Special Report
States Where the Government Profits the Most From Gun Sales
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Last Updated:
America’s gun industry is booming. More than 11.3 million firearms were manufactured in the United States in 2020, more than double the 5.6 million produced in 2010, and nearly triple the 3.9 million guns manufactured in 2000. Surging demand for firearms has been a boon not only for the balance sheets of American gun makers, but also government coffers.
Between sporting arms and ammunition companies and supporting sectors, the American firearm industry generated $70.5 billion in economic output in 2021, according to the advocacy group The Firearm Industry Trade Association. The federal government also levied $4.6 billion in business taxes from the gun industry in 2021, up 84% from a decade earlier.
Using data from the 2022 Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states where the federal government is profiting the most from gun sales. States are ranked by 2021 federal business tax revenue from the firearm industry on a per capita basis. Per capita figures were calculated using population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey. We also considered FBI firearm background checks in 2021 as a proxy for gun sales.
Across the 50 states, 2021 federal tax revenue the gun industry generated ranges from about $3 per person in Delaware to nearly $150 per person in New Hampshire. Not surprisingly, states where firearms generate the most tax revenue are often home to the operations of many of the biggest companies in the industry. Sig Sauer, for example, is headquartered in New Hampshire. Ruger also has a major manufacturing plant in the state. Combined, the two companies account for nearly 25% of all domestic firearm production. (Here is a look at the states with the most gun purchases per person.)
The firearm industry’s footprint in each state is partially reflected in employment figures. In 14 of the 15 highest ranking states on this list, per capita employment in the firearm industry is also among the top 15 states in the country. (Here is a look at the 22 states where gun sales are rebounding.)
Click here to see states where the government is profiting the most from gun sales.
50. Delaware
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $2.86 per resident ($2.9 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $73 per person – 2nd lowest ($72.8 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 50.1 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest (503 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 69 per 1,000 people – 11th fewest (69,068 total)
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49. Hawaii
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $3.49 per resident ($5.0 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $51 per person – the lowest ($74.0 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 40.1 per 100,000 people – the fewest (578 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 12 per 1,000 people – the fewest (17,707 total)
48. New Mexico
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $4.11 per resident ($8.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $77 per person – 3rd lowest ($162.9 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 68.2 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest (1,442 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 92 per 1,000 people – 23rd fewest (194,989 total)
47. Kansas
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $4.35 per resident ($12.8 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $198 per person – 24th highest ($579.7 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 72.7 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest (2,133 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 78 per 1,000 people – 18th fewest (230,168 total)
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46. Oklahoma
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $5.14 per resident ($20.5 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $104 per person – 5th lowest ($414.6 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 67.8 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest (2,702 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 104 per 1,000 people – 20th most (416,514 total)
45. Indiana
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $5.55 per resident ($37.8 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $138 per person – 11th lowest ($937.7 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 73.8 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest (5,021 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 267 per 1,000 people – 4th most (1,815,531 total)
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44. North Dakota
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $5.76 per resident ($4.5 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $103 per person – 4th lowest ($80.0 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 84.1 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest (652 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 104 per 1,000 people – 21st most (80,546 total)
43. West Virginia
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $6.18 per resident ($11.0 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $123 per person – 7th lowest ($218.5 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 95.5 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest (1,702 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 126 per 1,000 people – 12th most (224,240 total)
42. Louisiana
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $6.20 per resident ($28.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $134 per person – 10th lowest ($617.4 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 78.2 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest (3,615 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 87 per 1,000 people – 22nd fewest (401,345 total)
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41. Iowa
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $6.98 per resident ($22.3 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $151 per person – 15th lowest ($481.5 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 87.0 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest (2,779 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 84 per 1,000 people – 21st fewest (266,678 total)
40. New York
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $7.85 per resident ($155.8 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $128 per person – 8th lowest ($2.5 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 51.2 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest (10,150 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 23 per 1,000 people – 2nd fewest (464,575 total)
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39. Rhode Island
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $8.22 per resident ($9.0 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $166 per person – 21st lowest ($181.7 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 75.4 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest (826 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 35 per 1,000 people – 4th fewest (37,936 total)
38. Alabama
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $8.25 per resident ($41.6 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $147 per person – 13th lowest ($740.8 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 104.1 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest (5,247 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 188 per 1,000 people – 5th most (946,271 total)
