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. Even in some cities, sports men and women, recreational shooters, and firearm enthusiasts have dozens of gun shops to choose from.
Using data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 24/7 Wall St. identified the city with the most gun stores in each state. Cities and towns in each state were ranked by the number of federally-licensed dealers or pawn brokers of firearms as of January 2022.
The city in each state with the most gun stores is not necessarily the most populous city. Large cities like Chicago and New York have stricter gun laws than many other parts of the broader state. These restrictive laws likely reduce firearm sales opportunities and may partially explain why these cities have fewer gun stores than other, smaller cities in the state. (Here is a state-by-state look at gun laws.)
Across states as a whole, the concentration of gun stores often reflects demand for firearms. The states with the fewest number of stores per capita are also typically those that, based on FBI background check data (a proxy for firearm sales), 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 city with the most gun stores in every state.
Click here to read our detailed methodology.
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Alabama: Birmingham
> Gun stores in Birmingham: 41 (19.4 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Alabama: 1,101 (22.5 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest)
> Gun sales in Alabama, 1st half of 2022: 374,096 (7,645 per 100,000 people – 6th most)
> Birmingham population: 210,928
> Alabama population: 4,893,186
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Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Alaska: Anchorage
> Gun stores in Anchorage: 104 (35.6 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Alaska: 518 (70.3 per 100,000 people – 3rd most)
> Gun sales in Alaska, 1st half of 2022: 39,759 (5,395 per 100,000 people – 12th most)
> Anchorage population: 292,090
> Alaska population: 736,990
Source: 4kodiak / E+ via Getty Images
Arizona: Phoenix
> Gun stores in Phoenix: 164 (9.9 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Arizona: 1,463 (20.4 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest)
> Gun sales in Arizona, 1st half of 2022: 273,584 (3,814 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest)
> Phoenix population: 1,658,422
> Arizona population: 7,174,064
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Arkansas: Little Rock
> Gun stores in Little Rock: 36 (18.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Arkansas: 1,159 (38.5 per 100,000 people – 10th most)
> Gun sales in Arkansas, 1st half of 2022: 113,314 (3,762 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest)
> Little Rock population: 198,067
> Arkansas population: 3,011,873
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Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
California: Bakersfield
> Gun stores in Bakersfield: 60 (15.8 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in California: 1,903 (4.8 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest)
> Gun sales in California, 1st half of 2022: 691,718 (1,758 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest)
> Bakersfield population: 379,879
> California population: 39,346,023
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Colorado: Colorado Springs
> Gun stores in Colorado Springs: 136 (28.8 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Colorado: 1,634 (28.7 per 100,000 people – 19th most)
> Gun sales in Colorado, 1st half of 2022: 266,553 (4,689 per 100,000 people – 20th most)
> Colorado Springs population: 471,686
> Colorado population: 5,684,926
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Source: nancykennedy / Getty Images
Connecticut: Danbury
> Gun stores in Danbury: 12 (14.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Connecticut: 430 (12.0 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest)
> Gun sales in Connecticut, 1st half of 2022: 126,268 (3,536 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest)
> Danbury population: 84,650
> Connecticut population: 3,570,549
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Delaware: Wilmington
> Gun stores in Wilmington: 15 (21.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Delaware: 132 (13.6 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest)
> Gun sales in Delaware, 1st half of 2022: 34,602 (3,576 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest)
> Wilmington population: 70,655
> Delaware population: 967,679
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Florida: Orlando
> Gun stores in Orlando: 92 (32.3 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Florida: 2,847 (13.4 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest)
> Gun sales in Florida, 1st half of 2022: 748,659 (3,529 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest)
> Orlando population: 284,817
> Florida population: 21,216,924
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Source: vicm / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
Georgia: Marietta
> Gun stores in Marietta: 37 (61.0 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Georgia: 1,836 (17.5 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest)
> Gun sales in Georgia, 1st half of 2022: 302,270 (2,874 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest)
> Marietta population: 60,687
> Georgia population: 10,516,579
