Deadly gun violence — including both suicides and homicides — has been on the rise for years in the United States. Despite the worsening crisis, political gridlock in Washington, D.C. has all but precluded the possibility of meaningful gun control reform. In the absence of federal legislative action, gun policy is largely set at the state level.
Several states are implementing new gun control laws in 2024. These include a law banning firearms from certain public places in California, new safe storage and strengthened background check laws in Michigan, expanded waiting periods for gun buyers in Washington state, high-capacity magazine bans in Illinois, and a prohibition on so-called “ghost guns” in Colorado. These laws are only the latest in a series of policies designed to reduce the risk of gun violence — accidental or otherwise.
But while some states are aggressively seeking solutions to the problem of gun violence, many have adopted a decidedly hands-off approach. In these places, gun safety laws and restrictions that go beyond what is already mandated by the federal government are virtually non-existent.
Using the Annual Gun Law Scorecard from the gun violence prevention group Gifford Law Center, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed firearm regulations in each state. States are listed in alphabetical order and are assigned a letter grade rating the strength of their firearm laws. Grades are current as of early January 2024 and range from “A,” for the states with the strongest laws, to “F,” for the states with the weakest. Gun laws noted in this story are also from Giffords Law Center. They are not exhaustive, however, and are only broad guidelines. Legal nuances can vary at the state and local levels.
Geographically, states with the most firearm regulations are concentrated in the Northeast and along the West Coast. In many of these places, assault-style weapons sales are restricted, high-capacity magazines are banned, and in some cases, prospective gun owners must have a valid firearm license and are subject to a mandatory waiting period.
Meanwhile, in the states with the weakest gun laws, none of these regulations exist, and residents are typically free to carry a firearm, concealed or otherwise, in public places. These states are largely clustered in the South, Midwest, and non-coastal West. (These are the states where anyone can get a gun today.)
Some gun control laws appear to be an effective means of reducing the likelihood of gun violence as more often than not, the states that regulate firearms the most have lower levels of deadly incidents involving firearms. Of the 10 states with the lowest firearm death rate, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, eight have a gun law grade of “B” or higher. Meanwhile, nine of the 10 states with the highest gun death rates have a gun law grade of “F.” (These are the states where gun deaths are increasing the fastest.)
Here is every state’s gun law grade.
Alabama
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 26.4 per 100,000 people — 4th highest of 50 states (1,315 total)
Alaska
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 25.2 per 100,000 people — 6th highest of 50 states (182 total)
Arizona
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Firearms prohibited at polling places, mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 18.3 per 100,000 people — 17th highest of 50 states (1,365 total)
Arkansas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 23.3 per 100,000 people — 8th highest of 50 states (698 total)
California
- Gun law strength grade: A
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, strong eligibility standards, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon and magazine restrictions, waiting periods, public carry restrictions, safe storage laws, ghost gun reforms, state firearm sale records retention, ammunition regulation
- Notable gun rights: N/A
- Gun deaths in 2021: 9.0 per 100,000 people — 8th lowest of 50 states (3,576 total)
Colorado
- Gun law strength grade: A-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, certain domestic violence gun laws, large capacity magazine ban, child access prevention law, waiting periods, state background check database, extended background check period, ghost gun regulations
- Notable gun rights: No gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, hate crime possession prohibitions, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 17.8 per 100,000 people — 18th highest of 50 states (1,064 total)
Connecticut
- Gun law strength grade: A
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, certain domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, concealed carry restrictions, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention law, state background check database, partial ghost gun ban, safe storage requirements, bulk firearm purchase restrictions
- Notable gun rights: No microstamping requirements
- Gun deaths in 2021: 6.7 per 100,000 people — 6th lowest of 50 states (248 total)
Delaware
- Gun law strength grade: B+
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, concealed carry restrictions, child access prevention laws, extended background check period, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban
- Notable gun rights: No gun owner licensing, waiting periods, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 16.6 per 100,000 people — 23rd highest of 50 states (158 total)
Florida
- Gun law strength grade: D+
- Notable gun controls: Extreme risk protection orders, waiting periods, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention law, extended background check period, state background check database
- Notable gun rights: No concealed carry permit requirements, universal background checks, gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, or large capacity magazine ban
- Gun deaths in 2021: 14.1 per 100,000 people — 17th lowest of 50 states (3,142 total)
Georgia
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permitting requirements
- Gun deaths in 2021: 20.3 per 100,000 people — 14th highest of 50 states (2,200 total)
Hawaii