37. Alaska
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $8.30 per resident ($6.1 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $165 per person – 19th lowest ($121.0 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 140.4 per 100,000 people – 17th most (1,029 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 124 per 1,000 people – 13th most (91,207 total)
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36. New Jersey
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $8.32 per resident ($77.1 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $114 per person – 6th lowest ($1.1 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 55.8 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest (5,174 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 24 per 1,000 people – 3rd fewest (223,437 total)
35. Georgia
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $9.20 per resident ($99.4 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $165 per person – 20th lowest ($1.8 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 83.8 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest (9,045 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 75 per 1,000 people – 14th fewest (806,912 total)
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34. Virginia
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $9.47 per resident ($81.9 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $150 per person – 14th lowest ($1.3 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 85.9 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest (7,424 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 76 per 1,000 people – 15th fewest (655,339 total)
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33. California
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $9.70 per resident ($380.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $133 per person – 9th lowest ($5.2 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 74.1 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest (29,082 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 38 per 1,000 people – 6th fewest (1,476,073 total)
32. Maryland
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $10.13 per resident ($62.4 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $144 per person – 12th lowest ($890.7 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 69.5 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest (4,286 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 43 per 1,000 people – 7th fewest (267,753 total)
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31. Kentucky
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $10.48 per resident ($47.3 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $189 per person – 25th lowest ($852.5 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 113.1 per 100,000 people – 25th most (5,101 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 853 per 1,000 people – the most (3,848,061 total)
30. Tennessee
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $10.57 per resident ($73.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $161 per person – 17th lowest ($1.1 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 101.7 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest (7,097 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 138 per 1,000 people – 10th most (964,512 total)
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29. Texas
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $11.20 per resident ($330.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $189 per person – 25th highest ($5.6 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 107.1 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest (31,632 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 67 per 1,000 people – 10th fewest (1,980,753 total)
28. Wisconsin
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $11.51 per resident ($67.9 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $210 per person – 20th highest ($1.2 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 113.0 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (6,661 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 133 per 1,000 people – 11th most (785,856 total)
27. Nevada
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $11.85 per resident ($37.3 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $165 per person – 18th lowest ($517.5 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 101.8 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest (3,201 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 59 per 1,000 people – 9th fewest (186,578 total)
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26. Florida
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $11.92 per resident ($259.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $159 per person – 16th lowest ($3.5 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 102.5 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest (22,332 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 79 per 1,000 people – 19th fewest (1,711,685 total)
25. Michigan
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $12.29 per resident ($123.6 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $187 per person – 24th lowest ($1.9 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 117.0 per 100,000 people – 23rd most (11,759 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 97 per 1,000 people – 23rd most (970,990 total)
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24. Ohio
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $12.49 per resident ($147.1 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $201 per person – 23rd highest ($2.4 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 129.5 per 100,000 people – 19th most (15,256 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 72 per 1,000 people – 12th fewest (851,887 total)
23. Missouri
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $12.97 per resident ($80.0 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $203 per person – 22nd highest ($1.3 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 128.1 per 100,000 people – 21st most (7,899 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 103 per 1,000 people – 22nd most (634,191 total)
22. Colorado
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $13.33 per resident ($77.5 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $175 per person – 22nd lowest ($1.0 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 115.5 per 100,000 people – 24th most (6,712 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 108 per 1,000 people – 18th most (628,811 total)
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21. South Carolina
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $13.63 per resident ($70.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $238 per person – 17th highest ($1.2 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 130.8 per 100,000 people – 18th most (6,789 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 94 per 1,000 people – 24th fewest (485,487 total)
20. Washington
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $14.44 per resident ($111.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $180 per person – 23rd lowest ($1.4 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 105.5 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest (8,166 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 95 per 1,000 people – 25th most (736,846 total)
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19. Illinois