Source: okimo / iStock via Getty Images
Hawaii: Honolulu
> Gun stores in Honolulu: 24 (6.9 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Hawaii: 95 (6.7 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest)
> Gun sales in Hawaii, 1st half of 2022: 9,116 (642 per 100,000 people – the fewest)
> Honolulu population: 347,181
> Hawaii population: 1,420,074
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Idaho: Boise
> Gun stores in Boise: 78 (34.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Idaho: 837 (47.7 per 100,000 people – 6th most)
> Gun sales in Idaho, 1st half of 2022: 119,491 (6,811 per 100,000 people – 7th most)
> Boise population: 228,057
> Idaho population: 1,754,367
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Illinois: Springfield
> Gun stores in Springfield: 29 (25.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Illinois: 1,324 (10.4 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest)
> Gun sales in Illinois, 1st half of 2022: 2,064,400 (16,234 per 100,000 people – 2nd most)
> Springfield population: 115,075
> Illinois population: 12,716,164
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Indiana: Indianapolis
> Gun stores in Indianapolis: 63 (7.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Indiana: 1,379 (20.6 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest)
> Gun sales in Indiana, 1st half of 2022: 625,360 (9,338 per 100,000 people – 4th most)
> Indianapolis population: 869,387
> Indiana population: 6,696,893
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Iowa: Sioux City
> Gun stores in Sioux City: 22 (26.7 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Iowa: 1,241 (39.4 per 100,000 people – 9th most)
> Gun sales in Iowa, 1st half of 2022: 127,848 (4,059 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest)
> Sioux City population: 82,535
> Iowa population: 3,150,011
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Kansas: Wichita
> Gun stores in Wichita: 82 (21.0 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Kansas: 1,032 (35.4 per 100,000 people – 12th most)
> Gun sales in Kansas, 1st half of 2022: 95,135 (3,266 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest)
> Wichita population: 390,566
> Kansas population: 2,912,619
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Kentucky: Louisville
> Gun stores in Louisville: 86 (13.9 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Kentucky: 1,352 (30.3 per 100,000 people – 16th most)
> Gun sales in Kentucky, 1st half of 2022: 2,094,787 (46,948 per 100,000 people – the most)
> Louisville population: 618,733
> Kentucky population: 4,461,952
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Louisiana: Shreveport
> Gun stores in Shreveport: 56 (29.5 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Louisiana: 1,103 (23.6 per 100,000 people – 25th most)
> Gun sales in Louisiana, 1st half of 2022: 170,127 (3,647 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest)
> Shreveport population: 189,890
> Louisiana population: 4,664,616
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
Maine: Augusta
> Gun stores in Augusta: 8 (42.9 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Maine: 474 (35.4 per 100,000 people – 13th most)
> Gun sales in Maine, 1st half of 2022: 53,787 (4,011 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest)
> Augusta population: 18,662
> Maine population: 1,340,825
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
Maryland: Baltimore
> Gun stores in Baltimore: 24 (4.0 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Maryland: 556 (9.2 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest)
> Gun sales in Maryland, 1st half of 2022: 114,372 (1,894 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest)
> Baltimore population: 602,274
> Maryland population: 6,037,624
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Massachusetts: Framingham
> Gun stores in Framingham: 8 (11.0 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Massachusetts: 326 (4.7 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest)
> Gun sales in Massachusetts, 1st half of 2022: 113,472 (1,651 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest)
> Framingham population: 72,846
> Massachusetts population: 6,873,003
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Source: smontgom65 / iStock via Getty Images
Michigan: Muskegon
> Gun stores in Muskegon: 28 (75.0 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Michigan: 1,976 (19.8 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest)
> Gun sales in Michigan, 1st half of 2022: 403,011 (4,041 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest)
> Muskegon population: 37,317
> Michigan population: 9,973,907
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
Minnesota: Bemidji
> Gun stores in Bemidji: 18 (117.8 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Minnesota: 1,356 (24.2 per 100,000 people – 23rd most)
> Gun sales in Minnesota, 1st half of 2022: 458,568 (8,188 per 100,000 people – 5th most)
> Bemidji population: 15,277
> Minnesota population: 5,600,166
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Mississippi: Brandon
> Gun stores in Brandon: 31 (128.7 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Mississippi: 887 (29.7 per 100,000 people – 18th most)
> Gun sales in Mississippi, 1st half of 2022: 134,642 (4,515 per 100,000 people – 22nd most)
> Brandon population: 24,088
> Mississippi population: 2,981,835
