America has several distinctions with regard to the ownership and use of guns. There are almost 400 million guns in the U.S — 1.2 per person — which is by far the most among all nations. By contrast, Canada’s figure is .34 per person. Gun violence levels in the U.S. are equally staggering. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there were 45,041 gun deaths last year. Slightly more than half of these were suicides.
These statistics are among the reasons for the heated debate among Americans about who should be able to own guns, what type of guns people should be allowed to own, and whether people can carry guns in public. These debates have been further fueled recently by a large number of mass murders. Some of these involved young children.
A large portion of Amerians believe that the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution allows them to freely own as many guns as they would like, and that they should be able to wear these guns in the open. As the Amendment reads, ”A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
Advocates for some level of regulation of gun buyer checks and gun ownership rules read the words differently. Some do not think an Amendment that is over two centuries old should be applied to gun ownership in the 21st Century.
Gun sales, which were already high by almost any standard, jumped at the start of the pandemic. Based on data from the FBI’s Firearm Background Check Database, there were 3,740,688 firearm background checks completed that month compared to 2,644,851 in March 2021, a 41% increase. Firearm background checks are often used as a proxy for trends in gun sales, although the FBI notes that they are not a one-to-one comparison, with estimates for 2021 gun sales being roughly half the background check estimates. Worry about how the pandemic might affect violent crime in the U.S. was likely a cause for this increase. The period was also near the start of civil unrest across much of the country.
There were 38,876,673 firearm background checks completed last year. That was down slightly from 39,695,315 in 2021. Those two years are well above any previous year since the FBI started collecting data.
A change in the pattern of rising background checks — and by most reports, gun sales — happened recently. Checks have dropped very sharply in 2022 compared to 2021. There have been just over 18.2 million in the first seven months, down from 25.1 million in the same period last year.
Gun sales do not appear to be related directly to state populations. Kentucky, with a fairly small population of 4.46 million residents topped all states in firearm background checks through the first seven months at 2,419,871. California, with the largest state population at 39.35 million, posted a modest 812,650 background checks in the same period. 24/7 Wall St. looked at each state through the prism of both gun background checks as a proxy for gun sales — and population.
Click here to see the states where people are buying the most guns this year.
Source: okimo / iStock via Getty Images
50. Hawaii
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 10,950
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 9,761 (the fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: +1,189 (+12.2% — 2nd largest increase)
> Population: 1,420,074 (11th smallest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
49. Rhode Island
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 17,097
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 25,261 (2nd fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -8,164 (-32.3% — 5th largest decrease)
> Population: 1,057,798 (7th smallest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / E+ via Getty Images
48. Vermont
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 25,530
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 31,340 (3rd fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -5,810 (-18.5% — 22nd smallest decrease)
> Population: 624,340 (2nd smallest)
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
47. Delaware
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 38,241
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 42,905 (4th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -4,664 (-10.9% — 2nd smallest decrease)
> Population: 967,679 (6th smallest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
46. Wyoming
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 40,392
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 50,907 (6th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -10,515 (-20.7% — 16th largest decrease)
> Population: 581,348 (the smallest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
45. North Dakota
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 41,349
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 47,856 (5th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -6,507 (-13.6% — 22nd smallest decrease)
> Population: 760,394 (4th smallest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
44. Nebraska
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 43,158
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 55,731 (8th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -12,573 (-22.6% — 12th largest decrease)
> Population: 1,923,826 (14th smallest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
43. Alaska
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 46,391
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 55,113 (7th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -8,722 (-15.8% — 16th largest decrease)
> Population: 736,990 (3rd smallest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
42. South Dakota
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 48,008
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 63,717 (9th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -15,709 (-24.7% — 10th largest decrease)
> Population: 879,336 (5th smallest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
41. Maine
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 62,506
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 74,104 (10th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -11,598 (-15.7% — 12th largest decrease)
> Population: 1,340,825 (9th smallest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
40. New Hampshire
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 76,431
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 94,727 (11th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -18,296 (-19.3% — 25th largest decrease)
> Population: 1,355,244 (10th smallest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: DianeBentleyRaymond / iStock via Getty Images
39. Montana
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 81,120
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 95,347 (12th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -14,227 (-14.9% — 10th largest decrease)
> Population: 1,061,705 (8th smallest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
38. Nevada
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 92,840
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 118,543 (13th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -25,703 (-21.7% — 14th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,030,281 (19th smallest)
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
37. New Jersey
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 95,697
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 151,141 (17th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -55,444 (-36.7% — 3rd largest decrease)
> Population: 8,885,418 (11th largest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
36. New Mexico
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 99,349
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 119,756 (14th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -20,407 (-17.0% — 10th smallest decrease)
> Population: 2,097,021 (15th smallest)
Source: ChrisBoswell / iStock via Getty Images
35. West Virginia
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 106,284
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 134,231 (15th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -27,947 (-20.8% — 15th largest decrease)
> Population: 1,807,426 (13th smallest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
34. Kansas
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 109,269
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 137,411 (16th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -28,142 (-20.5% — 17th largest decrease)
> Population: 2,912,619 (16th smallest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
33. Arkansas
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 129,709
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 173,978 (21st fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -44,269 (-25.4% — 9th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,011,873 (18th smallest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
32. Massachusetts
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 132,526
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 163,387 (18th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -30,861 (-18.9% — 24th smallest decrease)
> Population: 6,873,003 (15th largest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
31. Maryland
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 135,997
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 170,047 (20th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -34,050 (-20.0% — 22nd largest decrease)
> Population: 6,037,624 (19th largest)
Source: vkbhat / E+ via Getty Images
30. Idaho
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 137,864
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 167,472 (19th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -29,608 (-17.7% — 18th smallest decrease)
