How Many Guns Americans Bought this Year in Every State

Special Report

Published: December 11, 2020 11:52 am

Gun sales have skyrocketed in the United States since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. As of the end of November, 35.4 million firearm background checks had been completed since the start of the year, more than in any other full year since state by state tracking began in 1998. Fewer than 28 million background checks were performed in all of 2019.

More background checks were done for gun purchases in the 11 months of 2020 than in any other year on record in 37 states. Background checks rose in 2020 compared to 2019 in every state except for Kentucky, which in 2019 had 4.2 million firearm background checks — by far the most at nearly 1 per resident.

Because of varying state laws, loopholes in gun sales online and at gun shows, as well as untraced illegal weapon purchases, total gun sales or the total number of guns owned in the United States is not known. However, it is possible to approximate the numbers of most gun purchases using background checks tracked by The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

U.S. gun manufacturers help meet massive demand for weapons. Gun manufacturing, tracked by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is another proxy for gun sales, at the national level.

Approximately 7 million guns were manufactured in the U.S. in 2019, compared to 9 million in 2018, 8.3 million in 2017, and 11.5 million in 2016 — the year with by far the most guns manufactured since tracking started in 1986. Rifles dominate gun production, closely followed by 9 mm pistols.

Click here to see how many guns people bought this year in every state.

To determine how many guns are purchased in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed firearm registrations in every state between Jan. 1 and Nov. 30, 2020 from The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

The background check data is widely used as the best available proxy for gun sales, but checks and sales are not equal. According to the NICS: “These statistics represent the number of firearm background checks initiated through the NICS. They do not represent the number of firearms sold. Based on varying state laws and purchase scenarios, a one-to-one correlation cannot be made between a firearm background check and a firearm sale.”

We compiled data from state and local health departments and calculated cumulative and per 100,000 COVID-19 cases for every state as of Dec. 8.

Alabama
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 984,548
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 20,080 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 690,084
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 14,074 (5th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 276,665
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,643 (17th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 3,942
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 80 (23rd most)
> Population: 4,903,185

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Alaska
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 90,056
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 12,310 (12th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 76,923
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 10,515 (11th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 38,116
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,210 (24th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 145
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 20 (4th fewest)
> Population: 731,545

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Arizona
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 610,911
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,393 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 372,912
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,123 (15th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 378,157
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,195 (25th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 6,973
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 96 (12th most)
> Population: 7,278,717

Gun Play, Arkansas (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Rod Waddington

Arkansas
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 293,123
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,713 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 221,344
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 7,335 (25th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 174,325
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,777 (16th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 2,752
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 91 (15th most)
> Population: 3,017,804

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California
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 1,465,612
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 3,709 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 1,240,632
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 3,140 (7th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 1,389,707
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,517 (10th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 20,047
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 51 (14th fewest)
> Population: 39,512,223

Colorado
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 620,268
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,771 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 469,535
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 8,153 (17th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 264,618
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,595 (22nd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 3,358
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 58 (16th fewest)
> Population: 5,758,736

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Connecticut
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 197,883
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 5,550 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 172,935
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 4,851 (11th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 138,258
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,878 (15th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 5,242
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 147 (3rd most)
> Population: 3,565,287

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Delaware
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 70,391
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,229 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 46,427
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 4,768 (10th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 41,464
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,258 (17th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 803
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 82 (21st most)
> Population: 973,764

Florida
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 1,739,256
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,098 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 1,195,539
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,566 (18th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 1,073,770
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,999 (25th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 19,627
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 91 (14th most)
> Population: 21,477,737

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Georgia
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 817,384
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,699 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 539,113
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,078 (14th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 452,369
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,261 (18th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 9,873
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 93 (13th most)
> Population: 10,617,423

starr-091028-8618-Cenchrus_cla... by Forest and Kim Starr

starr-091028-8618-Cenchrus_cla... (CC BY 2.0) by Forest and Kim Starr

Hawaii
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 18,096
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 1,278 (the fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 12,666
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 895 (the fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 18,976
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 1,340 (3rd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 262
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 19 (3rd fewest)
> Population: 1,415,872

