Gun sales, as approximated by background checks, surged in 2020 to 39,695,315 just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. They remained high through the middle of last year, and then started to decline. Though overall background checks fell to 38,876,673 in 2021, they only began returning to pre-pandemic levels last year. For all of 2022, gun sales were 31,596,646, a considerable drop from 2021 but still higher than the 28,369,750 background checks in 2019.
The FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System publishes a monthly list of how many firearm background checks are conducted on potential gun buyers. Nearly everyone put through this system qualifies. Of the more than 400 million checks conducted since November 1998, there have only been 2.1 million denials. More than half of those who are denied have criminal records.
Background checks by state can reveal gun sales trends within a state. Sales in all states but four declined In 2022 compared to 2021. Sales were under 50,000 in only three states. In two states, Illinois and Kentucky, background checks topped 4 million for the year. (Find out which Americans own the most guns.)
To compare between states, however, background checks per person would be a better metric. Nationwide, there were 94.8 background checks per 1,000 people in 2022, a decline from 116. 6 per 1,000 in 2021.
To find states with the most gun purchases per person, 24/7 Wall St. used FBI data from its NICS, ranking states based on gun background checks in 2022 per 1,000 people in each state. Population data came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates Program, and are for July of 2022.
Kentucky’s firearm background checks per capita for 2022 were 890.1 per 1,000 people, the highest of all states. Illinois and Utah were next, with 300 and 356 background checks per 1,000 people, respectively. Rounding out the top five are Indiana and Minnesota, where there were 162 and 156 background checks per 1,000 people in the state. The lowest figure was 13.1 checks per 1,000 people in Hawaii. (These are the states where the government is profiting the most from gun sales.)
One reason for the large variation in background checks compared to the national average is that in some states permit rechecks are a big part of the state’s overall firearm background checks.
Click here to see states with the most gun sales per person.
50. Hawaii
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 13.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 12.3 (the fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 18,842 (the fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 17,707 (the fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,135 (+6.4% — 3rd largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,440,196 (11th smallest)
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49. New Jersey
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 18.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 24.1 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 167,740 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 223,437 (15th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -55,697 (-24.9% — 5th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 9,261,699 (11th largest)
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48. New York
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 22.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 23.6 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 447,567 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 464,575 (23rd most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -17,008 (-3.7% — 2nd smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 19,677,151 (4th largest)
47. Rhode Island
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 25.5
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 34.7 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 27,900 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 37,936 (2nd fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -10,036 (-26.5% — 3rd largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,093,734 (7th smallest)
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46. Massachusetts
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 32.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 37.1 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 227,928 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 259,248 (18th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -31,320 (-12.1% — 13th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 6,981,974 (16th largest)
45. California
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 36.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 37.8 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 1,431,993 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 1,476,073 (6th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -44,080 (-3.0% — the smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 39,029,342 (the largest)
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44. Nebraska
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 38.2
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 46.1 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 75,084 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 90,676 (7th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -15,592 (-17.2% — 14th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,967,923 (14th smallest)
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43. Nevada
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 47.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 58.7 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 152,261 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 186,578 (13th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -34,317 (-18.4% — 11th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 3,177,772 (19th smallest)
42. Maryland
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 52.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 43.4 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 326,114 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 267,753 (20th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +58,361 (+21.8% — the largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 6,164,660 (19th largest)
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41. Georgia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 55.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 73.9 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 601,407 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 806,912 (14th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -205,505 (-25.5% — 4th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 10,912,876 (8th largest)
40. Ohio
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 55.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 72.5 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 656,936 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 851,887 (13th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -194,951 (-22.9% — 6th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 11,756,058 (7th largest)
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39. North Carolina
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 57.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 73.1 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 612,695 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 781,733 (16th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -169,038 (-21.6% — 8th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 10,698,973 (9th largest)
38. Delaware
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 57.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 67.8 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 58,323 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 69,068 (4th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -10,745 (-15.6% — 21st largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,018,396 (6th smallest)
37. Texas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 57.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 66.0 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 1,732,651 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 1,980,753 (3rd most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -248,102 (-12.5% — 15th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 30,029,572 (2nd largest)
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36. Connecticut
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 63.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 76.5 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 230,702 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 277,250 (22nd fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -46,548 (-16.8% — 17th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 3,626,205 (22nd smallest)
35. Kansas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 65.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 78.4 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 191,895 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 230,168 (17th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -38,273 (-16.6% — 18th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 2,937,150 (16th smallest)
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34. Virginia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 65.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 75.5 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 567,504 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 655,339 (18th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -87,835 (-13.4% — 20th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 8,683,619 (12th largest)
33. Florida
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 66.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 76.9 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 1,474,730 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 1,711,685 (5th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -236,955 (-13.8% — 21st smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 22,244,823 (3rd largest)
32. Iowa
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 68.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 83.3 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 218,703 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 266,678 (19th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -47,975 (-18.0% — 13th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 3,200,517 (20th smallest)
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31. Vermont
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 69.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 79.7 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 44,722 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 51,549 (3rd fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -6,827 (-13.2% — 19th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 647,064 (2nd smallest)
30. Arizona
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 72.5
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 76.6 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 533,699 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 563,763 (21st most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -30,064 (-5.3% — 4th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 7,359,197 (14th largest)
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29. Louisiana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 75.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 87.4 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 344,808 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 401,345 (25th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -56,537 (-14.1% — 23rd largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 4,590,241 (25th largest)
