States Where The Most People Bought Guns Last Month

Special Report

February 19, 2023 8:12 am

Last Updated: February 21, 2023 11:06 am

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5. Idaho
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 8.6
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 16,752 — 20th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 8.0 — 4th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 15,449 — 20th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +1,303 (+8.4% — 17th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,939,033 — 13th smallest

Guns (CC BY 2.0) by Michaela Pereckas

4. Wisconsin
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 8.6
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 50,957 — 10th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 8.6 — 3rd most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 50,576 — 10th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +381 (+0.8% — 3rd smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 5,892,539 — 20th largest

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3. Tennessee
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 9.4
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 66,170 — 6th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 8.7 — 2nd most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 61,694 — 6th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +4,476 (+7.3% — 20th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 7,051,339 — 15th largest

Source: Barry Lewis / In Pictures via Getty Images

2. Alabama
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 9.7
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 49,349 — 12th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 11.7 — the most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 59,522 — 7th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -10,173 (-17.1% — 2nd largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 5,074,296 — 24th largest

Source: ROB KERR / AFP via Getty Images

1. Oregon
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 13.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 55,581 — 9th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.9 — 8th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 29,461 — 20th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +26,120 (+88.7% — 2nd largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 4,240,137 — 24th smallest

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