Special Report
These Are the States Where People Are Buying the Most Guns
Published:
Gun sales skyrocketed in the United States during the coronavirus pandemic last year. As of the end of December, 39.3 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.
On a state by state basis, 45 states reported more background checks were done for gun purchases in 2020 than in any other year on record. 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 check 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 gun purchases using background checks tracked by The National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). While widely considered the best proxy, because of varying state laws and purchase scenarios, background checks do not represent the true number of firearms sold.
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. Figures for 2020 have yet to be published.
Click here to see the states where people are buying the most guns.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.
1. Alabama
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 1,085,475
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 22,138 (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 Jan 5: 379,593
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,742 (18th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 4,886
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 100 (24th most)
> Population: 4,903,185
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2. Alaska
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 98,952
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 13,526 (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 Jan 5: 48,560
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,638 (24th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 217
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 30 (4th fewest)
> Population: 731,545
3. Arizona
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 665,458
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,143 (19th 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 Jan 5: 567,474
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,796 (16th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 9,317
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 128 (13th most)
> Population: 7,278,717
4. Arkansas
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 324,741
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,761 (23rd 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 Jan 5: 238,888
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,916 (12th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 3,836
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 127 (14th most)
> Population: 3,017,804
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5. California
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 1,601,054
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 4,052 (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 Jan 5: 2,452,334
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,207 (18th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 27,003
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 68 (13th fewest)
> Population: 39,512,223
6. Colorado
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 680,507
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,817 (19th 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 Jan 5: 343,435
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,964 (17th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 4,944
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 86 (19th fewest)
> Population: 5,758,736
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7. Connecticut
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 219,227
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 6,149 (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 Jan 5: 196,968
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,525 (14th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 6,192
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 174 (5th most)
> Population: 3,565,287
8. Delaware
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 77,057
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,913 (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 Jan 5: 61,100
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,275 (20th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 947
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 97 (24th fewest)
> Population: 973,764
9. Florida
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 1,912,204
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,903 (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 Jan 5: 1,392,123
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,482 (25th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 22,512
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 105 (21st most)
> Population: 21,477,737
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10. Georgia
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 904,035
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,515 (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 Jan 5: 597,208
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,625 (15th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 11,072
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 104 (22nd most)
> Population: 10,617,423
11. Hawaii
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 20,102
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 1,420 (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 Jan 5: 22,168
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 1,566 (2nd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 289
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 20 (the fewest)
> Population: 1,415,872
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12. Idaho
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 281,284
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 15,740 (9th 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 Jan 5: 144,843
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 8,105 (9th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,471
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 82 (17th fewest)
> Population: 1,787,065
24/7 Wall St.
13. Illinois
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 7,455,065
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 58,832 (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 Jan 5: 991,719
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,826 (14th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 18,562
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 146 (10th most)
> Population: 12,671,821
14. Indiana
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 1,935,587
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 28,751 (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 Jan 5: 533,083
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,918 (11th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 8,292
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 123 (17th most)
> Population: 6,732,219
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15. Iowa
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 270,614
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,577 (17th 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 Jan 5: 286,679
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 9,086 (3rd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 3,999
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 127 (15th most)
> Population: 3,155,070
16. Kansas
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 249,589
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,567 (16th 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 Jan 5: 231,317
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,940 (10th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 2,897
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 99 (25th most)
> Population: 2,913,314
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17. Kentucky
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 3,330,462
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 74,546 (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 Jan 5: 280,836
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,286 (21st fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 2,772
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 62 (10th fewest)
> Population: 4,467,673
24/7 Wall St.
18. Louisiana
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 430,537
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,261 (20th 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 Jan 5: 326,648
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,027 (23rd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 7,635
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 164 (8th most)
> Population: 4,648,794
19. Maine
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 137,149
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,203 (24th 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 Jan 5: 26,565
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 1,976 (3rd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 369
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 27 (3rd fewest)
> Population: 1,344,212
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20. Maryland
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 302,563
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 5,005 (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 Jan 5: 289,758
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 4,793 (8th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 6,082
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 101 (23rd most)
> Population: 6,045,680
21. Massachusetts
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 262,583
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 3,810 (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 Jan 5: 397,202
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,763 (16th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 12,734
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 185 (2nd most)
> Population: 6,892,503
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22. Michigan
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 1,068,511
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,699 (24th 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 Jan 5: 546,642
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,474 (12th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 13,608
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 136 (11th most)
> Population: 9,986,857
24/7 Wall St.
