The debate about gun ownership, gun sales, and gun background checks has lasted for years, and will go on for years into the future. A large portion of Americans 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.”Â
Advocates for some level of regulation of gun buyer checks and gun ownership rules read the words differently. Some do not think that an Amendment that is over two centuries old should be applied to gun ownership in the 21st century. The firearms debates have been fueled recently by a large number of mass murders, some involving young children.
America has several distinctions with regard to the ownership and use of guns. There are almost 400 million guns in the U.S. – an average of 120.5 per 100 people – which is by far the most of any nation. By contrast, Canada’s figure is 34.7 per 100. 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 them suicides.Â
According to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System’s Firearm Checks data, there were 38,876,673 firearm background checks made last year in the United States. That was down slightly from 39,695,315 in 2021. 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.Â
The last two years’ background checks were well above those of any year since the FBI started to collect data. No one knows the reasons for this, exactly. However, there was a sharp rise in March 2020 at the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 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.
Background checks — and by most accounts, gun sales — have dropped very sharply in 2022 compared to 2021. There have been just over 18.2 million gun checks in the first seven months, down from 25.1 million in the same period last year.Â
To determine the states with the greatest collapse in gun sales, 24/7 Wall St. listed all 47 states with a reported decline in firearm background checks from the first seven months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. States are ranked in order of the largest decline in background checks. Population figures came from the Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey and are five-year averages.Â
Changes by state show why the national number has fallen so sharply. Sales appear to have dropped in 47 states. Some of these drops are dramatic. In Illinois, which once ranked among the states with the most gun background checks per year, the figure dropped 63% in the first seven months compared to the same months in 2021. There is no obvious reason why this has happened.
People who favor increased background checks and other approaches that could limit who owns guns and what kinds of guns people can own should be heartened by the new gun sales figures, However, it is worth the reminder that there have been over 26,000 gun violence deaths already this year. In nine states, total background checks have been below 50,000 for the first seven months of 2022.Â
Click here to see American gun sales collapse in 47 states
Source: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images
47. New York
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -6.8% (-18,936)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 259,322 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 278,258 (23rd most)
> Population: 19,514,849 (4th largest)
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Source: skhoward / iStock via Getty Images
46. Minnesota
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -7.7% (-43,970)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 524,882 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 568,852 (12th most)
> Population: 5,600,166 (22nd largest)
45. California
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -8.3% (-73,642)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 812,650 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 886,292 (6th most)
> Population: 39,346,023 (the largest)
Source: Patrick Smith / Getty Images News via Getty Images
44. Delaware
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -10.9% (-4,664)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 38,241 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 42,905 (4th fewest)
> Population: 967,679 (6th smallest)
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Source: AFP / AFP via Getty Images
43. Arizona
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -12.4% (-44,906)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 316,018 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 360,924 (21st most)
> Population: 7,174,064 (14th largest)
Source: Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images
42. North Dakota
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -13.6% (-6,507)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 41,349 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 47,856 (5th fewest)
> Population: 760,394 (4th smallest)
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41. Montana
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -14.9% (-14,227)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 81,120 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 95,347 (12th fewest)
> Population: 1,061,705 (8th smallest)
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Source: William B. Plowman / Getty Images News via Getty Images
40. Maine
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -15.7% (-11,598)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 62,506 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 74,104 (10th fewest)
> Population: 1,340,825 (9th smallest)
39. Alaska
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -15.8% (-8,722)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 46,391 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 55,113 (7th fewest)
> Population: 736,990 (3rd smallest)
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Source: ROB KERR / AFP via Getty Images
38. Oregon
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -15.8% (-43,553)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 231,636 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 275,189 (24th most)
> Population: 4,176,346 (24th smallest)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
37. Oklahoma
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -16.6% (-41,317)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 208,191 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 249,508 (25th most)
> Population: 3,949,342 (23rd smallest)
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Source: JannHuizenga / iStock via Getty Images
36. New Mexico
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -17.0% (-20,407)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 99,349 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 119,756 (14th fewest)
> Population: 2,097,021 (15th smallest)
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35. Texas
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -17.2% (-206,208)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 991,759 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 1,197,967 (4th most)
> Population: 28,635,442 (2nd largest)
34. Pennsylvania
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -17.4% (-150,423)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 713,491 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 863,914 (7th most)
> Population: 12,794,885 (5th largest)
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33. Idaho
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -17.7% (-29,608)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 137,864 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 167,472 (19th fewest)
> Population: 1,754,367 (12th smallest)
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
32. Florida
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -18.0% (-190,135)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 868,987 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 1,059,122 (5th most)
> Population: 21,216,924 (3rd largest)
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Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
31. Tennessee
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -18.1% (-106,845)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 483,652 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 590,497 (10th most)
> Population: 6,772,268 (16th largest)
Source: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images
30. Mississippi
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -18.5% (-34,749)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 153,309 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 188,058 (24th fewest)
> Population: 2,981,835 (17th smallest)
Source: Bim / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
29. Vermont
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -18.5% (-5,810)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 25,530 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 31,340 (3rd fewest)
> Population: 624,340 (2nd smallest)
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Source: jfbenning / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
28. Virginia
