Special Report
Gun Sales Continue to Fall From Last Year's Historic Peak in 47 States
Published:
With more guns per capita than any country in the world, the United States is widely considered the civilian gun capital of the world. By the same token, it has among the highest gun violence, ranking 10th in gun deaths per capita. While gun sales have risen significantly during the pandemic, they have dropped in the past several months in most parts of the country, though it is unclear why. (These are the countries with the most gun deaths per capita.)
According to many experts, the proliferation of firearms has led to increased gun violence in America. Along with the rise in gun sales, the level of gun deaths has been increasing as well. As of Oct. 6, according to the Gun Violence Archive, 34,010 people have been killed by guns in the U.S. There have been 519 mass shootings in 2022. This type of violence occurs daily. (These are the states where the most murders are committed with a gun.)
Gun sales, as estimated by background checks, have risen sharply over the last two decades and hit an all-time high early during the COVID-19 pandemic – reaching a record annual level of 39,695,315 background checks in 2020. While gun background checks are not a one-to-one comparison of gun sales, they serve as a proxy, especially in identifying trends.
Sales fell in 2021, but only by a modest amount, with 38,876,673 background checks. The decline, which began in the second half of 2021, became more dramatic in 2022. Through the first nine months of this year, background checks have fallen to 23,260,943, compared to 30,467,508 in the same period in 2021. In 47 states, sales dropped over the period, but the rate of the decline varied considerably from state to state.
To determine the states where gun sales collapsed, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, listing all 47 states where firearm background checks in the first nine months of 2022 declined compared to the same period in 2021. States are ranked in order of the percentage decline in background checks. Population figures are one-year estimates from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey.
Background checks in Illinois fell by 58%, the most of any state. Illinois has traditionally been one of the states with the largest number of gun sales each month. There is no geographic pattern among the states where sales have fallen the most and also no convincing explanation as to why gun sales have been falling. It may be, in a nation where there are 400 million guns, that demand has slackened because of already enough supply.
Click here to see where gun sales continue to fall from last year’s historical peak in 47 states.
47. Maryland
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -0.3% (-578)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 206,381 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 206,959 (20th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 6,165,129 (the largest)
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46. New York
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -1.7% (-6,020)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 345,234 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 351,254 (23rd most)
> 2021 Population: 19,835,913 (2nd largest)
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45. California
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -4.1% (-46,426)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 1,077,529 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 1,123,955 (6th most)
> 2021 Population: 39,237,836 (3rd largest)
44. Minnesota
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -6.8% (-48,761)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 670,402 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 719,163 (11th most)
> 2021 Population: 5,707,390 (4th largest)
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43. Alaska
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -8.5% (-5,854)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 62,799 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 68,653 (8th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 732,673 (5th largest)
42. Arizona
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -8.7% (-38,043)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 400,279 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 438,322 (21st most)
> 2021 Population: 7,276,316 (6th largest)
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41. North Dakota
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -11.5% (-6,929)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 53,433 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 60,362 (5th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 774,948 (7th largest)
40. Montana
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -12.4% (-14,740)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 104,421 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 119,161 (12th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 1,104,271 (8th largest)
39. Delaware
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -13.2% (-6,902)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 45,450 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 52,352 (4th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 1,003,384 (9th largest)
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38. Oklahoma
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -13.3% (-40,708)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 265,190 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 305,898 (25th most)
> 2021 Population: 3,986,639 (10th largest)
37. Maine
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -13.5% (-12,775)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 81,896 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 94,671 (10th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 1,372,247 (11th largest)
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36. New Mexico
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -13.7% (-20,283)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 128,257 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 148,540 (14th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 2,115,877 (12th largest)
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35. Mississippi
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -14.4% (-33,747)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 199,995 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 233,742 (24th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 2,949,965 (14th largest)
34. Oregon
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -14.8% (-50,725)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 292,881 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 343,606 (24th most)
> 2021 Population: 4,246,155 (15th largest)
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33. Pennsylvania
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -15.2% (-162,142)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 906,400 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 1,068,542 (7th most)
> 2021 Population: 12,964,056 (16th largest)
32. Texas
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -15.3% (-228,928)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 1,268,071 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 1,496,999 (3rd most)
> 2021 Population: 29,527,941 (17th largest)
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31. Tennessee
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -15.3% (-110,793)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 612,907 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 723,700 (10th most)
> 2021 Population: 6,975,218 (18th largest)
30. Idaho
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -15.4% (-31,784)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 174,126 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 205,910 (19th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 1,900,923 (19th largest)
29. Louisiana
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -15.5% (-45,558)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 248,715 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 294,273 (25th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 4,624,047 (20th largest)
