Deadly gun violence has been steadily rising for years in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Americans killed by a firearm climbed by more than 20% in the last four years of available data — from less than 40,000 in 2019, to over 48,000 in 2022. Some experts link the uptick to the proliferation of firearms in American homes, as over that same four-year period, annual gun sales hit record-highs in the United States.

24/7 Wall St. Key Points:

• Rising rates of deadly gun violence have prompted many state governments to tighten their gun control policies.
• Most states, however, have done little — and many of these same places have some of the highest rates of deadly gun violence in the country.
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These trends have spurred some lawmakers to push for stronger gun control laws on Capitol Hill — laws that would aim to keep guns out of the wrong hands, reduce the likelihood of accidental shootings, and ultimately, save lives. Meaningful reform at the federal level, however, has so far proven elusive.

In the absence of national reforms, some state governments have enacted mandatory waiting periods, licensing requirements, and expanded background checks for prospective gun buyers. Many of these same states have also effectively banned assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. These states stand out as exceptions, however, as most states have done little to expand on existing federal firearm regulations.

Using the Annual Gun Law Scorecard from the gun violence prevention group Gifford Law Center, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the least restrictive gun control laws. The Gun Law Scorecard assigns each state a letter grade rating the strength of their firearm laws. Grades are current as of December 2024 and range from “A,” for the states with the strongest laws, to “F,” for the states with the weakest. Gun laws noted in this story are also from Giffords Law Center. They are not exhaustive, however, and are only broad guidelines.

Only states with gun grades of “C+” or lower are included on this list. States are listed in alphabetical order.

Of the 30 states on this list, none have imposed restrictions on purchasing or possessing assault-style weapons or high-capacity magazines. Only two of these states have closed the federal background check loophole, which creates opportunities for prohibited persons, such as felons or fugitives, to purchase firearms through private sellers without undergoing a background check. In the vast majority of these states, there are no waiting periods or licensing requirements for prospective buyers, and concealed firearms can be carried in public without a permit. (Here is a look at the states that are ramping up gun control measures.)

While controversial, gun control laws are designed to reduce gun violence and save lives. In the absence of comprehensive control policies, rates of deadly gun violence tend to be higher than average in the states on this list. In the vast majority of these states, the 2022 firearm fatality rate exceeds the comparable national rate of about 14 deaths per 100,000 people, and in 11 of these states, there were over 20 gun deaths for every 100,000 people in 2022. (Here is a look at the city with the most gun crime in each state.)

Why It Matters

The number of fatalities attributable to gun violence has been rising for years in the United States. While many states have taken active measures to reduce the likelihood of gun violence, even more have taken the opposite approach by maintaining the status quo or even expanding gun rights. In these states, firearm mortality rates tend to be higher than average.

1. Alabama

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 25.5 per 100,000 people — 4th highest of 50 states (1,278 total)

2. Alaska

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 22.4 per 100,000 people — 7th highest of 50 states (164 total)

3. Arizona

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 20.1 per 100,000 people — 12th highest of 50 states (1,535 total)

4. Arkansas

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to in-state databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 21.9 per 100,000 people — 8th highest of 50 states (666 total)

5. Florida

• Gun law strength grade: C-
• Notable gun controls: Mandatory waiting period for some or all firearm purchases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 14.0 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest of 50 states (3,232 total)

6. Georgia

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 19.7 per 100,000 people — 14th highest of 50 states (2,163 total)

7. Idaho

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 17.0 per 100,000 people — 19th highest of 50 states (338 total)

8. Indiana

• Gun law strength grade: D-
• Notable gun controls: Some open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 17.4 per 100,000 people — 17th highest of 50 states (1,211 total)

9. Iowa

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws, some domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 11.2 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest of 50 states (367 total)

10. Kansas

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 16.8 per 100,000 people — 20th highest of 50 states (492 total)

11. Kentucky

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 18.8 per 100,000 people — 16th highest of 50 states (840 total)

12. Louisiana

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 28.2 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest of 50 states (1,266 total)

13. Maine

• Gun law strength grade: C+
• Notable gun controls: Universal background checks for some or all firearms, mandatory waiting period for some or all firearm purchases
• Notable gun rights: No assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 11.7 per 100,000 people — 11th lowest of 50 states (179 total)

14. Mississippi

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 29.6 per 100,000 people — the highest of 50 states (848 total)

15. Missouri

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 24.2 per 100,000 people — 5th highest of 50 states (1,489 total)

16. Montana

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 23.9 per 100,000 people — 6th highest of 50 states (274 total)

17. Nebraska

• Gun law strength grade: C-
• Notable gun controls: Universal background checks for some or all firearms, firearm licensing requirements
• Notable gun rights: No assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 12.2 per 100,000 people — 14th lowest of 50 states (244 total)

18. New Hampshire

• Gun law strength grade: D-
• Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 10.1 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest of 50 states (156 total)

19. North Carolina

• Gun law strength grade: C-
• Notable gun controls: concealed carry permit requirements
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements
• Gun deaths in 2022: 16.8 per 100,000 people — 20th highest of 50 states (1,831 total)

20. North Dakota

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 16.4 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest of 50 states (125 total)

21. Ohio

• Gun law strength grade: D-
• Notable gun controls: Reporting for lost or stolen firearms
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 15.6 per 100,000 people — 25th highest of 50 states (1,831 total)

22. Oklahoma

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 19.8 per 100,000 people — 13th highest of 50 states (797 total)

23. South Carolina

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 20.8 per 100,000 people — 9th highest of 50 states (1,105 total)

24. South Dakota

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 15.7 per 100,000 people — 24th highest of 50 states (141 total)

25. Tennessee

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some open carry restrictions, domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 20.5 per 100,000 people — 10th highest of 50 states (1,480 total)

26. Texas

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 15.3 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest of 50 states (4,630 total)

27. Utah

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 13.7 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest of 50 states (446 total)

28. West Virginia

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 16.2 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest of 50 states (311 total)

29. Wisconsin

• Gun law strength grade: C
• Notable gun controls: concealed carry permit requirements
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements
• Gun deaths in 2022: 14.0 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest of 50 states (830 total)

30. Wyoming

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: No concealed carry in bars
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• Gun deaths in 2022: 20.4 per 100,000 people — 11th highest of 50 states (124 total)

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