The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. That right is not without limitations, however. Under federal law, fugitives, illicit drug users and some convicted criminals are prohibited from gun ownership. In addition to these federal restrictions, state governments also have the power to enact and enforce their own gun control legislation. And while some states choose to do so, the vast majority have adopted a hands-off approach.
In just over half of all states, firearms are virtually unregulated beyond federal stipulations. In most of these states, citizens are free to purchase firearms without a waiting period, a license, or even a background check in some cases. Gun owners in most of these states do not need a permit to carry their firearm – concealed or out in the open – in public areas.
Without exception, residents of these states are legally allowed to purchase AR-15 style rifles, also known as assault rifles or modern sporting rifles, equipped with high-capacity magazines. (Here is a look at the most popular semi-automatic rifles in America.)
Using Gifford Law Center’s Annual Gun Law Scorecard, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the loosest gun control laws. All 26 states on this list received an F, the lowest possible grade, for their gun control legislation by the gun control advocacy group. States are listed in alphabetical order.
In addition to gun control laws – or lack thereof – we also reviewed data on fatalities involving guns in 2021, the latest year of available data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. While there are some notable exceptions, many of the states with the lightest gun regulations also have higher than average rates of gun violence. Nine of the 10 states with the highest rates of gun fatalities rank on this list. Meanwhile, New Hampshire is the only state on this list to rank among the 10 states with the lowest gun-related death rates.
While these states have loose gun control laws, they do have some regulation. Each state on this list has some laws intended to reduce the likelihood of gun violence or accidents. These often include regulations designed to prevent children accessing guns in the home and restrictions on ownership for residents with a history of domestic violence. (Here is a look at where criminals in each state are most likely to get guns.)
It is important to note that the laws noted in this story are broad guidelines, and that legal nuances can vary at the state and local levels.
Click here to see the states with the least restrictive gun laws.
Alabama
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no open-carry regulations, no high-capacity magazine ban
> Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting, required handgun dealer licensing
> Gun deaths in 2021: 26.4 per 100,000 people – 4th highest of 50 states (1,315 total)
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Alaska
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no open-carry regulations, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit
> Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
> Gun deaths in 2021: 25.2 per 100,000 people – 6th highest of 50 states (182 total)
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Arizona
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no open-carry regulations, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit
> Notable gun controls: Firearms prohibited at polling places, mental health record reporting
> Gun deaths in 2021: 18.3 per 100,000 people – 17th highest of 50 states (1,365 total)
Arkansas
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no open-carry regulations, no high-capacity magazine ban
> Notable gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting
> Gun deaths in 2021: 23.3 per 100,000 people – 8th highest of 50 states (698 total)
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Georgia
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit
> Notable gun controls: Some open-carry regulations, child access prevention laws, regulations on handgun dealers
> Gun deaths in 2021: 20.3 per 100,000 people – 14th highest of 50 states (2,200 total)
Idaho
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
> Gun deaths in 2021: 16.3 per 100,000 people – 25th highest of 50 states (309 total)
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Indiana
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit
> Notable gun controls: Some open-carry regulations, child access prevention laws, regulations on handgun dealers, extreme risk protection orders
> Gun deaths in 2021: 18.4 per 100,000 people – 16th highest of 50 states (1,251 total)
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Iowa
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit
> Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 11.2 per 100,000 people – 11th lowest of 50 states (364 total)
Kansas
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
> Gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 per 100,000 people – 21st highest of 50 states (503 total)
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Kentucky
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Some child access prevention laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 21.1 per 100,000 people – 13th highest of 50 states (947 total)
Louisiana
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 29.1 per 100,000 people – 2nd highest of 50 states (1,314 total)
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Maine
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting, child access prevention laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 12.6 per 100,000 people – 14th lowest of 50 states (178 total)
Mississippi
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting, some child access prevention laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 33.9 per 100,000 people – the highest of 50 states (962 total)
Missouri
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit
> Notable gun controls: Some open-carry regulations, some child access prevention laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 23.2 per 100,000 people – 9th highest of 50 states (1,414 total)
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Montana
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 25.1 per 100,000 people – 7th highest of 50 states (280 total)
New Hampshire
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Handgun background checks, child access prevention laws, domestic violence gun laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 8.3 per 100,000 people – 7th lowest of 50 states (123 total)
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North Dakota
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 16.8 per 100,000 people – 22nd highest of 50 states (128 total)
Ohio
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Lost or stolen firearm reporting
> Gun deaths in 2021: 16.5 per 100,000 people – 24th highest of 50 states (1,911 total)
Oklahoma
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban
> Notable gun controls: Some child access prevention laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 21.2 per 100,000 people – 12th highest of 50 states (836 total)
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South Carolina
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban
> Notable gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting, some open-carry regulations
> Gun deaths in 2021: 22.4 per 100,000 people – 11th highest of 50 states (1,136 total)
South Dakota
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
> Gun deaths in 2021: 14.3 per 100,000 people – 18th lowest of 50 states (128 total)
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Tennessee
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban
> Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws, some open-carry regulations
> Gun deaths in 2021: 22.8 per 100,000 people – 10th highest of 50 states (1,569 total)
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Texas
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting, child access prevention laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 15.6 per 100,000 people – 24th lowest of 50 states (4,613 total)
Utah
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, some child access prevention laws, state background check database with extended check period
> Gun deaths in 2021: 13.9 per 100,000 people – 16th lowest of 50 states (450 total)
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West Virginia
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws
> Gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 per 100,000 people – 19th highest of 50 states (319 total)
Wyoming
> Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no high-capacity magazine ban, concealed-carry without a permit, no open-carry regulations
> Notable gun controls: concealed-carry ban in bars
> Gun deaths in 2021: 26.1 per 100,000 people – 5th highest of 50 states (155 total)
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