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28. Florida
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -15.9% (-207,339)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 1,097,772 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 1,305,111 (5th most)
> 2021 Population: 21,781,128 (21st largest)
27. New Hampshire
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -15.9% (-18,573)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 97,953 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 116,526 (11th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 1,388,992 (22nd largest)
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26. Vermont
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -16.0% (-6,220)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 32,763 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 38,983 (3rd fewest)
> 2021 Population: 645,570 (23rd largest)
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25. Massachusetts
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -16.2% (-32,869)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 170,173 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 203,042 (18th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 6,984,723 (24th largest)
24. Virginia
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -16.3% (-79,416)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 408,792 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 488,208 (18th most)
> 2021 Population: 8,642,274 (25th largest)
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23. Utah
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -16.8% (-153,762)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 762,280 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 916,042 (8th most)
> 2021 Population: 3,337,975 (24th smallest)
22. Connecticut
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -17.0% (-36,838)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 179,308 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 216,146 (23rd fewest)
> 2021 Population: 3,605,597 (23rd smallest)
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21. South Carolina
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -17.1% (-63,516)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 307,098 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 370,614 (22nd most)
> 2021 Population: 5,190,705 (22nd smallest)
20. Colorado
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -17.5% (-83,720)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 394,611 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 478,331 (19th most)
> 2021 Population: 5,812,069 (21st smallest)
19. West Virginia
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -17.6% (-28,929)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 135,008 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 163,937 (15th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 1,782,959 (20th smallest)
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18. Wyoming
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -17.8% (-11,194)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 51,720 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 62,914 (6th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 578,803 (19th smallest)
17. Iowa
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -18.7% (-39,157)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 170,024 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 209,181 (21st fewest)
> 2021 Population: 3,193,079 (18th smallest)
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16. Kansas
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -19.1% (-32,618)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 137,858 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 170,476 (16th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 2,934,582 (17th smallest)
15. Missouri
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -19.5% (-92,464)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 380,716 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 473,180 (20th most)
> 2021 Population: 6,168,187 (16th smallest)
14. Wisconsin
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -20.7% (-120,992)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 463,965 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 584,957 (16th most)
> 2021 Population: 5,895,908 (15th smallest)
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13. Nebraska
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -20.8% (-14,296)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 54,297 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 68,593 (7th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 1,963,692 (14th smallest)
12. Nevada
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -20.9% (-30,684)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 115,944 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 146,628 (13th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 3,143,991 (13th smallest)
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11. South Dakota
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -21.0% (-16,622)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 62,459 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 79,081 (9th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 895,376 (12th smallest)
10. Michigan
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -21.8% (-163,017)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 585,567 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 748,584 (9th most)
> 2021 Population: 10,050,811 (10th smallest)
9. Arkansas
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -22.0% (-47,053)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 167,144 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 214,197 (22nd fewest)
> 2021 Population: 3,025,891 (9th smallest)
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8. Alabama
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -24.0% (-170,884)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 542,539 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 713,423 (12th most)
> 2021 Population: 5,039,877 (8th smallest)
7. North Carolina
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -24.7% (-149,421)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 454,493 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 603,914 (15th most)
> 2021 Population: 10,551,162 (7th smallest)
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6. Ohio
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -25.5% (-164,332)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 480,585 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 644,917 (13th most)
> 2021 Population: 11,780,017 (6th smallest)
5. Rhode Island
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -29.5% (-8,866)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 21,154 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 30,020 (2nd fewest)
> 2021 Population: 1,095,610 (5th smallest)
4. Georgia
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -30.8% (-192,950)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 434,178 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 627,128 (14th most)
> 2021 Population: 10,799,566 (4th smallest)
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3. New Jersey
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -31.1% (-56,429)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 125,049 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 181,478 (17th fewest)
> 2021 Population: 9,267,130 (3rd smallest)
2. Indiana
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -40.8% (-599,748)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 868,444 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 1,468,192 (4th most)
> 2021 Population: 6,805,985 (2nd smallest)
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1. Illinois
> Change in background checks Jan-Sep 2021 to Jan-Sep 2022: -58.0% (-4,338,834)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2022: 3,142,673 (the most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan-Sep 2021: 7,481,507 (the most)
> 2021 Population: 12,671,469 (the smallest)
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