Gun control laws are designed to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and reduce the risk of deadly gun violence. Some states with stricter gun legislation have passed laws that expanded background checks, raised ownership eligibility requirements, and banned assault weapons. However, most states have done little to elaborate on federal gun laws. (Check out the states where assault-style firearms are banned.)
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 (A to F). Grades are current for the year of 2024, and we focus on states with the weakest “F” grade. Gun laws noted in this story are also from 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. (Here is a look at the states where gun deaths are increasing the fastest.)
This post was updated on May 28, 2025 with the 2024 Annual Gun Law Scorecard.
Why This Matters
Nine of the 10 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 city is seen as too violent, the housing market, local businesses, and labor force may decline.
Alabama
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 34
- What changed this year: Prohibited the use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
- Significant gun controls in state: Mental health record reporting
Alabama reported 25.6 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Alabama as the state with the 3rd highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Alaska
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 40
- What changed this year: No significant gun legislation passed in 2024
- Significant gun controls in state: Mental health record reporting
Alaska reported 23.5 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Alaska as the state with the 5th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Arizona
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 41
- What changed this year: No significant gun legislation passed in 2024
- Significant gun controls in state: Firearms prohibited at polling places, mental health record reporting
Arizona reported 18.5 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Arizona as the state with the 14th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Arkansas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- What changed this year: No significant gun legislation passed in 2024
- State rank: 48
- Significant gun controls in state: Partial mental health record reporting
Arkansas reported 21.9 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Arkansas as the state with the 7th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Georgia
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 31
- What changed this year: Prohibited the use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
- Significant gun controls in state: strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
Georgia reported 18.6 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Georgia as the state with the 13th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Idaho
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 46
- What changed this year: Forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws
- Significant gun controls in state: Mental health record reporting
Idaho reported 17.9 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Idaho as the state with the 18th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Iowa
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 32
- What changed this year: Forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws
- Significant gun controls in state: Certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law
Iowa reported 10.5 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Iowa as the state with the 41st lowest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Kansas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 42
- What changed this year: No significant gun legislation passed in 2024
- Significant gun controls in state: Mental health record reporting
Kansas reported 16.3 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Kansas as the state with the 22nd highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Kentucky
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 47
- What changed this year: Prohibited the use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
- Significant gun controls in state: Child access prevention laws
Kentucky reported 18.4 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Kentucky as the state with the 16th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Louisiana
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 38
- What changed this year: Enacted permitless carry; Enacted a law to punish businesses that boycott the gun industry
- Significant gun controls in state: Certain domestic violence gun laws
Louisiana reported 28.3 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Louisiana as the state with the 2nd highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Mississippi
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 43
- What changed this year: Banned machine gun conversion devices
- Significant gun controls in state: Partial mental health record reporting, child access prevention laws
Mississippi reported 29.4 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Mississippi as the state with the highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Missouri
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 48
- What changed this year: No significant gun legislation passed in 2024
- Significant gun controls in state: Partial strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
Missouri reported 21.4 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Missouri as the state with the 10th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Montana
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 45
- What changed this year: No significant gun legislation passed in 2024
- Significant gun controls in state: Certain domestic violence gun laws
Montana reported 21.5 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Montana as the state with the 9th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
North Dakota
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 34
- What changed this year: No significant gun legislation passed in 2024
- Significant gun controls in state: Certain domestic violence gun laws
North Dakota reported 12.8 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing North Dakota as the state with the 34th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Oklahoma
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 39
- What changed this year: Allowed concealed carry permits to be renewed online
- Significant gun controls in state: Child access prevention laws
Oklahoma reported 19.9 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Oklahoma as the state with the 11th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
South Carolina
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 34
- What changed this year: Made it easier to carry a concealed gun on school grounds
- Significant gun controls in state: Child access prevention laws
South Carolina reported 19.1 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing South Carolina as the state with the 12th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
South Dakota
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 43
- What changed this year: Made it easier to carry a concealed gun on school grounds
- Significant gun controls in state: Mental health record reporting
South Dakota reported 12.3 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing South Dakota as the state with the 36th lowest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Tennessee
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 32
- What changed this year: Prohibited gun possession by youth in the juvenile justice system; Made it easier to carry a concealed gun on school grounds
- Significant gun controls in state: Certain domestic violence gun laws, strong open carry restrictions
Tennessee reported 22.0 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Tennessee as the state with the 6th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Texas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 29
- What changed this year: No significant gun legislation passed in 2024
- Significant gun controls in state: Mental health record reporting, child access prevention law
Texas reported 14.9 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Texas as the state with the 24th lowest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Utah
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 29
- What changed this year: Made it easier to carry a concealed gun on school grounds; Prohibited the use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
- Significant gun controls in state: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws, extended background check period, state background check database
Utah reported 14.8 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Utah as the state with the 25th lowest gun deaths out of 50 states.
West Virginia
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 34
- What changed this year: Forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws
- Significant gun controls in state: Domestic violence gun laws
West Virginia reported 16.8 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing West Virginia as the state with the 19th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
Wyoming
- Gun law strength grade: F
- State rank: 50
- What changed this year: Prohibited use of a merchant category code for gun dealers; Forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws
- Significant gun controls in state: Ban on concealed carry in bars
Wyoming reported 21.5 gun deaths per 100,000 people — placing Wyoming as the state with the 8th highest gun deaths out of 50 states.
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