The FBI began to track firearms background checks in the late 1990s and report the statistics every month as part of its National Instant Criminal Background Check System. While gun background checks are not a one-to-one comparison of gun sales, they serve as a proxy, especially in identifying trends in gun sales.
Gun sales have risen sharply for over more than a decade, ever since background checks surpassed 10 million for the first time in 2006. Sales exploded early in 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic hit, reaching an all-time high of 39,695,315 that year. Concern about how the pandemic might affect violent crime in the U.S. was likely, at least partly, the cause. Civil unrest across much of the country that summer has likely added to concerns.
To determine the states where gun sales fell the most, 24/7 Wall St. listed all 47 states with a reported decline in firearm background checks in the first eight months of 2022 compared to the same period in 2021. States are ranked in order of the largest absolute decline in background checks. The three states that did not have declines — Kentucky, Washington, and Hawaii — are not included. Population figures came from the Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey and are five-year averages.
In the second half of 2021, gun sales began to fall from 2020 levels but dropped only by a modest amount to 38,876,673 for the full year 2021. In 2022, the sales drop was much more dramatic. Through the first eight months of 2022, gun background checks by the FBI have hit 20,790,489, down sharply from 27,841,119 in the same period last year. There is not a ready explanation for the slowing,
The FBI figures do not compare the U.S. to the rest of the world. They also don’t reveal what guns have done to American society. In the U.S., there are about 400 million guns in circulation, according to the Small Arms Survey, a Swiss-based research project. That means for every 100 people in America, there are about 120 guns, the world’s highest such figure. The comparable number in Finland, for example, is 32 guns per 100 people.
The level of deaths from guns has similarly been increasing in recent years. So far this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, 31,363 people have been killed by guns in the U.S. There have been 482 mass shootings in 2022. (These are the cities with the most guns traced to crime in every state.)
Meanwhile, the debate over gun regulations has been so polarized that solutions have been few and hard to come by, which means the problems of gun violence are very unlikely to change.
The nationwide drop in gun sales this year is even more pronounced in some states. In Illinois, the figure dropped 64% for the period. For Indiana, the drop was 43%. (These are the states with the most gun purchases per person.)
Click here to see states where gun sales are falling the most.
Source: Marco_Piunti / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
47. New York
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -4,021 (-1.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 309,056 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 313,077 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 15.8 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 16.0 (2nd fewest)
> Population: 19,514,849 (4th largest)
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46. Delaware
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -5,988 (-12.5%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 41,895 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 47,883 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 43.3 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 49.5 (11th fewest)
> Population: 967,679 (6th smallest)
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45. Vermont
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -6,059 (-17.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 28,931 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 34,990 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 46.3 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 56.0 (20th fewest)
> Population: 624,340 (2nd smallest)
Source: Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images
44. North Dakota
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -6,667 (-12.4%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 47,263 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 53,930 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 62.2 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 70.9 (20th most)
> Population: 760,394 (4th smallest)
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43. Alaska
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -8,342 (-13.4%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 53,791 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 62,133 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 73.0 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 84.3 (12th most)
> Population: 736,990 (3rd smallest)
Source: Portland Press Herald / Portland Press Herald via Getty Images
42. Rhode Island
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -8,347 (-30.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 19,240 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 27,587 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 18.2 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 26.1 (5th fewest)
> Population: 1,057,798 (7th smallest)
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41. Wyoming
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -10,968 (-19.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 45,810 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 56,778 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 78.8 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 97.7 (9th most)
> Population: 581,348 (the smallest)
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Source: VistaVision / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
40. Maine
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -11,590 (-13.9%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 71,608 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 83,198 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 53.4 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 62.0 (23rd fewest)
> Population: 1,340,825 (9th smallest)
39. Nebraska
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -13,241 (-21.2%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 49,088 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 62,329 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 25.5 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 32.4 (8th fewest)
> Population: 1,923,826 (14th smallest)
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38. Montana
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -14,434 (-13.5%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 92,277 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 106,711 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 86.9 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 100.5 (8th most)
> Population: 1,061,705 (8th smallest)
Source: picture alliance / picture alliance via Getty Images
37. South Dakota
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -15,991 (-22.5%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 55,166 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 71,157 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 62.7 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 80.9 (14th most)
> Population: 879,336 (5th smallest)
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36. Maryland
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -17,967 (-9.5%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 171,099 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 189,066 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 28.3 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 31.3 (7th fewest)
> Population: 6,037,624 (19th largest)
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Source: DOMINICK REUTER / AFP via Getty Images
35. New Hampshire
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -18,241 (-17.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 87,272 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 105,513 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 64.4 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 77.9 (15th most)
> Population: 1,355,244 (10th smallest)
Source: JannHuizenga / iStock via Getty Images
34. New Mexico
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -19,689 (-14.7%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 114,354 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 134,043 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 54.5 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 63.9 (24th fewest)
> Population: 2,097,021 (15th smallest)
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Source: jfbenning / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
33. West Virginia
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -28,378 (-19.1%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 120,525 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 148,903 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 66.7 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 82.4 (13th most)
> Population: 1,807,426 (13th smallest)
32. Nevada
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -28,483 (-21.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 105,061 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 133,544 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 34.7 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 44.1 (9th fewest)
> Population: 3,030,281 (19th smallest)
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31. Kansas
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -29,690 (-19.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 123,997 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 153,687 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 42.6 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 52.8 (14th fewest)
> Population: 2,912,619 (16th smallest)
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30. Idaho
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -30,487 (-16.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 156,533 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 187,020 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 89.2 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 106.6 (7th most)
> Population: 1,754,367 (12th smallest)
Source: AlanRoseman / iStock via Getty Images
29. Massachusetts
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -31,617 (-17.2%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 152,606 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 184,223 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 22.2 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 26.8 (6th fewest)
> Population: 6,873,003 (15th largest)
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28. Mississippi
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -33,487 (-15.8%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 178,383 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 211,870 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 59.8 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 71.1 (19th most)
> Population: 2,981,835 (17th smallest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
27. Connecticut
