Special Report

States Where The Most People Bought Guns Last Month

Comstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images

A shooting at Michigan State University this week left three students dead and five injured. The incident, only the latest in the nation’s seemingly endless stream of large-scale gun violence, prompted Michigan State Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks to indicate that the state legislature would be taking action soon to initiate stricter gun control. Among the policies Brinks suggested is stricter background checks. (These are the states with the loosest gun laws.)

This January, about 2.6 million firearm background checks were initiated in the United States, according to data compiled by the FBI, a slight increase from January 2022, when 2.5 million checks were conducted. Background checks are often used as a proxy for measuring gun sales in the U.S. However, there are a number of reasons background checks are initiated that are clearly not tied to the sale of a gun, such as pawn shop transactions and rentals. 

To find the states where the most people bought guns last month, 24/7 Wall St. used FBI data from its National Instant Criminal Background Check System. We ranked states based on the number of gun checks in January 2023 per 1,000 people in each state. To get closer to an accurate approximation of gun sales, we excluded several categories of checks, including pawn shop transactions, returns, rentals, and rechecks, which are conducted periodically by some states on existing permit holders. After these adjustments, the remaining 1.6 million background checks are more likely to be tied to the sale of a gun in the 50 states, equal to about 5.0 checks per 1,000 residents.

Firearm background checks are a frequent key topic in the debate over gun control policy in the United States. Currently, the federal government only requires background checks before the sale of guns at federally licensed arms dealers, and not private gun shops. Many states have their own additional policies. As of last year, 17 states required a criminal background check for the sale of all firearms, and another four mandated checks only for the sale of handguns. (These are the countries Americans buy the most handguns from.)

Based on January’s background checks data, states in the South, the West, and the Midwest bought the most guns per capita last month. On the other end of the list, four of the five states with the fewest background checks per 1,000 residents were in the Northeast. Hawaii ranked lowest, with just 1,848 permit checks initiated, or 0.9 per 1,000 people.

Click here to see states where the most people bought guns last month.

Click here to see our detailed methodology.

okimo / iStock via Getty Images

50. Hawaii
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 1.3
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 1,847 — the fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: N/A
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 0.9 — the fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 1,352 — the fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +495 (+36.6% — 3rd largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,440,196 — 11th smallest

[in-text-ad]

TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images

49. New York
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 1.4
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 27,662 — 23rd most
> Most common type of firearm check: Long guns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 1.4 — 2nd fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 27,519 — 22nd most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +143 (+0.5% — the smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 19,677,151 — 4th largest

Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images

48. New Jersey
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 1.8
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 16,745 — 19th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 1.4 — 3rd fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 13,058 — 16th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +3,687 (+28.2% — 4th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 9,261,699 — 11th largest

47. Rhode Island
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 1.9
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 2,059 — 2nd fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 1.9 — 4th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 2,122 — 2nd fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -63 (-3.0% — 8th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,093,734 — 7th smallest

[in-text-ad-2]

David McNew / Getty Images News via Getty Images

46. California
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 2.4
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 95,050 — 4th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 2.3 — 5th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 91,715 — 4th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +3,335 (+3.6% — 13th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 39,029,342 — the largest

Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

45. Massachusetts
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 3.0
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 20,954 — 25th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 2.5 — 6th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 17,264 — 22nd fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +3,690 (+21.4% — 5th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 6,981,974 — 16th largest

[in-text-ad]

44. Nevada
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 3.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 9,771 — 12th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.2 — 12th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 13,336 — 17th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -3,565 (-26.7% — the largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 3,177,772 — 19th smallest

philipimage / iStock via Getty Images

43. Nebraska
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 3.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 6,176 — 9th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Long guns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 2.9 — 8th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 5,789 — 8th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +387 (+6.7% — 18th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,967,923 — 14th smallest

42. Iowa
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 3.9
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 12,358 — 14th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Long guns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 3.3 — 9th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 10,600 — 13th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,758 (+16.6% — 8th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 3,200,517 — 20th smallest

[in-text-ad-2]

Patrick Smith / Getty Images News via Getty Images

41. Delaware
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 3.9
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 4,006 — 4th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.4 — 15th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 4,457 — 4th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -451 (-10.1% — 4th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 1,018,396 — 6th smallest

Erich Schlegel / Getty Images News via Getty Images

40. Texas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 4.0
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 121,594 — the most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.0 — 10th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 119,232 — the most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +2,362 (+2.0% — 8th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 30,029,572 — 2nd largest

[in-text-ad]

hiramtom / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

39. Ohio
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 4.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 47,866 — 13th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.2 — 11th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 49,002 — 11th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -1,136 (-2.3% — 9th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 11,756,058 — 7th largest

