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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15. Maryland
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.5
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 39,819 — 17th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 2.8 — 7th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 17,043 — 21st fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +22,776 (+133.6% — the largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 6,164,660 — 19th largest

140423-F-LX370-898 by U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK)

140423-F-LX370-898 (CC BY 2.0) by U.S. Army Alaska (USARAK)

14. Alaska
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 6.7
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 4,949 — 6th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.5 — 14th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 4,780 — 6th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +169 (+3.5% — 12th smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 733,583 — 3rd smallest

ALSO READ: How Many Guns Americans Bought Every Year Since 1986

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13. Colorado
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.0
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 40,766 — 16th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 6.9 — 9th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 40,528 — 15th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +238 (+0.6% — 2nd smallest increase)
> 2022 Population: 5,839,926 — 21st largest

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12. Illinois
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.0
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 88,501 — 5th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 5.9 — 19th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 74,091 — 5th most
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: +14,410 (+19.4% — 6th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 12,582,032 — 6th largest

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11. Wyoming
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2023: 7.1
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2023: 4,109 — 5th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Jan 2022: 7.8 — 5th most
> Firearm background checks, Jan 2022: 4,556 — 5th fewest
> Change in background checks, 2021-2022: -447 (-9.8% — 5th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 581,381 — the smallest

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