- Gun law strength grade: A-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, gun owner licensing, firearm registration, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, certain assault weapon restrictions, partial large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry restrictions, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention law, ghost gun regulations
- Notable gun rights: No bulk firearm purchase restrictions, ammunition sale regulations, or safe storage laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 4.8 per 100,000 people — 2nd lowest of 50 states (71 total)
Idaho
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing requirements, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 16.3 per 100,000 people — 25th highest of 50 states (309 total)
Illinois
- Gun law strength grade: A-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, waiting periods, strong open carry restrictions, ghost gun regulations, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban
- Notable gun rights: No central searchable law enforcement database of firearm sale records, firearm access restrictions for people convicted of most violent misdemeanors, or bulk firearm purchase restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 16.1 per 100,000 people — 25th lowest of 50 states (1,995 total)
Indiana
- Gun law strength grade: D-
- Notable gun controls: Extreme risk protection orders, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permitting requirements
- Gun deaths in 2021: 18.4 per 100,000 people — 16th highest of 50 states (1,251 total)
Iowa
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, concealed carry permitting requirement, bulk firearm purchase restrictions, or firearms licensing
- Gun deaths in 2021: 11.2 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest of 50 states (364 total)
Kansas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 per 100,000 people — 19th highest of 50 states (503 total)
Kentucky
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 21.1 per 100,000 people — 13th highest of 50 states (947 total)
Louisiana
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 29.1 per 100,000 people — 2nd highest of 50 states (1,314 total)
Maine
- Gun law strength grade: D-
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting, child access prevention law
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 12.6 per 100,000 people — 14th lowest of 50 states (178 total)
Maryland
- Gun law strength grade: A-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, licensing requirements, extreme risk protection orders, certain domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, concealed carry restrictions, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention law, ghost gun regulations
- Notable gun rights: No strong firearm relinquishment laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 15.2 per 100,000 people — 22nd lowest of 50 states (915 total)
Massachusetts
- Gun law strength grade: A-
- Notable gun controls: Gun owner licensing, universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, large capacity magazine ban, concealed carry restrictions, strong open carry restrictions, safe storage laws, record-keeping of gun sales
- Notable gun rights: No ghost gun reform laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 3.4 per 100,000 people — the lowest of 50 states (247 total)
Michigan
- Gun law strength grade: B-
- Notable gun controls: Gun owner licensing, state background check database, partial state firearm sale records retention, child access prevention law, extreme risk protection orders
- Notable gun rights: No assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 15.4 per 100,000 people — 23rd lowest of 50 states (1,544 total)
Minnesota
- Gun law strength grade: B
- Notable gun controls: Permit-to-purchase for handguns, assault weapon restrictions, certain domestic violence gun laws, certain waiting period laws, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention law, ammunition sale regulations, extreme risk protection orders
- Notable gun rights: No permit-to-purchase for long guns, large capacity magazine ban, or bulk firearm purchase restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 10.0 per 100,000 people — 9th lowest of 50 states (573 total)
Mississippi
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting, child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirement, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 33.9 per 100,000 people — the highest of 50 states (962 total)
Missouri
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Partial strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permit requirements
- Gun deaths in 2021: 23.2 per 100,000 people — 9th highest of 50 states (1,414 total)
Montana
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 25.1 per 100,000 people — 7th highest of 50 states (280 total)
Nebraska
- Gun law strength grade: C-
- Notable gun controls: Partial gun owner licensing, domestic violence gun laws, state background check database
- Notable gun rights: No extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 10.3 per 100,000 people — 10th lowest of 50 states (200 total)
Nevada
- Gun law strength grade: B-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, child access prevention law, state background check database, ghost gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 19.8 per 100,000 people — 15th highest of 50 states (633 total)
New Hampshire
- Gun law strength grade: D-
- Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law, state background check database
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 8.3 per 100,000 people — 7th lowest of 50 states (123 total)
New Jersey
- Gun law strength grade: A
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, concealed carry restrictions, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention law, some ghost gun restrictions
- Notable gun rights: No firearm relinquishment laws or reporting of long gun sale records to law enforcement
- Gun deaths in 2021: 5.2 per 100,000 people — 3rd lowest of 50 states (475 total)
New Mexico
- Gun law strength grade: C+
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law
