Special Report

The States With the Least Restrictive Gun Laws

Alex Wong / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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.

porkypig / Flickr

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)

[in-text-ad]

specnaz-s / iStock via Getty Images

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)

AFP / AFP via Getty Images

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)

artas / iStock via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad-2]

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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)

LifestyleVisuals / iStock via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad]

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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)

JoeChristensen / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

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)

artas / iStock via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad-2]

Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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)

Mario Villafuerte / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad]

VistaVision / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

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)

SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

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)

Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad-2]

Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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)

DOMINICK REUTER / AFP via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad]

Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad-2]

Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

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)

peeterv / iStock via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad]

krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

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)

Rick Gershon / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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)

GEORGE FREY / AFP via Getty Images

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)

[in-text-ad-2]

jfbenning / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

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)

DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images

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)

100 Million Americans Are Missing This Crucial Retirement Tool

The thought of burdening your family with a financial disaster is most Americans’ nightmare. However, recent studies show that over 100 million Americans still don’t have proper life insurance in the event they pass away.

Life insurance can bring peace of mind – ensuring your loved ones are safeguarded against unforeseen expenses and debts. With premiums often lower than expected and a variety of plans tailored to different life stages and health conditions, securing a policy is more accessible than ever.

A quick, no-obligation quote can provide valuable insight into what’s available and what might best suit your family’s needs. Life insurance is a simple step you can take today to help secure peace of mind for your loved ones tomorrow.

Click here to learn how to get a quote in just a few minutes.

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