Has any state banned guns?

Asked by: Laurie Gerhold IV  |  Last update: May 3, 2026
Score: 4.3/5 (69 votes)

Yes, no U.S. state has a total gun ban, but several states, like California, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Illinois, Washington, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware, and Hawaii, have enacted significant bans on specific types of firearms, primarily assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, alongside strict regulations like open carry prohibitions, with ongoing legal challenges to these laws.

What states have banned guns?

Forty-four states have a provision in their state constitutions similar to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. The exceptions are California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.

Where are guns completely banned?

In some countries, including Cambodia, Eritrea, and the Solomon Islands, private ownership of firearms by civilians is completely prohibited. There may be exceptions for private security companies, militias and paramilitary groups.

What city banned guns?

The City of Chicago and the Village of Oak Park, a Chicago suburb, had municipal code provisions which effectively banned handgun possession by almost all private citizens who resided in those jurisdictions.

What state has the most restrictions on guns?

California is the state with the strictest gun laws, and it also has the seventh-lowest rate of deaths by gun violence.

Can I Buy a Banned Weapon Out of State and Bring It Home?

20 related questions found

What state has the freest gun laws?

Mississippi, Wyoming, and Arizona are frequently cited as having the loosest gun laws, with Mississippi often ranked as the most lenient due to minimal regulations, lacking permit requirements for concealed carry, and few restrictions on public carry, while Wyoming and Arizona also stand out for permitless carry and strong self-defense laws. New Hampshire and West Virginia are also noted for their relaxed approaches, with some sources placing New Hampshire at the top due to low crime and lax rules. 

What is the hardest state to own a gun in?

Report Highlights:

  • Hawaii is the #1 worst state for gun owners due to strict purchasing and carry laws, as well as defying the Supreme Court on the individual's right to carry.
  • Massachusetts is the #2 worst state for gun owners due to its permit-to-purchase and reciprocity laws.

Which states do not allow you to carry a gun?

You generally cannot carry a gun (especially openly) in California, Illinois, New York, and often Florida, plus Washington D.C., though laws vary significantly for concealed versus open carry and handguns versus long guns, with some states like South Carolina also heavily restricting open carry. Laws change frequently, so checking state-specific rules for both concealed and open carry is crucial. 

Why is CA banning Glocks?

However, what is true is that the state will restrict selling new Glock models starting July 1, 2026, via Assembly Bill 1127. Lawmakers argued that current designs can be too easily modified with an illegal “Glock switch,” which converts a pistol into a fully automatic weapon.

Can you own guns in Russia?

Gun control in Russia is carried out in accordance with the Federal Law on Weapons. The law establishes three major categories of weapons: civil, service, and military. Civilians in Russia are able to obtain firearms with proper licensure, with some limits on concealed carry.

What places don't allow guns?

Guns are illegal in some countries like Japan, China, and the UK (for most handguns), while others like Cambodia and Solomon Islands have near-total bans, but restrictions vary significantly, with many nations requiring strict licensing, banning specific types (like assault weapons in Canada), or restricting locations (like schools, government buildings, and certain public spaces within the U.S.). In the U.S., federal law bans guns in places like federal buildings, prisons, and military bases, while states and local jurisdictions add bans in schools, parks, or prohibit certain types of firearms.
 

Are guns banned in Canada?

You asked for a description of Canada's gun control laws. Firearms are federally regulated in Canada. The federal 1977 Criminal Law Amendment Act, as amended, prohibits automatic weapons and sawed-off shotguns and rifles. It is illegal for anyone, except (for the most part) the police and the military, to possess them.

Are guns illegal in Japan?

Other than the police and the military, no one in Japan may purchase a handgun or a rifle. Hunters and target shooters may possess shotguns and airguns under strictly circumscribed conditions. The police check gun licensees' ammunition inventory to make sure there are no shells or pellets unaccounted for.

What is the least armed state in the US?

Rates of Gun Ownership by State

Wyoming has the highest rate of gun ownership, with an estimated 66 firearms per 100 residents. Massachusetts and New Jersey share the lowest rate at 14.7 firearms for every 100 residents. The state-level ownership may be lower due to data restraints.

In what states is AR-15 illegal?

AR-15 style rifles, generally classified as "assault weapons," are banned or heavily restricted in states like California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, with some variations on bans for sale, manufacture, or possession, while other states have significant regulations or allow them outright. The legality often hinges on specific features, and many states have ongoing legal challenges to these bans.
 

Can I bring my gun to any state?

Under the Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA), federal law permits you to transport a firearm for lawful purposes from any place where you may legally possess it to any other place you may legally possess it, as long as the firearm is unloaded and locked in a hard-sided container.

Which US state is the most heavily armed?

Texas has the most guns by total number, often exceeding one million registered firearms, followed by Florida and Virginia, though this reflects large populations; when considering ownership rate (percentage of households or residents), states like Montana, Wyoming, and West Virginia consistently rank highest, with Montana often leading.
 

Is the AK-47 illegal in California?

Uzi's, AK-47s, AR-15s, Bushmaster semi-automatic rifles – all are banned by California's Assault Weapons Control Act.

Why are Glocks unsafe?

A Glock switch is a small device that attaches to a Glock pistol. It looks harmless but makes the gun shoot like a machine gun. This means it can fire many bullets with one pull of the trigger. That makes the gun hard to control and very dangerous.

What is the freest gun state?

There isn't one single "freest" gun state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, Wyoming, Arizona, Montana, South Dakota, and Arkansas consistently rank among the most gun-friendly due to permitless carry, minimal taxes on firearms, strong self-defense laws, and general pro-2A policies, with states like Wyoming having high gun ownership and New Hampshire being a top choice for its low regulation and tax-free status.
 

What state is the least gun friendly?

The 10 States With the Strictest Gun Laws

  • New York.
  • Connecticut.
  • Hawaii.
  • New Jersey.
  • Maryland.
  • Massachusetts.
  • Washington.
  • Colorado.

Can you conceal in all 50 states?

No, you cannot legally conceal carry in all 50 states with a single permit because reciprocity varies, but you can carry in most by getting multiple licenses, with federal law (LEOSA) allowing qualified law enforcement/retirees to carry everywhere; however, most states now allow permitless (constitutional) carry in many public spaces, making it possible in all states, though restrictions apply.
 

Which states have the worst gun violence?

These are the 20 states with the highest firearm homicide rates in the country along with their gun-friendliness scores:

  • Louisiana: 11.0 (3)
  • Mississippi: 10.2 (5)
  • Alabama: 9.5 (4)
  • Missouri: 8.5 (5)
  • Maryland: 7.4 (1)
  • South Carolina: 7.4 (3)
  • Tennessee: 6.7 (4)
  • Illinois: 6.5 (2)

Which state has the strongest gun law?

California led the way in gun safety in the United States as of January 2025, with a composite score of 90.5 based on the presence of 50 key gun safety policies.