28. Arkansas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 78.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 94.8 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 239,350 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 288,706 (23rd fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -49,356 (-17.1% — 15th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 3,045,637 (18th smallest)
27. Michigan
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 78.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 96.8 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 789,160 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 970,990 (9th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -181,830 (-18.7% — 10th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 10,034,113 (10th largest)
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26. South Carolina
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 80.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 91.9 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 423,098 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 485,487 (22nd most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -62,389 (-12.9% — 17th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 5,282,634 (23rd largest)
25. New Mexico
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 82.2
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 92.3 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 173,793 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 194,989 (14th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -21,196 (-10.9% — 8th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 2,113,344 (15th smallest)
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24. Maine
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 82.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 93.3 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 114,090 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 129,193 (10th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -15,103 (-11.7% — 10th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,385,340 (9th smallest)
23. Missouri
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 85.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 102.7 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 530,932 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 634,191 (19th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -103,259 (-16.3% — 19th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 6,177,957 (18th largest)
22. Colorado
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 90.5
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 107.7 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 528,335 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 628,811 (20th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -100,476 (-16.0% — 20th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 5,839,926 (21st largest)
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21. Washington
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 90.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 94.6 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 706,260 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 736,846 (17th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -30,586 (-4.2% — 3rd smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 7,785,786 (13th largest)
20. Oklahoma
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 92.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 103.6 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 370,275 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 416,514 (25th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -46,239 (-11.1% — 9th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 4,019,800 (23rd smallest)
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19. North Dakota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 93.0
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 103.4 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 72,458 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 80,546 (5th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -8,088 (-10.0% — 7th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 779,261 (4th smallest)
18. Pennsylvania
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 94.8
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 108.6 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 1,229,129 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 1,408,165 (7th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -179,036 (-12.7% — 16th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 12,972,008 (5th largest)
17. New Hampshire
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 95.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 108.8 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 133,507 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 151,853 (11th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -18,346 (-12.1% — 14th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,395,231 (10th smallest)
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16. South Dakota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 96.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 117.5 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 87,589 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 106,881 (9th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -19,292 (-18.0% — 12th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 909,824 (5th smallest)
15. Mississippi
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 96.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 110.0 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 284,864 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 323,319 (24th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -38,455 (-11.9% — 12th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 2,940,057 (17th smallest)
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14. Wisconsin
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 107.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 133.4 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 635,528 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 785,856 (15th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -150,328 (-19.1% — 9th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 5,892,539 (20th largest)
13. West Virginia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 108.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 126.3 (12th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 192,868 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 224,240 (16th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -31,372 (-14.0% — 24th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,775,156 (12th smallest)
12. Alaska
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 115.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 124.3 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 84,802 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 91,207 (8th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -6,405 (-7.0% — 6th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 733,583 (3rd smallest)
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11. Oregon
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 116.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 107.1 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 495,842 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 454,133 (24th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +41,709 (+9.2% — 2nd largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 4,240,137 (24th smallest)
10. Tennessee
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 118.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 136.8 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 836,953 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 964,512 (10th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -127,559 (-13.2% — 18th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 7,051,339 (15th largest)
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9. Wyoming
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 120.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 145.6 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 70,276 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 84,624 (6th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -14,348 (-17.0% — 16th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 581,381 (the smallest)
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8. Idaho
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 121.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 141.2 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 235,465 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 273,762 (21st fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -38,297 (-14.0% — 25th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,939,033 (13th smallest)
7. Montana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 126.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 143.1 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 141,803 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 160,640 (12th fewest)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -18,837 (-11.7% — 11th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,122,867 (8th smallest)
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6. Alabama
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 145.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 186.5 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 739,113 (12th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 946,271 (11th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -207,158 (-21.9% — 7th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 5,074,296 (24th largest)
5. Minnesota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 155.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 165.3 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 891,044 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 945,299 (12th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -54,255 (-5.7% — 5th smallest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 5,717,184 (22nd largest)
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4. Indiana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 161.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 265.7 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 1,105,040 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 1,815,531 (4th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -710,491 (-39.1% — 2nd largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 6,833,037 (17th largest)
3. Utah
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 300.0
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 349.5 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 1,014,277 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 1,181,564 (8th most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -167,287 (-14.2% — 22nd largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 3,380,800 (21st smallest)
2. Illinois
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 355.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 673.5 (2nd most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 4,476,055 (the most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 8,474,505 (the most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -3,998,450 (-47.2% — the largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 12,582,032 (6th largest)
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1. Kentucky
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2022: 890.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, 2021: 852.8 (the most)
> Firearm background checks 2022: 4,016,510 (2nd most)
> Firearm background checks 2021: 3,848,061 (2nd most)
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +168,449 (+4.4% — 4th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 4,512,310 (25th smallest)
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