Gun sales in the U.S. surged immediately after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. One theory was that people believed they would have to defend their homes as the virus spread. Another theory was that social unrest later in 2020 made people uneasy about their safety. The trend did not last, and gun sales dropped sharply this year – again with no ready explanation. What is not in question is that gun purchases in some states have been sharply higher than in others.Â
Gun sales peaked in 2020, with the FBI processing 39,695,315 firearm background checks, up 32% from 2019. Sales dropped only slightly in 2021, with 38,876,673 background checks. The decline in 2022 has been dramatic. In some months, there were only 60% background check requests of the checks in the same month last year.
While not all background checks end in a sale, the figures are staggering, and yet they pale in comparison with gun ownership. By most estimates, there are 400 million guns in circulation in the U.S. Gun violence in the U.S. is also among the highest on a per capita basis than in any other nation in the world. The Gun Violence Archive reports that gun deaths in America have reached 37,951 so far this year. Many experts link the wide distribution of guns to gun violence, although this is hotly debated. (Here are countries with the most gun deaths per capita.)
Gun sales by state, as estimated by firearm background checks, can be expressed as raw numbers, but this yardstick can be misleading. A better measure is background checks per 1,000 people in a state. By this measure, while California has the fifth-most total background checks so far in 2022, it has among the fewest checks per capita. Kentucky, meanwhile, leads the list when ranked based on checks per capita.Â
There is no explanation why some states have higher gun sales than others. States with low population density tend to have comparatively high gun sales, on a per capita basis. These include Montana, Idaho, Alaska, Utah, North Dakota, and South Dakota.Â
Regardless of the sales pattern, the FBI will process close to 30 million background checks this year, meaning gun sales remain high. And while this may be lower than in the past two years, figures are still extraordinary. (Here are the 33 senators with perfect scores from the american gun lobby.)
Using FBI data from its National Instant Criminal Background Check System, 24/7 Wall St. ranked states based on gun background checks in the first 10 months of the year per 1,000 people in each state. Population data came from the Census Bureau and are one-year averages for 2021.
Click here to see states with the most gun purchases per person.
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50. Hawaii
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 11.0
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 9.1 (the fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 15,861 (the fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 13,107 (the fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +2,754 (+21.0% — 2nd largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 1,441,553 (11th smallest)
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49. New Jersey
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 15.2
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 19.6 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 140,450 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 181,478 (17th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -41,028 (-22.6% — 5th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 9,267,130 (11th largest)
Source: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP via Getty Images
48. New York
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 19.0
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 17.7 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 377,796 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 351,254 (23rd most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +26,542 (+7.6% — 5th largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 19,835,913 (4th largest)
Source: aquarajiv / iStock via Getty Images
47. Rhode Island
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 21.2
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 27.4 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 23,209 (2nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 30,020 (2nd fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -6,811 (-22.7% — 4th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 1,095,610 (7th smallest)
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46. Massachusetts
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 27.0
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 29.1 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 188,846 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 203,042 (18th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -14,196 (-7.0% — 17th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 6,984,723 (15th largest)
45. California
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 30.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 28.6 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 1,194,056 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 1,123,955 (6th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +70,101 (+6.2% — 6th largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 39,237,836 (the largest)
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44. Nebraska
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 30.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 34.9 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 60,066 (6th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 68,593 (7th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -8,527 (-12.4% — 12th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 1,963,692 (14th smallest)
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43. Maryland
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 39.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 33.6 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 242,526 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 206,959 (20th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +35,567 (+17.2% — 3rd largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 6,165,129 (19th largest)
42. Nevada
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 40.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 46.6 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 126,072 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 146,628 (13th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -20,556 (-14.0% — 9th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 3,143,991 (19th smallest)
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41. Georgia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 44.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 58.1 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 481,255 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 627,128 (14th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -145,873 (-23.3% — 3rd largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 10,799,566 (8th largest)
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40. Ohio
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 44.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 54.7 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 527,148 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 644,917 (13th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -117,769 (-18.3% — 6th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 11,780,017 (7th largest)
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39. North Carolina
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 47.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 57.2 (14th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 500,392 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 603,914 (15th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -103,522 (-17.1% — 7th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 10,551,162 (9th largest)
Source: Erich Schlegel / Getty Images News via Getty Images
38. Texas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 47.5
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 50.7 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 1,402,074 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 1,496,999 (3rd most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -94,925 (-6.3% — 12th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 29,527,941 (2nd largest)
