More than 10,000 guns were stolen or lost last year in the United States. These figures, which came from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, notably exclude the estimated 380,000 firearms that were stolen from private citizens.
Gun thefts are a serious threat to public safety. Even if they are not obtained for the explicit purpose of committing a violent crime, stolen firearms are often sold on the black market to violent criminals. In its 2018 Congressional Budget Submission, the ATF stated that a firearm stolen from a gun store in a burglary or robbery “is almost assuredly destined for criminal use in the immediate area of the theft.” (Here is a look at the states where the most people are killed by guns.)
While firearm thefts occur in every part of the country, they are far more common in some states than others. Using data from the ATF, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most gun theft. States are ranked by the number of guns that were lost or stolen for every 100,000 residents in 2021. Only firearms lost or stolen from licensed dealers and manufacturers were considered.
While there are exceptions, many of the states with the lowest firearm theft rates also have fewer locations that sell or manufacture guns. With fewer commercial firearm operations in these states, there are also fewer opportunities for theft or for unexplained loss of firearms. Here is a look at the state selling the fewest guns.
Meanwhile, many of the states with higher rates of gun theft tend to also have more permissive gun laws that place minimal restrictions on gun ownership.
Click here to see the states where the most guns are stolen.
Click here to read our methodology.
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50. New Jersey
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 0.1 per 100,000 people (10 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 0 (0% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 10 (100% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 4.0 per 100,000 people – the fewest (358 total)
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49. Hawaii
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 0.3 per 100,000 people (4 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 4 (100% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 0 (0% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 7.7 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest (110 total)
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48. Rhode Island
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 0.5 per 100,000 people (5 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 1 (20.0% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 4 (80.0% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 9.8 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest (104 total)
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
47. Delaware
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 0.5 per 100,000 people (5 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 1 (20.0% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 4 (80.0% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 15.1 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest (146 total)
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46. California
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 0.5 per 100,000 people (208 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 142 (68.3% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 66 (31.7% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 6.6 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest (2,597 total)
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45. Nebraska
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 0.6 per 100,000 people (11 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 8 (72.7% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 3 (27.3% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 41.5 per 100,000 people – 16th most (798 total)
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44. Massachusetts
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 0.6 per 100,000 people (40 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 0 (0% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 40 (100% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 9.1 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest (626 total)
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43. New York
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 0.9 per 100,000 people (176 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 12 (6.8% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 164 (93.2% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 11.1 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest (2,169 total)
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42. Minnesota
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 1.3 per 100,000 people (75 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 32 (42.7% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 43 (57.3% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 29.5 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (1,654 total)
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41. Washington
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 1.5 per 100,000 people (110 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 85 (77.3% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 25 (22.7% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 19.8 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest (1,485 total)
40. Wisconsin
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 1.6 per 100,000 people (91 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 53 (58.2% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 38 (41.8% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 30.1 per 100,000 people – 24th most (1,750 total)
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39. Indiana
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 1.8 per 100,000 people (121 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 74 (61.2% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 47 (38.8% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 25.4 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest (1,703 total)
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38. Florida
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.0 per 100,000 people (433 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 149 (34.4% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 284 (65.6% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 19.9 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest (4,229 total)
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37. Illinois
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.2 per 100,000 people (283 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 100 (35.3% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 183 (64.7% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 12.9 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest (1,641 total)
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36. South Carolina
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.3 per 100,000 people (115 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 20 (17.4% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 95 (82.6% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 27.6 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest (1,406 total)
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35. Pennsylvania
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.4 per 100,000 people (305 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 80 (26.2% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 225 (73.8% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 24.9 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest (3,192 total)
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34. Ohio
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.5 per 100,000 people (290 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 71 (24.5% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 219 (75.5% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 25.1 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest (2,935 total)
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33. Maryland
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.5 per 100,000 people (152 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 101 (66.4% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 51 (33.6% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 12.6 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest (763 total)
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32. Michigan
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.6 per 100,000 people (262 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 207 (79.0% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 55 (21.0% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 24.8 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest (2,474 total)
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31. South Dakota
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.7 per 100,000 people (24 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 0 (0% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 24 (100% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 70.1 per 100,000 people – 6th most (616 total)
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30. Arizona
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.7 per 100,000 people (196 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 83 (42.3% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 113 (57.7% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 35.9 per 100,000 people – 22nd most (2,573 total)
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29. Oregon
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 2.8 per 100,000 people (118 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 88 (74.6% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 30 (25.4% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 36.3 per 100,000 people – 21st most (1,515 total)
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28. North Carolina
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 3.0 per 100,000 people (311 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 120 (38.6% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 191 (61.4% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 28.3 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest (2,944 total)
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27. Wyoming
