What state was the hardest to get guns?
Asked by: Dr. Zechariah Donnelly | Last update: January 21, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (59 votes)
- 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.
- California is the #2 worst state for gun owners due to its permit-to-purchase and reciprocity laws.
What US state has the strictest gun laws?
Leading states for gun law strength in the U.S. 2025
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.
What is the least gun-friendly state?
Mississippi has the weakest gun laws in the country and the highest gun death rate.
Which US state had the most guns?
What State Has the Most Guns. It is estimated that Texas has more guns than any other state, with 1,005,555 guns and just over 29 million residents.
What state doesn t allow 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.
RANKING 50 States for GUN LAWS! Texas Florida California Wisconsin Pennsylvania Michigan Arizona +
When was AR-15 banned?
The 10-year ban was passed by the U.S. Congress on August 25, 1994, and was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on September 13, 1994. The ban applied only to weapons manufactured after the date of the ban's enactment. It expired on September 13, 2004, following its sunset provision.
What state has the strictest laws?
With 395,608 regulatory restrictions, California is the most heavily regulated state in the nation, according to the report. On average, states have 135,000 regulatory restrictions in administrative rules, with California's regulations more than doubling the national average.
What state has the most illegal guns?
In 2021, Arizona was the state with the highest number of trafficked guns recovered in a crime in the United States, with 3,575 trafficked guns recovered. Georgia, Texas, Indiana, and South Carolina rounded out the top five in that year.
What state has the lowest gun ownership?
On the other side of the spectrum, New Jersey and Massachusetts share the lowest gun ownership rate in the country, both at 14.7%.
Which states have the worst gun violence?
As of 2025, Mississippi was the state with the highest gun violence rate per 100,000 residents in the United States, at 29.4 percent, followed by Louisiana, at 28.1 percent. In comparison, Massachusetts had a gun violence rate of 3.7 percent, the lowest out of all the states.
What is the strictest gun law in the world?
Singapore is probably the strictest country in the world when it comes to gun laws. It's still possible to own a gun but it takes a lot of work. To own a gun you need to belong to a gun club. You will also be required to leave your gun at the club for storage.
What cities have the most gun violence?
Our data placed St. Louis at the top of the list for the highest number of gun-related injuries per 10,000 residents (18.6) as well as the highest incidence of gun-related deaths (9.1 per 10,000 people). However, Ocala, Florida is another city that has to be in the spotlight when it comes to firearm-related incidents.
Are guns illegal 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.
In what states can felons own guns?
- Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon and South Dakota automatically restore firearms rights to convicted felons - including those who committed violent crimes - but make them wait five to 15 years after they complete state supervision, the center and ATF found.
What state has the weakest gun laws?
Mississippi has the weakest gun laws with a score of 3 out of 100 and has a rate of 28.6 gun deaths per 100,000 residents – the highest of all states, the research shows.
What state is most gun-friendly?
- #8 Texas. ...
- #7 Oklahoma. ...
- #6 Missouri. ...
- #5 Mississippi. ...
- #4 Montana. ...
- #3 Arkansas. ...
- #2 West Virginia. ...
- #1 New Hampshire. New Hampshire is a Constitutional Carry state with incredibly relaxed gun laws and low crime rates.
What state sells the most guns?
The top three states for gun sales in 2023 have the most residents. According to SafeHomes' analysis of the FBI data, these are the states with the most firearm sales in 2023: Texas: 1,347,589. Florida: 1,316,471.
What are the most heavily armed states?
The states with the highest gun ownership rates are Montana, Wyoming, West Virginia, Idaho, Alaska, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Mississippi, North Dakota, and Alabama. The state with the highest gun ownership rate is Montana, with a household firearm ownership rate of 65.7%.
How many guns does the average gun owner own?
The average American owns between one and five firearms. Men are more likely than women to own more than one, and those with only one firearm typically have a handgun or pistol.
What caliber kills the most in the US?
The 9mm caliber is used in more fatal and non-fatal shootings than any other caliber, according to recent studies. Handguns are involved in 46% of all homicides in the United States. Larger caliber bullets, though used less frequently, result in more fatalities per shot.
What states completely ban guns?
U.S. gun laws 2024, by state
As of 2024, 22 U.S. states required background checks and/or permits for the purchase of a handgun. A further 13 states had regulations on openly carrying firearms in public, however, only California, Connecticut, Florida, and Illinois had completely prohibited open carry for all firearms.
What gun is most used in crime?
Handguns were the type of weapon found to be the leading cause of murders. The FBI data further revealed that handguns were used in 45.7% of homicides nationwide. The following is a simple breakdown of the percentage of each type of firearm used in nationwide homicides: Handguns 45.7%
What is the most broken law in America?
1. Underage drinking. Underage drinking is relatively common in the U.S. Despite the law, alcohol continues to be the substance of choice for young people, ranking even higher than tobacco, marijuana, and other substances.
What is the hardest state to get a job?
New Hampshire is the best state to find a job and West Virginia is the worst, according to WalletHub's 2024 ranking published Oct. 30. The personal finance website compared the 50 states on two key dimensions: job market and economic environment.
What states is 18 not legal?
The age of majority is 18 in most areas, except three states. Alabama and Nebraska set the age of majority to 19 and Mississippi sets it at 21.