Source: Patrick Smith / Getty Images News via Getty Images
37. Delaware
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 49.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 52.2 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 49,236 (4th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 52,352 (4th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -3,116 (-6.0% — 9th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 1,003,384 (6th smallest)
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36. Kansas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 51.8
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 58.1 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 151,984 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 170,476 (16th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -18,492 (-10.8% — 15th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 2,934,582 (16th smallest)
Source: AFP Contributor / AFP via Getty Images
35. Virginia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 52.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 56.5 (13th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 454,444 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 488,208 (18th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -33,764 (-6.9% — 16th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 8,642,274 (12th largest)
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34. Connecticut
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 54.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 59.9 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 195,943 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 216,146 (23rd fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -20,203 (-9.3% — 19th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 3,605,597 (22nd smallest)
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33. Florida
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 55.5
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 59.9 (17th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 1,208,105 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 1,305,111 (5th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -97,006 (-7.4% — 18th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 21,781,128 (3rd largest)
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32. Vermont
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 56.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 60.4 (20th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 36,582 (3rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 38,983 (3rd fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -2,401 (-6.2% — 10th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 645,570 (2nd smallest)
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31. Iowa
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 57.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 65.5 (22nd fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 183,785 (18th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 209,181 (21st fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -25,396 (-12.1% — 13th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 3,193,079 (20th smallest)
Source: Mario Villafuerte / Getty Images News via Getty Images
30. Louisiana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 59.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 63.6 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 275,482 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 294,273 (25th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -18,791 (-6.4% — 13th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 4,624,047 (25th largest)
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29. Arizona
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 60.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 60.2 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 439,263 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 438,322 (21st most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +941 (+0.2% — the smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 7,276,316 (14th largest)
28. Arkansas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 61.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 70.8 (25th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 186,663 (19th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 214,197 (22nd fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -27,534 (-12.9% — 11th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 3,025,891 (18th smallest)
Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
27. Michigan
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 64.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 74.5 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 647,723 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 748,584 (9th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -100,861 (-13.5% — 10th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 10,050,811 (10th largest)
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26. South Carolina
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 65.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 71.4 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 339,477 (23rd most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 370,614 (22nd most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -31,137 (-8.4% — 21st largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 5,190,705 (23rd largest)
Source: JannHuizenga / iStock via Getty Images
25. New Mexico
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 66.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 70.2 (24th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 141,541 (15th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 148,540 (14th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -6,999 (-4.7% — 6th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 2,115,877 (15th smallest)
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24. Maine
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 67.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 69.0 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 92,884 (10th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 94,671 (10th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -1,787 (-1.9% — 2nd smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 1,372,247 (9th smallest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
23. Missouri
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 68.5
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 76.7 (22nd most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 422,677 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 473,180 (20th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -50,503 (-10.7% — 16th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 6,168,187 (18th largest)
22. Oklahoma
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 73.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 76.7 (21st most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 292,441 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 305,898 (25th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -13,457 (-4.4% — 4th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 3,986,639 (23rd smallest)
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21. Colorado
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 74.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 82.3 (17th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 435,502 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 478,331 (19th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -42,829 (-9.0% — 20th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 5,812,069 (21st largest)
Source: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP via Getty Images
20. Mississippi
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 75.0
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 79.2 (19th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 221,228 (23rd fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 233,742 (24th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -12,514 (-5.4% — 7th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 2,949,965 (17th smallest)
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19. Oregon
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 77.2
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 80.9 (18th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 327,744 (24th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 343,606 (24th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -15,862 (-4.6% — 5th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 4,246,155 (24th smallest)