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Gun Range Signs (CC BY 2.0) by Ethan Prater

Idaho
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 253,741
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 14,199 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 209,275
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 11,711 (7th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 113,905
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 6,374 (9th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,074
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 60 (17th fewest)
> Population: 1,787,065

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Illinois
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 6,625,082
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 52,282 (2nd most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 4,949,570
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 39,060 (2nd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 804,174
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 6,346 (10th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 14,384
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 114 (10th most)
> Population: 12,671,821

Indiana
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 1,672,457
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 24,843 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 1,450,565
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 21,547 (4th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 392,663
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,833 (15th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 6,109
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 91 (16th most)
> Population: 6,732,219

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IMG_4397 (CC BY 2.0) by Geoffrey Fairchild

Iowa
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 239,577
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,593 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 182,802
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,794 (21st fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 246,237
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 7,804 (3rd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 2,724
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 86 (19th most)
> Population: 3,155,070

Please Check All Firearms at t... by ryan harvey

Please Check All Firearms at t... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by ryan harvey

Kansas
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 225,715
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,748 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 167,010
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,733 (19th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 174,025
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,973 (14th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,856
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 64 (19th fewest)
> Population: 2,913,314

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Kentucky
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 2,922,940
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 65,424 (the most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 4,120,892
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 92,238 (the most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 205,668
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,603 (24th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 2,102
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 47 (9th fewest)
> Population: 4,467,673

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Louisiana
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 385,848
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,300 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 282,264
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 6,072 (23rd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 254,562
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,476 (21st most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 6,652
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 143 (4th most)
> Population: 4,648,794

Maine
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 125,503
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,337 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 90,626
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 6,742 (25th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 14,049
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 1,045 (2nd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 239
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 18 (2nd fewest)
> Population: 1,344,212

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Maryland
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 273,278
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 4,520 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 148,813
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 2,461 (5th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 219,961
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,638 (11th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 4,916
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 81 (22nd most)
> Population: 6,045,680

Massachusetts
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 238,096
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 3,454 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 212,316
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 3,080 (6th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 263,447
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,822 (13th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 11,076
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 161 (2nd most)
> Population: 6,892,503

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Michigan
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 974,072
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,754 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 492,171
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 4,928 (12th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 443,076
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,437 (21st fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 10,625
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 106 (11th most)
> Population: 9,986,857

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Minnesota
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 876,907
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 15,549 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 682,356
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 12,099 (6th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 350,413
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 6,213 (12th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 4,027
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 71 (24th fewest)
> Population: 5,639,632

Mississippi
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 328,728
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,045 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 238,388
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 8,010 (19th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 167,926
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,642 (18th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 4,017
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 135 (7th most)
> Population: 2,976,149

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Missouri
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 641,512
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,452 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 497,858
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 8,112 (18th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 328,206
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,348 (22nd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 4,355
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 71 (22nd fewest)
> Population: 6,137,428

Montana
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 155,604
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 14,559 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 115,823
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 10,837 (9th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 69,346
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 6,488 (7th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 763
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 71 (23rd fewest)
> Population: 1,068,778

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Nebraska
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 93,548
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 4,836 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 68,236
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 3,527 (8th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 141,127
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 7,296 (4th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,236
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 64 (20th fewest)
> Population: 1,934,408

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Las Vegas Gun Show (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Michael Dorausch

Nevada
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 202,011
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 6,558 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 128,312
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 4,166 (9th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 173,281
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,626 (19th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 2,359
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 77 (25th most)
> Population: 3,080,156

New Hampshire
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 160,212
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,783 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 112,173
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 8,250 (16th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 26,623
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 1,958 (4th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 566
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 42 (8th fewest)
> Population: 1,359,711

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New Jersey
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 156,739
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 1,765 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 91,257
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 1,027 (2nd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 377,055
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,245 (16th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 17,426
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 196 (the most)
> Population: 8,882,190

New Mexico
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 186,815
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,909 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 156,829
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 7,479 (24th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 109,947
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,243 (23rd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,756
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 84 (20th most)
> Population: 2,096,829

