming

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 8.9 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 5,217 (8th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 20.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (11th highest)
Total population, 2023: 584,057 (the lowest)

1. Montana

Firearm background checks per capita, June 2024: 9.4 per 1,000 residents
Total firearm background checks, June 2024: 10,695 (14th lowest)
Firearm mortality, 2022: 23.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (6th highest)
Total population, 2023: 1,132,812 (8th lowest)

About the Author Melly Alazraki →

Melly Alazraki worked in the finance world, on both the buy and sell sides, before turning to writing about it. Her work has been featured in Daily Finance, Aol.com, MSN Money, The Motley Fool, BloggingStock, and 24/7 Wall St.

Melly initially wrote about general stock market and economics news before becoming a specialist, covering the pharmaceutical beat for Daily Finance. Several of her articles have been cited in papers published in Cornell University Press, Berkeley Technology Law Journal, University of Pennsylvania Law Review, and others.

Since joining 24/7 Wall St., Melly helped develop the site's data journalism side, focusing on economic, population trends, housing, and other topics.

Graduating with an honors commerce degree from the University of British Columbia, Melly uses her knowledge of economics, business, and experience to write data-supported pieces that aim to provide value and insight to readers.

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