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18. Washington
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 77.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 71.1 (25th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 600,941 (12th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 550,260 (17th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +50,681 (+9.2% — 4th largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 7,738,692 (13th largest)
17. Pennsylvania
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 77.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 82.4 (16th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 1,007,330 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 1,068,542 (7th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -61,212 (-5.7% — 8th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 12,964,056 (5th largest)
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16. New Hampshire
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 78.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 83.9 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 108,691 (11th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 116,526 (11th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -7,835 (-6.7% — 15th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 1,388,992 (10th smallest)
Source: Mike Kemp / In Pictures via Getty Images
15. North Dakota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 78.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 77.9 (20th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 60,737 (7th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 60,362 (5th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +375 (+0.6% — 9th largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 774,948 (4th smallest)
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14. South Dakota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 79.5
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 88.3 (14th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 71,196 (9th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 79,081 (9th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -7,885 (-10.0% — 17th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 895,376 (5th smallest)
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13. West Virginia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 84.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 91.9 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 150,960 (16th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 163,937 (15th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -12,977 (-7.9% — 20th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 1,782,959 (12th smallest)
12. Wisconsin
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 88.2
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 99.2 (11th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 519,837 (15th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 584,957 (16th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -65,120 (-11.1% — 14th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 5,895,908 (20th largest)
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11. Alaska
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 96.4
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 93.7 (12th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 70,632 (8th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 68,653 (8th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +1,979 (+2.9% — 8th largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 732,673 (3rd smallest)
Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
10. Tennessee
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 97.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 103.8 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 677,278 (10th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 723,700 (10th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -46,422 (-6.4% — 14th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 6,975,218 (16th largest)
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9. Wyoming
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 98.5
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 108.7 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 56,991 (5th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 62,914 (6th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -5,923 (-9.4% — 18th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 578,803 (the smallest)
Source: Karl Weatherly / Photodisc via Getty Images
8. Idaho
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 101.6
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 108.3 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 193,214 (21st fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 205,910 (19th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -12,696 (-6.2% — 11th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 1,900,923 (13th smallest)
Source: Ethan Miller / Getty Images News via Getty Images
7. Montana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 105.8
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 107.9 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 116,861 (12th fewest)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 119,161 (12th fewest)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -2,300 (-1.9% — 3rd smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 1,104,271 (8th smallest)
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6. Alabama
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 118.3
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 141.6 (5th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 596,260 (13th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 713,423 (12th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -117,163 (-16.4% — 8th largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 5,039,877 (24th largest)
Source: skhoward / iStock via Getty Images
5. Minnesota
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 131.7
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 126.0 (6th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 751,402 (9th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 719,163 (11th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +32,239 (+4.5% — 7th largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 5,707,390 (22nd largest)
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4. Indiana
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 138.1
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 215.7 (4th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 939,899 (7th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 1,468,192 (4th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -528,293 (-36.0% — 2nd largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 6,805,985 (17th largest)
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3. Utah
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 252.9
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 274.4 (3rd most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 844,201 (8th most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 916,042 (8th most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -71,841 (-7.8% — 19th smallest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 3,337,975 (21st smallest)
Source: Scott Olson / Getty Images News via Getty Images
2. Illinois
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 279.8
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 590.4 (2nd most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 3,545,502 (the most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 7,481,507 (the most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: -3,936,005 (-52.6% — the largest decrease)
> 2021 Population: 12,671,469 (6th largest)
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1. Kentucky
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2022: 741.2
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan-Oct 2021: 605.5 (the most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2022: 3,342,450 (2nd most)
> Firearm background checks Jan-Oct 2021: 2,730,364 (2nd most)
> Change in background checks, first 10 months, year-to-date: +612,086 (+22.4% — the largest increase)
> 2021 Population: 4,509,394 (25th smallest)
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