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -35,751 (-18.0%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 162,653 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 198,404 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 45.6 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 55.6 (18th fewest)
> Population: 3,570,549 (22nd smallest)
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26. Iowa
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -36,544 (-19.0%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 155,708 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 192,252 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 49.4 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 61.0 (22nd fewest)
> Population: 3,150,011 (20th smallest)
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25. Arizona
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -38,482 (-9.7%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 359,807 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 398,289 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 50.2 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 55.5 (17th fewest)
> Population: 7,174,064 (14th largest)
24. Oklahoma
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -39,333 (-14.2%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 237,786 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 277,119 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 60.2 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 70.2 (22nd most)
> Population: 3,949,342 (23rd smallest)
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23. Louisiana
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -45,364 (-17.0%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 221,651 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 267,015 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 47.5 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 57.2 (21st fewest)
> Population: 4,664,616 (25th largest)
Source: artas / iStock via Getty Images
22. Arkansas
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -45,444 (-23.5%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 148,217 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 193,661 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 49.2 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 64.3 (25th fewest)
> Population: 3,011,873 (18th smallest)
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21. Minnesota
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -46,367 (-7.2%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 598,080 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 644,447 (12th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 106.8 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 115.1 (6th most)
> Population: 5,600,166 (22nd largest)
Source: ROB KERR / AFP via Getty Images
20. Oregon
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -47,135 (-15.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 261,908 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 309,043 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 62.7 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 74.0 (18th most)
> Population: 4,176,346 (24th smallest)
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images News via Getty Images
19. New Jersey
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -56,109 (-33.5%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 111,132 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 167,241 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 12.5 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 18.8 (3rd fewest)
> Population: 8,885,418 (11th largest)
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18. California
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -56,243 (-5.6%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 951,008 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 1,007,251 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 24.2 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 25.6 (4th fewest)
> Population: 39,346,023 (the largest)
Source: Richard Ellis / Getty Images News via Getty Images
17. South Carolina
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -63,053 (-18.8%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 272,536 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 335,589 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 53.5 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 65.9 (24th most)
> Population: 5,091,517 (23rd largest)
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16. Virginia
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -77,702 (-17.5%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 365,727 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 443,429 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 43.0 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 52.1 (13th fewest)
> Population: 8,509,358 (12th largest)
Source: mtcurado / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
15. Colorado
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -79,669 (-18.4%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 352,754 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 432,423 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 62.1 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 76.1 (16th most)
> Population: 5,684,926 (21st largest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
14. Missouri
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -89,344 (-20.8%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 340,754 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 430,098 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 55.6 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 70.2 (21st most)
> Population: 6,124,160 (18th largest)
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13. Wisconsin
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -108,071 (-20.8%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 411,574 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 519,645 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 70.9 (12th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 89.5 (11th most)
> Population: 5,806,975 (20th largest)
Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
12. Tennessee
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -110,173 (-16.7%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 548,996 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 659,169 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 81.1 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 97.3 (10th most)
> Population: 6,772,268 (16th largest)
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11. North Carolina
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -139,859 (-25.4%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 410,573 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 550,432 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 39.5 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 53.0 (15th fewest)
> Population: 10,386,227 (9th largest)
Source: GEORGE FREY / AFP via Getty Images
10. Utah
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -151,386 (-18.2%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 678,238 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 829,624 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 215.2 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 263.3 (3rd most)
> Population: 3,151,239 (21st smallest)
Source: Bill Pugliano / Getty Images News via Getty Images
9. Michigan
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -153,348 (-22.6%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 524,177 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 677,525 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 52.6 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 67.9 (23rd most)
> Population: 9,973,907 (10th largest)
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8. Ohio
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -154,067 (-26.2%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 434,073 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 588,140 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 37.2 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 50.4 (12th fewest)
> Population: 11,675,275 (7th largest)
7. Pennsylvania
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -156,459 (-16.2%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 810,491 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 966,950 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 63.3 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 75.6 (17th most)
> Population: 12,794,885 (5th largest)
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6. Alabama
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -160,571 (-24.8%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 486,952 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 647,523 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 99.5 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 132.3 (5th most)
> Population: 4,893,186 (24th largest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
5. Georgia
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -186,284 (-32.4%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 388,047 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 574,331 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 36.9 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 54.6 (16th fewest)
> Population: 10,516,579 (8th largest)
Source: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News via Getty Images
4. Florida
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -192,362 (-16.3%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 988,563 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 1,180,925 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 46.6 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 55.7 (19th fewest)
> Population: 21,216,924 (3rd largest)
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Source: Erich Schlegel / Getty Images News via Getty Images
3. Texas
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -211,633 (-15.8%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 1,130,588 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 1,342,221 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 39.5 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 46.9 (10th fewest)
> Population: 28,635,442 (2nd largest)
Source: The Washington Post / The Washington Post via Getty Images
2. Indiana
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -573,335 (-42.1%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 789,792 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 1,363,127 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 117.9 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 203.5 (4th most)
> Population: 6,696,893 (17th largest)
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1. Illinois
> Change in background checks Jan.-Aug. 2021 to 2022: -4,362,300 (-61.1%)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 2,771,745 (the most)
> Firearm background checks, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 7,134,045 (the most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2022: 218.0 (2nd most)
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 people, Jan.-Aug. 2021: 561.0 (the most)
> Population: 12,716,164 (6th largest)
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