There are over 393 million guns in circulation in the U.S., according to estimates from the Small Arms Survey, far outnumbering the national population of 327 million. In the United States – the only country in the world home to more civilian-owned guns than people – guns are big business.
While the appropriate balance between gun rights and public safety is a hot button political issue, the economics of the firearm industry are less controversial. According to The Firearm Industry Trade Association, guns and ammunition had a total economic impact of over $70.5 billion in 2021 – generating over a billion dollars in tax revenue and providing hundreds of thousands of jobs.
In every state, there are hundreds – if not thousands – of gun stores. Though in some parts of the country, gun stores are far more common than others.
Using data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most gun stores. States are ranked by the number of federally licensed dealers or pawn brokers of firearms as of January 2022 for every 100,000 people.
Geographically, the states with the fewest gun stores are most likely to be in the Northeast, while those with the most gun stores tend to be concentrated in the West. Generally, the states with the most gun stores per capita have more permissive gun laws that place minimal restrictions on gun ownership, while those with the fewest stores typically have tighter gun control laws. (Here is a state-by-state look at gun laws.)
The concentration of gun stores in a given state, perhaps not surprisingly, often reflects demand for firearms. The states with the fewest number of stores per capita are also typically those that, according to FBI background check data, had lower volumes of gun sales in the first half of 2022. (Here is a look at the state selling the fewest guns.)
Click here to see the states with the most gun stores.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
Source: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
50. New Jersey
> Firearm stores in state: 4 per 100,000 people (311 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Wayne; 6 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 914 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest (81,209 total)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
49. Massachusetts
> Firearm stores in state: 5 per 100,000 people (326 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Framingham; 8 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 1,651 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest (113,472 total)
Source: MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group via Getty Images
48. California
> Firearm stores in state: 5 per 100,000 people (1,903 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Bakersfield; 60 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 1,758 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest (691,718 total)
Source: okimo / iStock via Getty Images
47. Hawaii
> Firearm stores in state: 7 per 100,000 people (95 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Honolulu; 24 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 642 per 100,000 people – the fewest (9,116 total)
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
46. Rhode Island
> Firearm stores in state: 7 per 100,000 people (74 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Warwick; 6 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 1,433 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest (15,157 total)
Source: Dmitro2009 / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
45. New York
> Firearm stores in state: 9 per 100,000 people (1,785 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Rochester; 33 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 1,135 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest (221,579 total)
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44. Maryland
> Firearm stores in state: 9 per 100,000 people (556 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Baltimore; 24 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 1,894 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest (114,372 total)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
43. Illinois
> Firearm stores in state: 10 per 100,000 people (1,324 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Springfield; 29 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 16,234 per 100,000 people – 2nd most (2,064,400 total)
Source: JOE KLAMAR / AFP via Getty Images
42. Connecticut
> Firearm stores in state: 12 per 100,000 people (430 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Danbury; 12 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,536 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest (126,268 total)
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Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
41. Florida
> Firearm stores in state: 13 per 100,000 people (2,847 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Orlando; 92 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,529 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest (748,659 total)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
40. Delaware
> Firearm stores in state: 14 per 100,000 people (132 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Wilmington; 15 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,576 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest (34,602 total)
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39. Washington
> Firearm stores in state: 14 per 100,000 people (1,050 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Vancouver; 42 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 5,315 per 100,000 people – 13th most (399,258 total)
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38. Nevada
> Firearm stores in state: 16 per 100,000 people (481 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Las Vegas; 96 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 2,663 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest (80,710 total)
Source: Ken Lund / Wikimedia Commons
37. Georgia
> Firearm stores in state: 17 per 100,000 people (1,836 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Marietta; 37 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 2,874 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest (302,270 total)
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Source: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
36. Virginia
> Firearm stores in state: 19 per 100,000 people (1,596 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Virginia Beach; 66 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,278 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest (278,978 total)
Source: Nicholas Smith / iStock via Getty Images
35. Ohio
> Firearm stores in state: 19 per 100,000 people (2,206 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Cincinnati; 70 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 2,886 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest (336,981 total)
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Source: The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images
34. Pennsylvania
> Firearm stores in state: 20 per 100,000 people (2,501 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Pittsburgh; 41 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,842 per 100,000 people – 16th most (619,530 total)
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Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
33. Michigan
> Firearm stores in state: 20 per 100,000 people (1,976 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Muskegon; 28 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,041 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest (403,011 total)
Source: AFP / AFP via Getty Images
32. Arizona
> Firearm stores in state: 20 per 100,000 people (1,463 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Phoenix; 164 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,814 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest (273,584 total)
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31. South Carolina
> Firearm stores in state: 20 per 100,000 people (1,041 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Columbia; 46 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,121 per 100,000 people – 24th most (209,843 total)
30. Indiana
> Firearm stores in state: 21 per 100,000 people (1,379 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Indianapolis; 63 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 9,338 per 100,000 people – 4th most (625,360 total)
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Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
29. Tennessee
> Firearm stores in state: 21 per 100,000 people (1,404 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Memphis; 55 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 6,205 per 100,000 people – 9th most (420,199 total)
28. Texas
> Firearm stores in state: 21 per 100,000 people (6,013 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Houston; 308 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 2,989 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest (855,905 total)
Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
27. North Carolina
> Firearm stores in state: 21 per 100,000 people (2,216 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Charlotte; 57 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,052 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest (316,997 total)
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Source: porkypig / Flickr
26. Alabama
> Firearm stores in state: 23 per 100,000 people (1,101 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Birmingham; 41 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 7,645 per 100,000 people – 6th most (374,096 total)
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
25. Louisiana
> Firearm stores in state: 24 per 100,000 people (1,103 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Shreveport; 56 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,647 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest (170,127 total)
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Source: JamesBrey / E+ via Getty Images
24. Wisconsin
> Firearm stores in state: 24 per 100,000 people (1,396 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Green Bay; 27 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 5,448 per 100,000 people – 11th most (316,376 total)
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23. Minnesota
> Firearm stores in state: 24 per 100,000 people (1,356 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Bemidji; 18 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 8,188 per 100,000 people – 5th most (458,568 total)
Source: GEORGE FREY / AFP via Getty Images
22. Utah
> Firearm stores in state: 25 per 100,000 people (776 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Salt Lake City; 29 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 16,069 per 100,000 people – 3rd most (506,367 total)
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21. New Mexico
> Firearm stores in state: 26 per 100,000 people (544 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Albuquerque; 100 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,116 per 100,000 people – 25th most (86,322 total)
Source: DOMINICK REUTER / AFP via Getty Images
20. New Hampshire
> Firearm stores in state: 28 per 100,000 people (380 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Manchester; 11 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,871 per 100,000 people – 15th most (66,013 total)
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19. Colorado
> Firearm stores in state: 29 per 100,000 people (1,634 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Colorado Springs; 136 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,689 per 100,000 people – 20th most (266,553 total)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
18. Mississippi
> Firearm stores in state: 30 per 100,000 people (887 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Brandon; 31 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,515 per 100,000 people – 22nd most (134,642 total)
Source: ROB KERR / AFP via Getty Images
17. Oregon
> Firearm stores in state: 30 per 100,000 people (1,258 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Portland; 53 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,813 per 100,000 people – 17th most (201,022 total)
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Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
16. Kentucky
> Firearm stores in state: 30 per 100,000 people (1,352 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Louisville; 86 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 46,948 per 100,000 people – the most (2,094,787 total)
15. Oklahoma
> Firearm stores in state: 33 per 100,000 people (1,316 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Oklahoma City; 96 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,566 per 100,000 people – 21st most (180,342 total)
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Source: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
14. Missouri
> Firearm stores in state: 33 per 100,000 people (2,044 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Springfield; 59 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,268 per 100,000 people – 23rd most (261,399 total)
Source: Portland Press Herald / Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
13. Maine
> Firearm stores in state: 35 per 100,000 people (474 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Augusta; 8 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,011 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest (53,787 total)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
12. Kansas
> Firearm stores in state: 35 per 100,000 people (1,032 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Wichita; 82 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,266 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest (95,135 total)
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Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
11. Nebraska
> Firearm stores in state: 36 per 100,000 people (686 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Omaha; 51 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 1,991 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest (38,309 total)
Source: artas / iStock via Getty Images
10. Arkansas
> Firearm stores in state: 38 per 100,000 people (1,159 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Little Rock; 36 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,762 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest (113,314 total)
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Source: pabradyphoto / iStock via Getty Images
9. Iowa
> Firearm stores in state: 39 per 100,000 people (1,241 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Sioux City; 22 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,059 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (127,848 total)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
8. Vermont
> Firearm stores in state: 46 per 100,000 people (288 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Rutland; 9 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 3,555 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest (22,197 total)
Source: jfbenning / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
7. West Virginia
> Firearm stores in state: 48 per 100,000 people (862 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Martinsburg; 25 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 5,120 per 100,000 people – 14th most (92,541 total)
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6. Idaho
> Firearm stores in state: 48 per 100,000 people (837 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Boise; 78 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 6,811 per 100,000 people – 7th most (119,491 total)
Source: picture alliance / picture alliance via Getty Images
5. South Dakota
> Firearm stores in state: 58 per 100,000 people (507 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Sioux Falls; 40 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,750 per 100,000 people – 18th most (41,772 total)
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Source: Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images
4. North Dakota
> Firearm stores in state: 62 per 100,000 people (472 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Bismarck; 47 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 4,699 per 100,000 people – 19th most (35,732 total)
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Source: specnaz-s / iStock via Getty Images
3. Alaska
> Firearm stores in state: 70 per 100,000 people (518 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Anchorage; 104 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 5,395 per 100,000 people – 12th most (39,759 total)
2. Montana
> Firearm stores in state: 87 per 100,000 people (924 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Billings; 65 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 6,645 per 100,000 people – 8th most (70,552 total)
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Source: Thinkstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images
1. Wyoming
> Firearm stores in state: 97 per 100,000 people (566 total)
> City with most firearm stores: Cheyenne; 55 stores
> Est. gun sales in first half of 2022: 6,050 per 100,000 people – 10th most (35,169 total)
Methodology
To identify the states with the most gun stores, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. States are ranked by the number of businesses that are federally licensed as dealers or pawn brokers of firearms as of January 2022 for every 100,000 people.
We also reviewed FBI data on firearm background checks for the first six months of 2022. Background checks are a proxy measure for gun sales.
Population figures used to calculate the concentration of licensed firearm dealers and per capita gun sales are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
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