The United States has some of the least restrictive gun control laws among similarly wealthy and highly-developed countries. And while state governments also have the authority to regulate firearms, much of the country has adopted a hands-off approach.
Under federal law, fugitives, illicit drug users, and some convicted criminals are prohibited from gun ownership. Though some states have passed legislation that meaningfully expand upon federal firearm regulations, the majority of states have not. In most of these places, citizens are free to purchase firearms without a waiting period, a license, or even a background check in some cases. Additionally, 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. (This is how hard it is to buy a handgun in every state.)
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.
Gun control laws are designed to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, and reduce the likelihood of deadly gun violence, intentional or otherwise. While there are some notable exceptions, many of the states with the loosest gun regulations also have higher than average rates of gun fatalities. According to 2021 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nine of the 10 states with the highest firearm death rates 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. (These are the states where gun deaths are increasing fastest.)
The states on this list are not without some firearm regulations, however minimal. Firearm laws on the books in these states include those designed to prevent children accessing guns in the home and restrictions on ownership for residents with a history of domestic violence.
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)
[in-text-ad]
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)
24/7 Wall St.
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)
[in-text-ad-2]
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)
[in-text-ad]
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)
24/7 Wall St.
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)
[in-text-ad-2]
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)
[in-text-ad]
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)
[in-text-ad-2]
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)
[in-text-ad]
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)
24/7 Wall St.
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]
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)
[in-text-ad]
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)
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)
[in-text-ad-2]
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)
Get Ready To Retire (Sponsored)
Start by taking a quick retirement quiz from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes, or less.
Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.
Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future
Get started right here.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