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Source: JTGrafix / iStock via Getty Images
Missouri: Springfield
> Gun stores in Springfield: 59 (35.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Missouri: 2,044 (33.4 per 100,000 people – 14th most)
> Gun sales in Missouri, 1st half of 2022: 261,399 (4,268 per 100,000 people – 23rd most)
> Springfield population: 167,601
> Missouri population: 6,124,160
Source: peeterv / iStock via Getty Images
Montana: Billings
> Gun stores in Billings: 65 (59.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Montana: 924 (87.0 per 100,000 people – 2nd most)
> Gun sales in Montana, 1st half of 2022: 70,552 (6,645 per 100,000 people – 8th most)
> Billings population: 109,705
> Montana population: 1,061,705
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Source: Davel5957 / iStock via Getty Images
Nebraska: Omaha
> Gun stores in Omaha: 51 (10.6 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Nebraska: 686 (35.7 per 100,000 people – 11th most)
> Gun sales in Nebraska, 1st half of 2022: 38,309 (1,991 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest)
> Omaha population: 479,529
> Nebraska population: 1,923,826
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Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
Nevada: Las Vegas
> Gun stores in Las Vegas: 96 (14.9 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Nevada: 481 (15.9 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest)
> Gun sales in Nevada, 1st half of 2022: 80,710 (2,663 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest)
> Las Vegas population: 644,594
> Nevada population: 3,030,281
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
New Hampshire: Manchester
> Gun stores in Manchester: 11 (9.8 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in New Hampshire: 380 (28.0 per 100,000 people – 20th most)
> Gun sales in New Hampshire, 1st half of 2022: 66,013 (4,871 per 100,000 people – 15th most)
> Manchester population: 112,441
> New Hampshire population: 1,355,244
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New Jersey: Wayne
> Gun stores in Wayne: 6 (11.1 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in New Jersey: 311 (3.5 per 100,000 people – the fewest)
> Gun sales in New Jersey, 1st half of 2022: 81,209 (914 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest)
> Wayne population: 53,954
> New Jersey population: 8,885,418
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
New Mexico: Albuquerque
> Gun stores in Albuquerque: 100 (17.8 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in New Mexico: 544 (25.9 per 100,000 people – 21st most)
> Gun sales in New Mexico, 1st half of 2022: 86,322 (4,116 per 100,000 people – 25th most)
> Albuquerque population: 560,447
> New Mexico population: 2,097,021
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
New York: Rochester
> Gun stores in Rochester: 33 (16.0 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in New York: 1,785 (9.1 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest)
> Gun sales in New York, 1st half of 2022: 221,579 (1,135 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest)
> Rochester population: 206,357
> New York population: 19,514,849
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
North Carolina: Charlotte
> Gun stores in Charlotte: 57 (6.5 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in North Carolina: 2,216 (21.3 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest)
> Gun sales in North Carolina, 1st half of 2022: 316,997 (3,052 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest)
> Charlotte population: 873,570
> North Carolina population: 10,386,227
Source: Allen Allnoch / iStock via Getty Images
North Dakota: Bismarck
> Gun stores in Bismarck: 47 (64.0 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in North Dakota: 472 (62.1 per 100,000 people – 4th most)
> Gun sales in North Dakota, 1st half of 2022: 35,732 (4,699 per 100,000 people – 19th most)
> Bismarck population: 73,435
> North Dakota population: 760,394
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Source: pawel.gaul / E+ via Getty Images
Ohio: Cincinnati
> Gun stores in Cincinnati: 70 (23.1 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Ohio: 2,206 (18.9 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest)
> Gun sales in Ohio, 1st half of 2022: 336,981 (2,886 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest)
> Cincinnati population: 302,687
> Ohio population: 11,675,275
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Oklahoma: Oklahoma City
> Gun stores in Oklahoma City: 96 (14.8 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Oklahoma: 1,316 (33.3 per 100,000 people – 15th most)
> Gun sales in Oklahoma, 1st half of 2022: 180,342 (4,566 per 100,000 people – 21st most)
> Oklahoma City population: 649,821
> Oklahoma population: 3,949,342
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Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Oregon: Portland
> Gun stores in Portland: 53 (8.1 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Oregon: 1,258 (30.1 per 100,000 people – 17th most)
> Gun sales in Oregon, 1st half of 2022: 201,022 (4,813 per 100,000 people – 17th most)
> Portland population: 650,380
> Oregon population: 4,176,346
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
> Gun stores in Pittsburgh: 41 (13.6 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Pennsylvania: 2,501 (19.5 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest)