- Notable gun rights: No gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, waiting periods, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 27.8 per 100,000 people — 3rd highest of 50 states (578 total)
New York
- Gun law strength grade: A-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, partial gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, strong open carry restrictions, safe storage laws, ghost gun law
- Notable gun rights: No waiting periods
- Gun deaths in 2021: 5.4 per 100,000 people — 4th lowest of 50 states (1,078 total)
North Carolina
- Gun law strength grade: C-
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law, some concealed carry permitting and safety training standards
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, firearm relinquishment laws, large capacity magazine ban, assault weapon restrictions, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 per 100,000 people — 19th highest of 50 states (1,839 total)
North Dakota
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 16.8 per 100,000 people — 22nd highest of 50 states (128 total)
Ohio
- Gun law strength grade: D-
- Notable gun controls: Lost and stolen firearm reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 16.5 per 100,000 people — 24th highest of 50 states (1,911 total)
Oklahoma
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, or waiting periods
- Gun deaths in 2021: 21.2 per 100,000 people — 12th highest of 50 states (836 total)
Oregon
- Gun law strength grade: A-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, licensing requirements, extreme risk protection orders, certain domestic violence gun laws, large capacity magazine restrictions, ghost gun law
- Notable gun rights: No assault weapon restrictions, strong concealed carry standards, strong open carry restrictions, or strong gun trafficking laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 14.9 per 100,000 people — 21st lowest of 50 states (670 total)
Pennsylvania
- Gun law strength grade: B
- Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, extended background check period, state background check database, partial state firearm sale records retention
- Notable gun rights: No extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 14.8 per 100,000 people — 20th lowest of 50 states (1,905 total)
Rhode Island
- Gun law strength grade: B+
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, partial gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, certain domestic violence gun laws, waiting periods, concealed carry restrictions, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention law, large capacity magazine ban
- Notable gun rights: No assault weapon restrictions, bulk firearm purchase restriction, or gun design safety standards
- Gun deaths in 2021: 5.6 per 100,000 people — 5th lowest of 50 states (64 total)
South Carolina
- Gun law strength grade: D-
- Notable gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting, strong open carry restrictions
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 22.4 per 100,000 people — 11th highest of 50 states (1,136 total)
South Dakota
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 14.3 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest of 50 states (128 total)
Tennessee
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, strong open carry restrictions
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permit requirements
- Gun deaths in 2021: 22.8 per 100,000 people — 10th highest of 50 states (1,569 total)
Texas
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Mental health record reporting, child access prevention law
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 15.6 per 100,000 people — 24th lowest of 50 states (4,613 total)
Utah
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws, extended background check period, state background check database
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 13.9 per 100,000 people — 16th lowest of 50 states (450 total)
Vermont
- Gun law strength grade: B-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, large capacity magazine ban, child access prevention law, waiting periods
- Notable gun rights: No gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 11.9 per 100,000 people — 13th lowest of 50 states (83 total)
Virginia
- Gun law strength grade: B+
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, some domestic violence laws, partial assault weapon restrictions, child access prevention laws, state background check database
- Notable gun rights: No gun owner licensing, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, strong open carry restrictions, bulk firearm purchase restrictions, or ammunition sale regulations
- Gun deaths in 2021: 14.3 per 100,000 people — 19th lowest of 50 states (1,248 total)
Washington
- Gun law strength grade: A-
- Notable gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, ban on sale of assault weapons, certain waiting period laws, child access prevention law, extended background check period, state background check database, ghost gun law, large capacity magazine ban
- Notable gun rights: No gun owner licensing, broad strong open carry restrictions, bulk firearm purchase restrictions, safe storage laws, or ban on possession of assault weapons
- Gun deaths in 2021: 11.2 per 100,000 people — 12th lowest of 50 states (896 total)
West Virginia
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 17.3 per 100,000 people — 19th highest of 50 states (319 total)
Wisconsin
- Gun law strength grade: C
- Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws, state background check database
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or strong open carry restrictions
- Gun deaths in 2021: 13.5 per 100,000 people — 15th lowest of 50 states (793 total)
Wyoming
- Gun law strength grade: F
- Notable gun controls: Ban on concealed carry in bars
- Notable gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, domestic violence gun laws, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, concealed carry permit requirements, strong open carry restrictions, or child access prevention laws
- Gun deaths in 2021: 26.1 per 100,000 people — 5th highest of 50 states (155 total)
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