> Population: 1,754,367 (12th smallest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Larry_Reynolds / iStock via Getty Images
29. Iowa
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 140,667
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 174,518 (22nd fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -33,851 (-19.4% — 24th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,150,011 (20th smallest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
28. Connecticut
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 143,723
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 180,514 (23rd fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -36,791 (-20.4% — 19th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,570,549 (22nd smallest)
Source: Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ via Getty Images
27. Mississippi
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 153,309
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 188,058 (24th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -34,749 (-18.5% — 21st smallest decrease)
> Population: 2,981,835 (17th smallest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
26. Louisiana
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 194,208
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 241,517 (25th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -47,309 (-19.6% — 23rd largest decrease)
> Population: 4,664,616 (25th largest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
25. Oklahoma
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 208,191
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 249,508 (25th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -41,317 (-16.6% — 19th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,949,342 (23rd smallest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
24. Oregon
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 231,636
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 275,189 (24th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -43,553 (-15.8% — 21st smallest decrease)
> Population: 4,176,346 (24th smallest)
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
23. South Carolina
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 239,709
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 299,794 (22nd most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -60,085 (-20.0% — 21st largest decrease)
> Population: 5,091,517 (23rd largest)
Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
22. New York
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 259,322
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 278,258 (23rd most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -18,936 (-6.8% — 14th smallest decrease)
> Population: 19,514,849 (4th largest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
21. Missouri
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 300,841
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 387,999 (19th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -87,158 (-22.5% — 13th largest decrease)
> Population: 6,124,160 (18th largest)
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
20. Colorado
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 307,624
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 386,038 (20th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -78,414 (-20.3% — 20th largest decrease)
> Population: 5,684,926 (21st largest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
19. Arizona
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 316,018
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 360,924 (21st most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -44,906 (-12.4% — 4th smallest decrease)
> Population: 7,174,064 (14th largest)
Source: YinYang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
18. Virginia
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 322,937
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 397,518 (18th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -74,581 (-18.8% — 23rd smallest decrease)
> Population: 8,509,358 (12th largest)
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
17. Georgia
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 343,966
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 519,142 (14th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -175,176 (-33.7% — 4th largest decrease)
> Population: 10,516,579 (8th largest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
16. North Carolina
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 361,510
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 497,299 (15th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -135,789 (-27.3% — 6th largest decrease)
> Population: 10,386,227 (9th largest)
Source: DavidPrahl / iStock via Getty Images
15. Wisconsin
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 362,292
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 455,437 (16th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -93,145 (-20.5% — 18th largest decrease)
> Population: 5,806,975 (20th largest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
14. Ohio
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 386,047
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 530,395 (13th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -144,348 (-27.2% — 7th largest decrease)
> Population: 11,675,275 (7th largest)
Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images
13. Alabama
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 428,403
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 581,290 (11th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -152,887 (-26.3% — 8th largest decrease)
> Population: 4,893,186 (24th largest)
Source: SEASTOCK / iStock via Getty Images
12. Washington
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 455,979
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 438,343 (17th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: +17,636 (+4.0% — 3rd largest increase)
> Population: 7,512,465 (13th largest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Davel5957 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
11. Michigan
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 461,270
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 610,029 (9th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -148,759 (-24.4% — 11th largest decrease)
> Population: 9,973,907 (10th largest)
Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images
10. Tennessee
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 483,652
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 590,497 (10th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -106,845 (-18.1% — 20th smallest decrease)
> Population: 6,772,268 (16th largest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ via Getty Images
9. Minnesota
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 524,882
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 568,852 (12th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -43,970 (-7.7% — 3rd smallest decrease)
> Population: 5,600,166 (22nd largest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: Renphoto / iStock via Getty Images
8. Utah
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 592,276
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 733,790 (8th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -141,514 (-19.3% — 25th smallest decrease)
> Population: 3,151,239 (21st smallest)
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
7. Indiana
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 708,359
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 1,244,066 (3rd most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -535,707 (-43.1% — 2nd largest decrease)
> Population: 6,696,893 (17th largest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
6. Pennsylvania
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 713,491
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 863,914 (7th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -150,423 (-17.4% — 5th smallest decrease)
> Population: 12,794,885 (5th largest)
Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images
5. California
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 812,650
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 886,292 (6th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -73,642 (-8.3% — hve)
> Population: 39,346,023 (the largest)
[in-text-ad]
Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images
4. Florida
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 868,987
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 1,059,122 (5th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -190,135 (-18.0% — 19th smallest decrease)
> Population: 21,216,924 (3rd largest)
24/7 Wall St.
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
3. Texas
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 991,759
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 1,197,967 (4th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -206,208 (-17.2% — 17th smallest decrease)
> Population: 28,635,442 (2nd largest)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
2. Illinois
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 2,391,483
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 6,707,482 (the most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -4,315,999 (-64.3% — the largest decrease)
> Population: 12,716,164 (6th largest)
[in-text-ad-2]
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
1. Kentucky
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 2,419,871
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 1,984,388 (2nd most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: +435,483 (+21.9% — the largest increase)
> Population: 4,461,952 (25th smallest)
Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor
Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Editors' Picks