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New York
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 463,070
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 2,380 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 355,374
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 1,827 (3rd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 722,464
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,714 (12th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 27,307
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 140 (5th most)
> Population: 19,453,561

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North Carolina
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 808,608
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,710 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 530,365
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,057 (13th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 404,032
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,852 (14th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 5,605
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 53 (15th fewest)
> Population: 10,488,084

North Dakota
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 77,380
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,154 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 60,389
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 7,924 (21st most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 83,342
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 10,936 (the most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,022
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 134 (8th most)
> Population: 762,062

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Ohio
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 891,551
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,627 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 638,495
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,462 (17th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 510,018
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,363 (19th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 7,103
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 61 (18th fewest)
> Population: 11,689,100

Oklahoma
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 424,944
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,739 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 360,043
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 9,099 (14th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 220,686
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 5,577 (20th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,922
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 49 (12th fewest)
> Population: 3,956,971

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Oregon
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 469,522
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,132 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 357,700
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 8,481 (15th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 87,082
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 2,065 (5th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,080
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 26 (5th fewest)
> Population: 4,217,737

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Pennsylvania
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 1,325,979
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,358 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 987,886
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 7,717 (22nd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 436,614
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,411 (9th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 11,542
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 90 (17th most)
> Population: 12,801,989

Rhode Island
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 47,367
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 4,471 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 24,338
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 2,297 (4th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 67,067
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 6,331 (11th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,470
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 139 (6th most)
> Population: 1,059,361

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South Carolina
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 481,473
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,351 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 328,221
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 6,375 (24th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 236,954
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,602 (23rd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 4,585
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 89 (18th most)
> Population: 5,148,714

South Dakota
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 103,711
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,723 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 85,426
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 9,656 (12th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 80,499
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 9,099 (2nd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 1,111
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 126 (9th most)
> Population: 884,659

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Tennessee
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 894,696
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 13,101 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 635,313
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 9,303 (13th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 414,749
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 6,073 (13th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 5,109
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 75 (25th fewest)
> Population: 6,829,174

ALSO READ: Places in Every State Where COVID-19 Is Growing the Fastest Right Now

Texas
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 2,119,665
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,310 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 1,487,212
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,129 (16th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 1,272,504
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 4,389 (20th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 22,808
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 79 (24th most)
> Population: 28,995,881

Utah
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 1,117,855
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 34,868 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 823,270
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 25,679 (3rd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 219,971
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 6,861 (6th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 972
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 30 (6th fewest)
> Population: 3,205,958

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Vermont
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 52,855
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,471 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 35,843
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 5,744 (20th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 5,180
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 830 (the fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 85
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 14 (the fewest)
> Population: 623,989

Virginia
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 753,479
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,828 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 512,766
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 6,007 (22nd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 262,730
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,078 (7th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 4,260
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 50 (13th fewest)
> Population: 8,535,519

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Washington
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 707,741
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,294 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 607,170
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 7,973 (20th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 184,404
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 2,422 (6th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 2,941
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 39 (7th fewest)
> Population: 7,614,893

24/7 Wall St.
States Where the Virus Spread Is Slowing (and Where It’s Still Getting Worse)

old west virginia (CC BY 2.0) by Wil Kristin

West Virginia
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 241,148
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 13,456 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 206,196
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 11,506 (8th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 57,060
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 3,184 (8th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 870
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 49 (11th fewest)
> Population: 1,792,147

Wisconsin
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 670,079
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,509 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 435,685
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 7,483 (23rd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 418,446
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 7,187 (5th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 3,806
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 65 (21st fewest)
> Population: 5,822,434

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Wyoming
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020: 81,648
> Firearm background checks Jan 1-Nov 30, 2020 per 100,000 people: 14,107 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks in 2019: 61,291
> Firearm background checks in 2019 per 100,000 people: 10,590 (10th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases as of Dec 8: 37,475
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Dec 8: 6,475 (8th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Dec 8.: 280
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Dec. 8: 48 (10th fewest)
> Population: 578,759

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