States Where The Most People Bought Guns Last Month

Special Report

May 5, 2023 1:30 pm

Source: Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

45. Massachusetts
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2023: 2.7
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2023: 18,755 — 22nd fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2022: 2.6 — 6th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2022: 18,484 — 20th fewest
> Change in background checks, Apr 2021- April 2022: +271 (+1.5% — 15th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 6,981,974 — 16th largest

IMG_4397 (CC BY 2.0) by Geoffrey Fairchild

44. Iowa
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2023: 3.4
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2023: 10,843 — 11th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2022: 3.2 — 8th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2022: 10,158 — 11th fewest
> Change in background checks, Apr 2021- April 2022: +685 (+6.7% — 11th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 3,200,517 — 20th smallest

24/7 Wall St.
Where Criminals in Each State Are Most Likely to Get Guns

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43. Nebraska
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2023: 3.4
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2023: 6,725 — 8th fewest
> Most common type of firearm check: Long guns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2022: 3.3 — 9th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2022: 6,465 — 7th fewest
> Change in background checks, Apr 2021- April 2022: +260 (+4.0% — 12th largest increase)
> 2022 Population: 1,967,923 — 14th smallest

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42. Georgia
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2023: 3.8
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2023: 41,267 — 18th most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2022: 4.1 — 12th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2022: 44,794 — 15th most
> Change in background checks, Apr 2021- April 2022: -3,527 (-7.9% — 12th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 10,912,876 — 8th largest

Source: Rick Gershon / Getty Images News via Getty Images

41. Texas
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2023: 3.9
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2023: 118,321 — the most
> Most common type of firearm check: Handguns
> Firearm background checks per 1,000 residents, Apr 2022: 4.3 — 13th fewest
> Firearm background checks, Apr 2022: 129,198 — the most
> Change in background checks, Apr 2021- April 2022: -10,877 (-8.4% — 11th largest decrease)
> 2022 Population: 30,029,572 — 2nd largest

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