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

38. Georgia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 4.2
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 45,787 — 14th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.2 — 13th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 45,880 — 13th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -93 (-0.2% — 10th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 10,912,876 — 8th largest

37. Kentucky
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 4.6
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 20,835 — 24th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.3 — 14th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 19,252 — 25th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,583 (+8.2% — 18th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 4,512,310 — 25th smallest

[in-text-ad-2]

J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

36. North Carolina
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 4.8
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 50,876 — 11th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Long guns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.5 — 16th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 47,643 — 12th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +3,233 (+6.8% — 19th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 10,698,973 — 9th largest

Mario Villafuerte / Getty Images News via Getty Images

35. Louisiana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 4.8
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 22,056 — 25th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.7 — 22nd most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 25,951 — 23rd most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -3,895 (-15.0% — 3rd largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 4,590,241 — 25th largest

[in-text-ad]

Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images

34. Florida
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 4.9
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 109,323 — 2nd most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.8 — 20th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 107,300 — 2nd most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +2,023 (+1.9% — 7th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 22,244,823 — 3rd largest

artas / iStock via Getty Images

33. Kansas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 4.9
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 14,537 — 17th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.7 — 18th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 13,896 — 18th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +641 (+4.6% — 15th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 2,937,150 — 16th smallest

Courtesy of Powderhorn Outdoor Sports Center via Yelp

32. Vermont
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.0
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 3,244 — 3rd fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.9 — 21st fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 3,169 — 3rd fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +75 (+2.4% — 9th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 647,064 — 2nd smallest

[in-text-ad-2]

Marc Lecureuil / Getty Images

31. Arizona
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 37,666 — 20th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.5 — 17th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 32,775 — 19th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +4,891 (+14.9% — 9th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 7,359,197 — 14th largest

30. Arkansas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 15,623 — 18th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.0 — 23rd fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 15,194 — 19th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +429 (+2.8% — 11th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 3,045,637 — 18th smallest

[in-text-ad]

AFP Contributor / AFP via Getty Images

29. Virginia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.2
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 45,391 — 15th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.8 — 19th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 41,617 — 14th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +3,774 (+9.1% — 14th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 8,683,619 — 12th largest

skhoward / iStock via Getty Images

28. Minnesota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.3
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 30,507 — 21st most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.9 — 20th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 33,467 — 18th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -2,960 (-8.8% — 7th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 5,717,184 — 22nd largest

JOE KLAMAR / AFP via Getty Images

27. Connecticut
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.4
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 19,526 — 22nd fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 4.9 — 22nd fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 17,854 — 24th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,672 (+9.4% — 11th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 3,626,205 — 22nd smallest

[in-text-ad-2]

Richard Ellis / Getty Images News via Getty Images

26. South Carolina
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.5
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 28,831 — 22nd most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.2 — 25th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 27,698 — 21st most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,133 (+4.1% — 14th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 5,282,634 — 23rd largest

VistaVision / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

25. Maine
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.6
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 7,807 — 10th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.1 — 24th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 7,127 — 10th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +680 (+9.5% — 10th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,385,340 — 9th smallest

[in-text-ad]

SETH HERALD / AFP via Getty Images

24. Indiana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.7
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 38,830 — 18th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.6 — 23rd most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 38,267 — 16th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +563 (+1.5% — 5th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 6,833,037 — 17th largest

Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

23. Michigan
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 5.9
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 58,839 — 7th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.5 — 25th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 55,521 — 8th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +3,318 (+6.0% — 17th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 10,034,113 — 10th largest

JannHuizenga / iStock via Getty Images

22. New Mexico
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 12,849 — 15th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.6 — 24th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 11,772 — 14th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,077 (+9.1% — 13th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 2,113,344 — 15th smallest

[in-text-ad-2]

GEORGE FREY / AFP via Getty Images

21. Utah
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.2
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 20,799 — 23rd fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.7 — 21st most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 19,407 — 25th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,392 (+7.2% — 20th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 3,380,800 — 21st smallest

picture alliance / picture alliance via Getty Images

20. South Dakota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.2
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 5,680 — 8th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Long guns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.9 — 10th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 6,285 — 9th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -605 (-9.6% — 6th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 909,824 — 5th smallest

[in-text-ad]

Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

19. Missouri
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.3
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 38,808 — 19th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.9 — 17th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 36,735 — 17th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +2,073 (+5.6% — 16th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 6,177,957 — 18th largest

18. Oklahoma
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.3
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 25,438 — 24th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.2 — 16th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 24,775 — 24th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +663 (+2.7% — 10th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 4,019,800 — 23rd smallest

Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images

17. North Dakota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.4
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 5,013 — 7th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Long guns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.3 — 15th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 4,936 — 7th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +77 (+1.6% — 6th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 779,261 — 4th smallest