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -18.8% (-74,581)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 322,937 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 397,518 (18th most)
> Population: 8,509,358 (12th largest)
Source: Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images
27. Massachusetts
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -18.9% (-30,861)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 132,526 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 163,387 (18th fewest)
> Population: 6,873,003 (15th largest)
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Source: GEORGE FREY / AFP via Getty Images
26. Utah
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -19.3% (-141,514)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 592,276 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 733,790 (8th most)
> Population: 3,151,239 (21st smallest)
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Source: DOMINICK REUTER / AFP via Getty Images
25. New Hampshire
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -19.3% (-18,296)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 76,431 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 94,727 (11th fewest)
> Population: 1,355,244 (10th smallest)
24. Iowa
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -19.4% (-33,851)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 140,667 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 174,518 (22nd fewest)
> Population: 3,150,011 (20th smallest)
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Source: Mario Villafuerte / Getty Images News via Getty Images
23. Louisiana
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -19.6% (-47,309)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 194,208 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 241,517 (25th fewest)
> Population: 4,664,616 (25th largest)
Source: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
22. Maryland
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -20.0% (-34,050)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 135,997 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 170,047 (20th fewest)
> Population: 6,037,624 (19th largest)
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Source: ovidiuhrubaru / iStock via Getty Images
21. South Carolina
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -20.0% (-60,085)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 239,709 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 299,794 (22nd most)
> Population: 5,091,517 (23rd largest)
Source: mtcurado / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
20. Colorado
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -20.3% (-78,414)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 307,624 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 386,038 (20th most)
> Population: 5,684,926 (21st largest)
Source: JOE KLAMAR / AFP via Getty Images
19. Connecticut
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -20.4% (-36,791)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 143,723 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 180,514 (23rd fewest)
> Population: 3,570,549 (22nd smallest)
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18. Wisconsin
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -20.5% (-93,145)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 362,292 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 455,437 (16th most)
> Population: 5,806,975 (20th largest)
17. Kansas
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -20.5% (-28,142)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 109,269 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 137,411 (16th fewest)
> Population: 2,912,619 (16th smallest)
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Source: Thinkstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images
16. Wyoming
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -20.7% (-10,515)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 40,392 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 50,907 (6th fewest)
> Population: 581,348 (the smallest)
15. West Virginia
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -20.8% (-27,947)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 106,284 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 134,231 (15th fewest)
> Population: 1,807,426 (13th smallest)
14. Nevada
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -21.7% (-25,703)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 92,840 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 118,543 (13th fewest)
> Population: 3,030,281 (19th smallest)
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Source: Anadolu Agency / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
13. Missouri
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -22.5% (-87,158)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 300,841 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 387,999 (19th most)
> Population: 6,124,160 (18th largest)
Source: Jacob Boomsma / iStock via Getty Images
12. Nebraska
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -22.6% (-12,573)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 43,158 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 55,731 (8th fewest)
> Population: 1,923,826 (14th smallest)
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Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images News via Getty Images
11. Michigan
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -24.4% (-148,759)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 461,270 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 610,029 (9th most)
> Population: 9,973,907 (10th largest)
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Source: picture alliance / picture alliance via Getty Images
10. South Dakota
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -24.7% (-15,709)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 48,008 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 63,717 (9th fewest)
> Population: 879,336 (5th smallest)
9. Arkansas
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -25.4% (-44,269)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 129,709 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 173,978 (21st fewest)
> Population: 3,011,873 (18th smallest)
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Source: Barry Lewis / In Pictures via Getty Images
8. Alabama
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -26.3% (-152,887)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 428,403 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 581,290 (11th most)
> Population: 4,893,186 (24th largest)
Source: hiramtom / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
7. Ohio
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -27.2% (-144,348)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 386,047 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 530,395 (13th most)
> Population: 11,675,275 (7th largest)
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Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
6. North Carolina
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -27.3% (-135,789)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 361,510 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 497,299 (15th most)
> Population: 10,386,227 (9th largest)
Source: gregobagel / iStock via Getty Images
5. Rhode Island
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -32.3% (-8,164)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 17,097 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 25,261 (2nd fewest)
> Population: 1,057,798 (7th smallest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
4. Georgia
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -33.7% (-175,176)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 343,966 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 519,142 (14th most)
> Population: 10,516,579 (8th largest)
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Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
3. New Jersey
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -36.7% (-55,444)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 95,697 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 151,141 (17th fewest)
> Population: 8,885,418 (11th largest)
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
2. Indiana
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -43.1% (-535,707)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 708,359 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 1,244,066 (3rd most)
> Population: 6,696,893 (17th largest)
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Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
1. Illinois
> Change in background checks Jan.-July 2021 to 2022: -64.3% (-4,315,999)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2022: 2,391,483 (2nd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-July 2021: 6,707,482 (the most)
> Population: 12,716,164 (6th largest)
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