In 1999, the United States was forever changed by the tragedy that transpired at Columbine High School. Over 20 victims were injured, and 13 were killed, including the shooters. The shooters, too young to purchase firearms legally, obtained two 9mm firearms and two 12-gauge shotguns from unlicensed dealers at a gun show through acquaintances. No background checks were required.
The Columbine massacre is cited as the first and most significant school shooting at the time. Unfortunately, it was not the last. With more guns than citizens in the United States, mass shootings have become common. (See the city with the worst surge in gun crime in America.)
In the absence of federal legislative action, gun policy is largely set at the state level. New gun control legislation is being implemented by several states in 2024. These policies 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 “ghost guns” in Colorado. These laws are designed to reduce the risk of gun violence — accidental or otherwise.Â
While some states are seeking solutions to the problem of gun violence, many have adopted a hands-off approach. In these areas, gun safety laws and restrictions that go beyond what is already mandated by the federal government are virtually non-existent. (These are the states where anyone can get a gun today.)
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.
Why This Matters
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According to an analysis by The Trace.org, there were 656 mass shootings in 2023. 24/7 is covering every state’s gun law grade to keep readers aware of the potential for deadly gun violence in their area, and how it can influence the economy. 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. Areas with high levels of crime affect the local economy. When an area is deemed unsafe it affects the labor market, housing market, and local businesses — which could negatively affect your investments.Â
Here is every state’s gun law grade.
Alabama
Source: Barry Lewis / In Pictures via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 26.4 per 100,000 people
Alaska
Source: specnaz-s / iStock via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 25.2 per 100,000 people
Arizona
Source: Marc Lecureuil / Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Firearms prohibited at polling places, mental health record reporting
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 18.3 per 100,000 people
Arkansas
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 23.3 per 100,000 people
California
Source: Ted Soqui / Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: A
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: N/A
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 9.0 per 100,000 people
Colorado
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- Assessment of gun law strength: A-
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, hate crime possession prohibitions, or strong open carry restrictions
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 17.8 per 100,000 people
Connecticut
Source: Christopher Capozziello / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: A
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No microstamping requirements
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 6.7 per 100,000 people
Delaware
Source: Patrick Smith / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: B+
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No gun owner licensing, waiting periods, or strong open carry restrictions
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 16.6 per 100,000 people
Florida
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: D+
- Significant gun controls: Extreme risk protection orders, waiting periods, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention law, extended background check period, state background check database
- Significant gun rights: No concealed carry permit requirements, universal background checks, gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, or large capacity magazine ban
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 14.1 per 100,000 people
Georgia
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- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 20.3 per 100,000 people
Hawaii
- Assessment of gun law strength: A-
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No bulk firearm purchase restrictions, ammunition sale regulations, or safe storage laws
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 4.8 per 100,000 people
Idaho
Source: Karl Weatherly / Photodisc via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 16.3 per 100,000 people
Illinois
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: A-
- Significant 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
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 16.1 per 100,000 people
Indiana
Source: SETH HERALD / AFP via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: D-
- Significant gun controls: Extreme risk protection orders, strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
- Significant gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permitting requirements
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 18.4 per 100,000 people
Iowa
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- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 11.2 per 100,000 people
Kansas
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 17.3 per 100,000 people
Kentucky
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Child access prevention laws
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 21.1 per 100,000 people
Louisiana
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- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 29.1 per 100,000 people
Maine
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- Assessment of gun law strength: D-
- Significant gun controls: Mental health record reporting, child access prevention law
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 12.6 per 100,000 people
Maryland
Source: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: A-
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No strong firearm relinquishment laws
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 15.2 per 100,000 people
Massachusetts
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- Assessment of gun law strength: A-
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No ghost gun reform laws
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 3.4 per 100,000 people
Michigan
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- Assessment of gun law strength: B-
- Significant gun controls: Gun owner licensing, state background check database, partial state firearm sale records retention, child access prevention law, extreme risk protection orders
- Significant gun rights: No assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, or strong open carry restrictions
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 15.4 per 100,000 people
Minnesota
- Assessment of gun law strength: B
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No permit-to-purchase for long guns, large capacity magazine ban, or bulk firearm purchase restrictions
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 10.0 per 100,000 people
Mississippi
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- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting, child access prevention laws
