24/7 Wall St. Insights
- We used data from the Annual Gun Law Scorecard
- None of these states are in the Northeast, and there are 10 in the South
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Gun control laws are largely left to the states to enact and maintain (though federal law does establish a baseline in the form of NICS background checks, categories of prohibited persons, and National Firearms Act restrictions). State laws are designed to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and reduce the risk of deadly gun violence. Strict states have passed laws to expand background checks, raise ownership eligibility requirements, and ban assault rifles. However, most states have done little to build upon the federal gun laws.
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 late 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 the Giffords Law Center. They are not exhaustive, however, and are only broad guidelines. Legal nuances can vary at the state and local levels.
Each of the 22 states on this list received a grade of “F.” None of these states, listed in alphabetical order, are in the Northeast, and the largest share—11 in total—are Southern states.
This post was updated on September 5, 2025 to reflect the most up-to-date data, particularly the addition of South Carolina as an F state.
Why This Matters
Nine of the ten states with the highest rates of deadly gun violence rank on this list, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a report on 2021 firearm mortality. 24/7 is covering the states with the loosest gun laws to help you understand which areas in the United States have minimal legislation on keeping firearms out of the wrong hands. The rate of deadly gun violence in an area can have negative effects on the local economy. When an area is seen as too violent, that city’s housing market, local businesses, and labor force may decline.
Alabama
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 25.6 per 100,000 people
Alaska
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 23.5 per 100,000 people
Arizona
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Firearms prohibited at polling places, mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 18.5 per 100,000 people
Arkansas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 21.9 per 100,000 people
Georgia
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls:
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permitting requirements
- Gun deaths in 2021: 18.6 per 100,000 people
Idaho
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing requirements, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 17.9 per 100,000 people
Iowa
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, concealed carry permitting requirement, bulk firearm purchase restrictions, or firearms licensing
- Gun deaths in 2021: 10.5 per 100,000 people
Kansas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 16.3 per 100,000 people
Kentucky
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 18.4 per 100,000 people
Louisiana
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 28.3 per 100,000 people
Mississippi
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting, child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirement, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 29.4 per 100,000 people
Missouri
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Partial strong open carry restrictions
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permit requirements
- Gun deaths in 2021: 21.4 per 100,000 people
Montana
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 21.5 per 100,000 people
North Dakota
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 12.8 per 100,000 people
Oklahoma
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, or waiting periods
- Gun deaths in 2021: 19.9 per 100,000 people
South Carolina
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls:
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 19.1 per 100,000 people
South Dakota
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 12.3 per 100,000 people
Tennessee
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, strong open carry restrictions
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permit requirements
- Gun deaths in 2021: 22 per 100,000 people
Texas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 14.1 per 100,000 people
Utah
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws, extended background check period, state background check database
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 14.8 per 100,000 people
West Virginia
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 16.8 per 100,000 people
Wyoming
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls:
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 21.5 per 100,000 people
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