What states do not allow you to have a gun?
Asked by: Shad Leffler V | Last update: March 22, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (6 votes)
No U.S. state completely bans all gun ownership, but some have very strict laws, like California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, with significant restrictions on types of firearms (assault weapons), carry permits (concealed/open), and specific locations (courthouses, sensitive areas). States like Illinois heavily restrict or prohibit open carry, while others, such as Hawaii, have historically maintained strong regulations, though enforcement and specifics vary, with federal law ensuring a Second Amendment right for self-defense in the home.
Are there any states where you can't own a gun?
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.
In what states are guns illegal to carry?
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.
Do any states ban firearms?
For example, New York prohibits firearm access after a person has been convicted of misdemeanor crimes defined as “serious offenses” under state law, including child endangerment, certain disorderly conduct crimes, and certain stalking offenses. California, Colorado, and Connecticut prohibit firearm access for a ...
Can you conceal in all 50 states?
No, you generally cannot conceal carry in all 50 states with a single permit, as laws vary significantly and no federal law mandates universal reciprocity, though many states allow it permitless or honor other states' permits; the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) covers law enforcement, and proposed federal bills aim for national reciprocity, but currently, you need multiple permits or to know specific state rules. All states allow concealed carry in some form, but requirements range from permits (with training/background checks) to permitless "constitutional carry," with private property restrictions also applying everywhere.
Don't Travel Here With Your Gun (5 States Disclosed)!
What is the freest gun state?
There isn't one single "freest" gun state, as rankings vary, but New Hampshire, West Virginia, Arkansas, Montana, and South Dakota are consistently ranked among the most gun-friendly due to permissive laws like constitutional/permitless carry, strong self-defense protections (Stand Your Ground), and lack of sales tax on firearms. Other states often cited for lenient laws include Arizona, Wyoming, Alaska, Utah, and Mississippi, though some recent political shifts in states like Arizona have impacted their rankings.
Can you carry a gun anywhere in America?
Currently, 46 states allow open carry in some form. The remaining four states — California, Florida, Illinois and New York (plus Washington D.C.) — generally prohibit it. Among those that allow it, laws differ: some states allow open carry without a permit, while others require a license or have local restrictions.
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.
In what states is AR-15 illegal?
AR-15 style rifles are banned for sale, manufacture, or possession in several states, including California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, plus Washington D.C., though specific regulations vary by state, with some allowing prior purchases. These bans often target "assault weapons" and large-capacity magazines, restricting their purchase and sometimes banning possession outright for new buyers.
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.
What state has the weakest gun laws?
Mississippi has the weakest gun laws in the country and the highest gun death rate.
Is it illegal to carry a gun from one state to another?
Yes. A person who lawfully possesses a firearm may transport or ship the firearm interstate when changing their state of residence. If using a moving company, you must notify the mover that firearms are being transported.
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.
Where are guns not allowed in the USA?
Federally designated areas where weapons are banned, even with a permit: Federal Courthouses* Federal Buildings* Any Building Owned, Leased or Rented by the Federal Government — This includes buildings in national forests which are property of the federal government.
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 guns?
Number of registered weapons U.S. 2024, by state
Texas was the state with the highest number of registered weapons in the United States in 2024, with 1,136,732 firearms. Rhode Island, on the other hand, had the least, with 4,895 registered firearms.
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.
Can you legally own an AK47?
Legal Status of the AK-47
The AK-47, when classified as a semi-automatic rifle, is legal to own in most states.
Can I buy an M4 as a civilian?
Yes, you can legally own an M4 rifle in the US, but there are certain conditions and restrictions. A civilian cannot own a genuine military specification M4 carbine in a select-fire or fully automatic configuration.
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 US state has the most strict laws?
Top Five Most Regulated States by Number of Restrictions (2022)
- California – 403,774.
- New York – 298,804.
- New Jersey – 286,933.
- Illinois – 279,147.
- Texas – 273,106.
What is the most gun-friendly country?
There isn't one single "most gun friendly" country, but the United States has the highest civilian gun ownership and very permissive laws in many states, while Switzerland is known for its strong gun culture tied to militia service and relatively liberal ownership rules for certain firearms after background checks, and countries like Yemen also have extremely non-restrictive laws, though often with different cultural contexts. Other nations with high ownership or liberal access include Canada, Finland, and Serbia, often linked to hunting or defense traditions.
Can cops carry guns on planes?
Law enforcement officers must meet all federal qualifications to fly armed, unless otherwise authorized by TSA. Be a federal law enforcement officer or a full-time municipal, county, state, tribal or territorial law enforcement officer who is a direct government agency employee.
Does America have the loosest gun laws?
Which U.S. state has the strictest gun laws? California has the strictest gun laws, having adopted 45 out of the 50 gun safety policies tracked by Everytown Research & Policy.