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 33.9 per 100,000 people
Missouri
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- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Partial strong open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 23.2 per 100,000 people
Montana
Source: Cheri Alguire / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 25.1 per 100,000 people
Nebraska
- Assessment of gun law strength: C-
- Significant gun controls: Partial gun owner licensing, domestic violence gun laws, state background check database
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 10.3 per 100,000 people
Nevada
Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: B-
- Significant gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, child access prevention law, state background check database, ghost gun laws
- Significant gun rights: No gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or strong open carry restrictions
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 19.8 per 100,000 people
New Hampshire
Source: DOMINICK REUTER / AFP via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: D-
- Significant gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law, state background check database
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 8.3 per 100,000 people
New Jersey
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: A
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No firearm relinquishment laws or reporting of long gun sale records to law enforcement
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 5.2 per 100,000 people
New Mexico
- Assessment of gun law strength: C+
- Significant gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law
- Significant gun rights: No gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, waiting periods, or strong open carry restrictions
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 27.8 per 100,000 people
New York
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- Assessment of gun law strength: A-
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No waiting periods
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 5.4 per 100,000 people
North Carolina
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- Assessment of gun law strength: C-
- Significant gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention law, some concealed carry permitting and safety training standards
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 17.3 per 100,000 people
North Dakota
Source: Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 16.8 per 100,000 people
Ohio
- Assessment of gun law strength: D-
- Significant gun controls: Lost and stolen firearm reporting
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 16.5 per 100,000 people
Oklahoma
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Child access prevention laws
- Significant gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, extreme risk protection orders, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, or waiting periods
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 21.2 per 100,000 people
Oregon
Source: ROB KERR / AFP via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: A-
- Significant gun controls: Universal background checks, licensing requirements, extreme risk protection orders, certain domestic violence gun laws, large capacity magazine restrictions, ghost gun law
- Significant gun rights: No assault weapon restrictions, strong concealed carry standards, strong open carry restrictions, or strong gun trafficking laws
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 14.9 per 100,000 people
Pennsylvania
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: B
- Significant gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, extended background check period, state background check database, partial state firearm sale records retention
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 14.8 per 100,000 people
Rhode Island
Source: ASphotowed / Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: B+
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No assault weapon restrictions, bulk firearm purchase restriction, or gun design safety standards
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 5.6 per 100,000 people
South Carolina
Source: Richard Ellis / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: D-
- Significant gun controls: Partial mental health record reporting, strong open carry restrictions
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 22.4 per 100,000 people
South Dakota
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- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Mental health record reporting
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 14.3 per 100,000 people
Tennessee
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, strong open carry restrictions
- Significant gun rights: No universal background checks, gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, or concealed carry permit requirements
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 22.8 per 100,000 people
Texas
Source: Rick Gershon / Getty Images News via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Mental health record reporting, child access prevention law
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 15.6 per 100,000 people
Utah
Source: GEORGE FREY / AFP via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws, extended background check period, state background check database
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 13.9 per 100,000 people
Vermont
- Assessment of gun law strength: B-
- Significant gun controls: Universal background checks, extreme risk protection orders, large capacity magazine ban, child access prevention law, waiting periods
- Significant gun rights: No gun owner licensing, assault weapon restrictions, concealed carry permit requirements, or strong open carry restrictions
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 11.9 per 100,000 people
Virginia
- Assessment of gun law strength: B+
- Significant 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
- Significant gun rights: No gun owner licensing, large capacity magazine ban, waiting periods, strong open carry restrictions, bulk firearm purchase restrictions, or ammunition sale regulations
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 14.3 per 100,000 people
Washington
Source: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: A-
- Significant 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
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 11.2 per 100,000 people
West Virginia
Source: jfbenning / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 17.3 per 100,000 people
Wisconsin
- Assessment of gun law strength: C
- Significant gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws, state background check database
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 13.5 per 100,000 people
Wyoming
Source: Melissa Kopka / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Assessment of gun law strength: F
- Significant gun controls: Ban on concealed carry in bars
- Significant 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
- Firearm fatalities (2021): 26.1 per 100,000 people
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