23. Minnesota
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 958,391
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 16,994 (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 Jan 5: 425,261
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,541 (21st most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 5,461
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 97 (23rd fewest)
> Population: 5,639,632
24. Mississippi
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 366,829
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 12,326 (16th 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 Jan 5: 225,444
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,575 (20th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 4,975
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 167 (7th most)
> Population: 2,976,149
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25. Missouri
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 708,184
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,539 (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 Jan 5: 405,589
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,608 (25th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 5,825
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 95 (22nd fewest)
> Population: 6,137,428
26. Montana
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 172,695
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 16,158 (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 Jan 5: 83,378
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,801 (15th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,005
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 94 (21st fewest)
> Population: 1,068,778
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27. Nebraska
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 104,511
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 5,403 (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 Jan 5: 169,585
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 8,767 (7th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,682
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 87 (20th fewest)
> Population: 1,934,408
28. Nevada
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 219,349
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 7,121 (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 Jan 5: 235,455
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,644 (19th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 3,235
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 105 (20th most)
> Population: 3,080,156
29. New Hampshire
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 174,662
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 12,846 (14th 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 Jan 5: 47,992
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 3,530 (6th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 792
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 58 (8th fewest)
> Population: 1,359,711
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30. New Jersey
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 177,901
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 2,003 (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 Jan 5: 551,419
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,208 (19th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 19,382
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 218 (the most)
> Population: 8,882,190
31. New Mexico
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 206,252
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,836 (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 Jan 5: 148,499
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,082 (22nd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 2,594
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 124 (16th most)
> Population: 2,096,829
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32. New York
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 507,940
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 2,611 (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 Jan 5: 1,041,028
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,351 (11th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 30,802
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 158 (9th most)
> Population: 19,453,561
24/7 Wall St.
33. North Carolina
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 890,284
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,489 (14th 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 Jan 5: 575,396
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,486 (13th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 6,996
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 67 (12th fewest)
> Population: 10,488,084
34. North Dakota
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 85,465
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,215 (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 Jan 5: 93,494
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 12,269 (the most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,329
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 174 (4th most)
> Population: 762,062
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35. Ohio
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 976,751
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,356 (13th 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 Jan 5: 735,003
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,288 (22nd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 9,247
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 79 (14th fewest)
> Population: 11,689,100
36. Oklahoma
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 470,286
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,885 (18th 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 Jan 5: 308,268
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,791 (17th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 2,571
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 65 (11th fewest)
> Population: 3,956,971
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37. Oregon
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 516,096
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 12,236 (17th 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 Jan 5: 118,453
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 2,808 (4th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,506
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 36 (5th fewest)
> Population: 4,217,737
38. Pennsylvania
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 1,452,921
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 11,349 (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 Jan 5: 673,915
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,264 (10th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 16,546
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 129 (12th most)
> Population: 12,801,989
39. Rhode Island
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 51,369
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 4,849 (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 Jan 5: 93,852
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 8,859 (6th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,870
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 177 (3rd most)
> Population: 1,059,361
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40. South Carolina
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 530,930
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,312 (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 Jan 5: 328,073
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,372 (24th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 5,498
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 107 (18th most)
> Population: 5,148,714
41. South Dakota
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 115,448
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 13,050 (13th 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 Jan 5: 91,455
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 10,338 (2nd most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,513
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 171 (6th most)
> Population: 884,659
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42. Tennessee
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 984,760
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 14,420 (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 Jan 5: 617,649
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 9,044 (4th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 7,267
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 106 (19th most)
> Population: 6,829,174
43. Texas
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 2,325,281
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 8,019 (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 Jan 5: 1,843,153
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 6,357 (23rd fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 28,219
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 97 (25th fewest)
> Population: 28,995,881
44. Utah
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 1,216,773
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 37,953 (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 Jan 5: 288,951
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 9,013 (5th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,312
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 41 (6th fewest)
> Population: 3,205,958
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45. Vermont
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 57,965
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,289 (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 Jan 5: 8,038
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 1,288 (the fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 149
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 24 (2nd fewest)
> Population: 623,989
46. Virginia
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 823,513
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 9,648 (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 Jan 5: 371,913
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 4,357 (7th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 5,191
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 61 (9th fewest)
> Population: 8,535,519
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47. Washington
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 781,471
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 10,262 (25th 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 Jan 5: 258,767
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 3,398 (5th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 3,541
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 47 (7th fewest)
> Population: 7,614,893
48. West Virginia
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 265,705
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 14,826 (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 Jan 5: 93,162
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 5,198 (9th fewest)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 1,442
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 80 (16th fewest)
> Population: 1,792,147
49. Wisconsin
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 731,618
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 12,566 (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 Jan 5: 491,341
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 8,439 (8th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 4,979
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 86 (18th fewest)
> Population: 5,822,434
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50. Wyoming
> Firearm background checks, 2020: 91,384
> Firearm background checks, 2020 per 100,000 people: 15,790 (8th 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 Jan 5: 45,569
> Cumulative COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 7,874 (13th most)
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths as of Jan 5.: 464
> Cumulative COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 people as of Jan 5: 80 (15th fewest)
> Population: 578,759
Methodology
To determine how many guns are purchased in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed firearm registrations in every state between Jan. 1 and Dec. 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 January 5.
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