[in-text-ad-2]

CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images

16. Mississippi
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.4
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 18,947 — 21st fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.9 — 18th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 17,451 — 23rd fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,496 (+8.6% — 16th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 2,940,057 — 17th smallest

Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

15. Maryland
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.5
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 39,819 — 17th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 2.8 — 7th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 17,043 — 21st fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +22,776 (+133.6% — the largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 6,164,660 — 19th largest

[in-text-ad]

14. Alaska
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.7
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 4,949 — 6th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.5 — 14th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 4,780 — 6th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +169 (+3.5% — 12th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 733,583 — 3rd smallest

mtcurado / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

13. Colorado
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.0
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 40,766 — 16th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.9 — 9th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 40,528 — 15th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +238 (+0.6% — 2nd smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 5,839,926 — 21st largest

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

12. Illinois
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.0
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 88,501 — 5th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.9 — 19th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 74,091 — 5th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +14,410 (+19.4% — 6th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 12,582,032 — 6th largest

[in-text-ad-2]

Thinkstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images

11. Wyoming
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 4,109 — 5th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 7.8 — 5th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 4,556 — 5th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -447 (-9.8% — 5th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 581,381 — the smallest

Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

10. Washington
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 55,586 — 8th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.6 — 13th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 51,501 — 9th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +4,085 (+7.9% — 19th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 7,785,786 — 13th largest

[in-text-ad]

DOMINICK REUTER / AFP via Getty Images

9. New Hampshire
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.3
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 10,254 — 13th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.7 — 11th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 9,379 — 12th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +875 (+9.3% — 12th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,395,231 — 10th smallest

Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images

8. Montana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.5
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 8,450 — 11th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 7.4 — 6th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 8,342 — 11th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +108 (+1.3% — 4th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,122,867 — 8th smallest

Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images

7. Pennsylvania
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.8
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 100,769 — 3rd most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 7.1 — 7th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 92,472 — 3rd most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +8,297 (+9.0% — 15th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 12,972,008 — 5th largest

[in-text-ad-2]

jfbenning / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

6. West Virginia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.9
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 14,092 — 16th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Long guns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.7 — 12th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 11,861 — 15th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +2,231 (+18.8% — 7th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,775,156 — 12th smallest

Karl Weatherly / Photodisc via Getty Images

5. Idaho
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 8.6
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 16,752 — 20th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 8.0 — 4th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 15,449 — 20th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,303 (+8.4% — 17th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,939,033 — 13th smallest

[in-text-ad]

4. Wisconsin
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 8.6
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 50,957 — 10th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 8.6 — 3rd most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 50,576 — 10th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +381 (+0.8% — 3rd smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 5,892,539 — 20th largest

krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

3. Tennessee
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 9.4
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 66,170 — 6th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 8.7 — 2nd most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 61,694 — 6th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +4,476 (+7.3% — 20th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 7,051,339 — 15th largest

Barry Lewis / In Pictures via Getty Images

2. Alabama
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 9.7
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 49,349 — 12th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 11.7 — the most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 59,522 — 7th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -10,173 (-17.1% — 2nd largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 5,074,296 — 24th largest

[in-text-ad-2]

ROB KERR / AFP via Getty Images

1. Oregon
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 13.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 55,581 — 9th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.9 — 8th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 29,461 — 20th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +26,120 (+88.7% — 2nd largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 4,240,137 — 24th smallest

Methodology

To find the states where the most people bought guns last month, 24/7 Wall St. used FBI data from its National Instant Criminal Background Check System. To get closer to an accurate approximation of gun sales, we excluded several categories of checks, including pawn shop transactions, returns, rentals, and rechecks, which are conducted periodically by some states on existing permit holders. We ranked states based on the number of gun checks in January 2023 per 1,000 people in each state. 

Even after removing some types of checks that are clearly unrelated to a new firearm purchase, because every state has different laws in terms of when background checks are required and different accounting practices, background checks still only serve as a rough approximation. 

The most glaring example of this is Illinois, which alone accounted for about half of the background checks in the country after excluding the aforementioned categories of checks. Illinois no longer breaks down background checks separately, but did from July 2016 through July 2021. During the four full years of data, an average of 9.2% of Illinois’s non-private sale or gun-specific permit checks were non-rechecks. We applied that average to the most recent state figures to estimate Illinois’ count. This was done only because Illinois is such a glaring example of inconsistency and because there was historical data to produce an estimate. 

There are likely other states for which the background check figures listed are inflated or underestimated proxies for gun sales. 

Population data came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Population and Housing Unit Estimates Program, and are for July of 2022, the most recent data available. 

Find a Qualified Financial Advisor (Sponsor)

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.