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 3.3 per 100,000 people (19 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 2 (10.5% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 17 (89.5% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 127.6 per 100,000 people – the most (742 total)
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26. Virginia
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 3.3 per 100,000 people (283 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 93 (32.9% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 190 (67.1% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 25.1 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest (2,132 total)
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25. Connecticut
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 3.3 per 100,000 people (119 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 10 (8.4% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 109 (91.6% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 18.5 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest (661 total)
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24. North Dakota
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 3.4 per 100,000 people (26 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 5 (19.2% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 21 (80.8% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 70.8 per 100,000 people – 5th most (538 total)
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23. Maine
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 3.4 per 100,000 people (46 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 40 (87.0% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 6 (13.0% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 44.8 per 100,000 people – 11th most (601 total)
22. Texas
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 3.5 per 100,000 people (1,006 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 590 (58.6% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 416 (41.4% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 29.4 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest (8,413 total)
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21. New Mexico
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 4.0 per 100,000 people (83 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 60 (72.3% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 23 (27.7% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 35.6 per 100,000 people – 23rd most (747 total)
Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images
20. Mississippi
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 4.2 per 100,000 people (125 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 54 (43.2% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 71 (56.8% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 36.7 per 100,000 people – 19th most (1,093 total)
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19. Tennessee
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 4.3 per 100,000 people (290 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 178 (61.4% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 112 (38.6% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 27.5 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest (1,860 total)
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18. Missouri
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 4.6 per 100,000 people (281 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 107 (38.1% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 174 (61.9% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 40.8 per 100,000 people – 17th most (2,497 total)
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17. Vermont
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 4.6 per 100,000 people (29 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 1 (3.4% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 28 (96.6% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 62.1 per 100,000 people – 7th most (388 total)
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16. Alaska
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 4.7 per 100,000 people (35 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 4 (11.4% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 31 (88.6% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 86.7 per 100,000 people – 3rd most (639 total)
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15. Utah
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 4.8 per 100,000 people (152 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 9 (5.9% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 143 (94.1% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 42.1 per 100,000 people – 15th most (1,328 total)
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14. Idaho
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 5.4 per 100,000 people (95 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 45 (47.4% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 50 (52.6% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 71.0 per 100,000 people – 4th most (1,245 total)
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13. Louisiana
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 5.5 per 100,000 people (255 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 191 (74.9% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 64 (25.1% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 29.4 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest (1,371 total)
Source: AAron Ontiveroz / Denver Post via Getty Images
12. Colorado
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 5.6 per 100,000 people (317 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 124 (39.1% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 193 (60.9% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 39.0 per 100,000 people – 18th most (2,219 total)
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11. Nevada
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 5.7 per 100,000 people (174 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 67 (38.5% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 107 (61.5% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 26.9 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest (814 total)
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10. Iowa
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 6.3 per 100,000 people (197 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 41 (20.8% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 156 (79.2% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 46.8 per 100,000 people – 10th most (1,473 total)
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9. Montana
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 6.9 per 100,000 people (73 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 30 (41.1% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 43 (58.9% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 112.6 per 100,000 people – 2nd most (1,195 total)
Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images
8. Georgia
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 7.0 per 100,000 people (732 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 444 (60.7% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 288 (39.3% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 23.4 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest (2,459 total)
Source: jfbenning / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
7. West Virginia
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 7.4 per 100,000 people (134 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 25 (18.7% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 109 (81.3% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 56.2 per 100,000 people – 8th most (1,015 total)
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6. Kentucky
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 7.5 per 100,000 people (334 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 160 (47.9% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 174 (52.1% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 36.3 per 100,000 people – 20th most (1,619 total)
5. Oklahoma
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 8.3 per 100,000 people (328 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 95 (29.0% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 233 (71.0% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 44.2 per 100,000 people – 13th most (1,747 total)
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4. New Hampshire
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 8.5 per 100,000 people (115 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 60 (52.2% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 55 (47.8% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 43.6 per 100,000 people – 14th most (591 total)
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3. Arkansas
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 9.8 per 100,000 people (295 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 68 (23.1% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 227 (76.9% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 49.3 per 100,000 people – 9th most (1,484 total)
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2. Kansas
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 11.0 per 100,000 people (320 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 20 (6.3% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 300 (93.8% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 44.3 per 100,000 people – 12th most (1,290 total)
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1. Alabama
> Firearms stolen or lost in 2021: 22.8 per 100,000 people (1,117 total)
> Firearms stolen in 2021: 106 (9.5% of total)
> Firearms lost in 2021: 1,011 (90.5% of total)
> Gun stores and gun makers in state: 29.6 per 100,000 people – 25th most (1,450 total)
Methodology
To identify the states where the most guns are stolen, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. States are ranked by the number of firearms stolen or lost in 2021 for every 100,000 people.
Only firearms stolen or lost by certain Federal Firearms Licensees – such as gun stores, gun manufacturers, and gun importers – were considered. Firearms stolen from private citizens and not connected to a commercial operation were not considered.
Population figures used to calculate the gun theft rate and concentration of commercial firearm operations are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 American Community Survey.
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