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $14.51 per resident ($183.9 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $226 per person – 18th highest ($2.9 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 103.0 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest (13,051 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 669 per 1,000 people – 2nd most (8,474,505 total)
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18. Pennsylvania
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $14.93 per resident ($193.6 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $206 per person – 21st highest ($2.7 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 145.7 per 100,000 people – 15th most (18,891 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 109 per 1,000 people – 17th most (1,408,165 total)
17. Vermont
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $15.02 per resident ($9.7 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $224 per person – 19th highest ($144.7 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 128.3 per 100,000 people – 20th most (828 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 80 per 1,000 people – 20th fewest (51,549 total)
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16. North Carolina
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $15.20 per resident ($160.3 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $238 per person – 16th highest ($2.5 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 123.4 per 100,000 people – 22nd most (13,017 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 74 per 1,000 people – 13th fewest (781,733 total)
15. Mississippi
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $17.22 per resident ($50.8 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $315 per person – 14th highest ($929.6 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 160.6 per 100,000 people – 13th most (4,737 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 110 per 1,000 people – 15th most (323,319 total)
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14. Montana
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $18.90 per resident ($20.9 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $332 per person – 12th highest ($366.7 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 222.2 per 100,000 people – 7th most (2,454 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 145 per 1,000 people – 8th most (160,640 total)
13. Nebraska
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $19.47 per resident ($38.2 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $338 per person – 11th highest ($663.1 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 169.3 per 100,000 people – 11th most (3,325 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 46 per 1,000 people – 8th fewest (90,676 total)
12. Maine
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $21.53 per resident ($29.5 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $305 per person – 15th highest ($418.1 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 256.7 per 100,000 people – 6th most (3,523 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 94 per 1,000 people – 25th fewest (129,193 total)
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11. South Dakota
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $23.22 per resident ($20.8 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $416 per person – 7th highest ($372.4 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 205.7 per 100,000 people – 9th most (1,842 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 119 per 1,000 people – 14th most (106,881 total)
10. Arizona
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $24.77 per resident ($180.2 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $320 per person – 13th highest ($2.3 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 164.0 per 100,000 people – 12th most (11,933 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 77 per 1,000 people – 17th fewest (563,763 total)
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9. Massachusetts
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $27.58 per resident ($192.6 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $407 per person – 8th highest ($2.8 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 145.3 per 100,000 people – 16th most (10,151 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 37 per 1,000 people – 5th fewest (259,248 total)
8. Utah
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $27.67 per resident ($92.4 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $398 per person – 10th highest ($1.3 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 266.4 per 100,000 people – 5th most (8,893 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 354 per 1,000 people – 3rd most (1,181,564 total)
7. Connecticut
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $29.96 per resident ($108.0 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $400 per person – 9th highest ($1.4 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 146.0 per 100,000 people – 14th most (5,264 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 77 per 1,000 people – 16th fewest (277,250 total)
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6. Oregon
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $31.68 per resident ($134.5 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $420 per person – 6th highest ($1.8 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 210.8 per 100,000 people – 8th most (8,952 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 107 per 1,000 people – 19th most (454,133 total)
5. Minnesota
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $36.97 per resident ($211.0 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $488 per person – 5th highest ($2.8 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 204.6 per 100,000 people – 10th most (11,680 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 166 per 1,000 people – 6th most (945,299 total)
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4. Arkansas
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $42.00 per resident ($127.1 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $835 per person – 4th highest ($2.5 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 344.6 per 100,000 people – 4th most (10,426 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 95 per 1,000 people – 24th most (288,706 total)
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3. Idaho
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $52.83 per resident ($100.4 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $887 per person – 3rd highest ($1.7 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 368.2 per 100,000 people – 3rd most (6,999 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 144 per 1,000 people – 9th most (273,762 total)
2. Wyoming
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $67.36 per resident ($39.0 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $1190 per person – 2nd highest ($688.7 million total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 634.4 per 100,000 people – 2nd most (3,672 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 146 per 1,000 people – 7th most (84,624 total)
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1. New Hampshire
> 2021 federal business tax revenue from gun industry: $146.37 per resident ($203.3 million total)
> Gun industry total economic output, 2021: $1960 per person – the highest ($2.7 billion total)
> Gun industry jobs, 2021: 716.3 per 100,000 people – the most (9,950 total)
> 2021 FBI firearm background checks: 109 per 1,000 people – 16th most (151,853 total)
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