> Gun sales in Pennsylvania, 1st half of 2022: 619,530 (4,842 per 100,000 people – 16th most)
> Pittsburgh population: 301,286
> Pennsylvania population: 12,794,885
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Rhode Island: Warwick
> Gun stores in Warwick: 6 (7.4 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Rhode Island: 74 (7.0 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest)
> Gun sales in Rhode Island, 1st half of 2022: 15,157 (1,433 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest)
> Warwick population: 81,043
> Rhode Island population: 1,057,798
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Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
South Carolina: Columbia
> Gun stores in Columbia: 46 (34.3 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in South Carolina: 1,041 (20.4 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest)
> Gun sales in South Carolina, 1st half of 2022: 209,843 (4,121 per 100,000 people – 24th most)
> Columbia population: 134,057
> South Carolina population: 5,091,517
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
South Dakota: Sioux Falls
> Gun stores in Sioux Falls: 40 (22.1 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in South Dakota: 507 (57.7 per 100,000 people – 5th most)
> Gun sales in South Dakota, 1st half of 2022: 41,772 (4,750 per 100,000 people – 18th most)
> Sioux Falls population: 180,927
> South Dakota population: 879,336
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Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images
Tennessee: Memphis
> Gun stores in Memphis: 55 (8.4 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Tennessee: 1,404 (20.7 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest)
> Gun sales in Tennessee, 1st half of 2022: 420,199 (6,205 per 100,000 people – 9th most)
> Memphis population: 650,910
> Tennessee population: 6,772,268
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Texas: Houston
> Gun stores in Houston: 308 (13.3 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Texas: 6,013 (21.0 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest)
> Gun sales in Texas, 1st half of 2022: 855,905 (2,989 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest)
> Houston population: 2,313,238
> Texas population: 28,635,442
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
Utah: Salt Lake City
> Gun stores in Salt Lake City: 29 (14.5 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Utah: 776 (24.6 per 100,000 people – 22nd most)
> Gun sales in Utah, 1st half of 2022: 506,367 (16,069 per 100,000 people – 3rd most)
> Salt Lake City population: 200,133
> Utah population: 3,151,239
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
Vermont: Rutland
> Gun stores in Rutland: 9 (59.2 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Vermont: 288 (46.1 per 100,000 people – 8th most)
> Gun sales in Vermont, 1st half of 2022: 22,197 (3,555 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest)
> Rutland population: 15,207
> Vermont population: 624,340
Source: ABEMOS / iStock via Getty Images
Virginia: Virginia Beach
> Gun stores in Virginia Beach: 66 (14.6 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Virginia: 1,596 (18.8 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest)
> Gun sales in Virginia, 1st half of 2022: 278,978 (3,278 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest)
> Virginia Beach population: 450,882
> Virginia population: 8,509,358
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Source: timnewman / iStock via Getty Images
Washington: Vancouver
> Gun stores in Vancouver: 42 (23.0 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Washington: 1,050 (14.0 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest)
> Gun sales in Washington, 1st half of 2022: 399,258 (5,315 per 100,000 people – 13th most)
> Vancouver population: 182,792
> Washington population: 7,512,465
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Source: Tim Brown / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
West Virginia: Martinsburg
> Gun stores in Martinsburg: 25 (142.7 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in West Virginia: 862 (47.7 per 100,000 people – 7th most)
> Gun sales in West Virginia, 1st half of 2022: 92,541 (5,120 per 100,000 people – 14th most)
> Martinsburg population: 17,517
> West Virginia population: 1,807,426
Source: JamesBrey / iStock via Getty Images
Wisconsin: Green Bay
> Gun stores in Green Bay: 27 (25.8 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Wisconsin: 1,396 (24.0 per 100,000 people – 24th most)
> Gun sales in Wisconsin, 1st half of 2022: 316,376 (5,448 per 100,000 people – 11th most)
> Green Bay population: 104,508
> Wisconsin population: 5,806,975
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Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
Wyoming: Cheyenne
> Gun stores in Cheyenne: 55 (85.8 per 100,000 people)
> Gun stores in Wyoming: 566 (97.4 per 100,000 people – the most)
> Gun sales in Wyoming, 1st half of 2022: 35,169 (6,050 per 100,000 people – 10th most)
> Cheyenne population: 64,099
> Wyoming population: 581,348
Methodology
To identify the city with the most gun stores in each state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Cities are ranked by the number of businesses that are federally licensed as dealers or pawn brokers of firearms as of January 2022.
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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