Special Report

The Most Government Registered Guns in Every State

Samuel Stebbins

Published: December 10, 2023 11:45 am

The United States is one of only three countries in the world where gun ownership is a constitutional right (Mexico and Guatemala are the other two). Additionally, the U.S. has some of the most permissive gun laws among similarly developed nations, also making it the easiest country to own a gun. Most gun control regulations in the U.S. are enacted at state and local levels, although the federal government has also had firearm restrictions on the books for decades. 

President Franklin Roosevelt signed into law, in 1934, the National Firearms Act which stipulates that certain types of firearms need to be registered with the Secretary of the Treasury and that their owners are subject to a $200 tax. The types of weapons covered by the law were many of the same weapons associated with organized crime during the Prohibition Era and fall into one of six categories: machine guns, silencers or suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, destructive devices such as bombs or grenades, and “any other weapon,” which is a catch-all classification that includes certain firearms that can be concealed in items such as pens or walking canes. (This is where criminals in each state are most likely to obtain a gun.)

It has been almost 90 years since the law’s passage and its terms have been amended. In 1986, for example, a provision was added banning the transfer of possession of machine guns not already grandfathered in which effectively bans civilian ownership of new fully automatic weapons. Today, Americans seeking to own weapons regulated by the NFA must first receive official approval after completing a registration application and submitting a fingerprint card and the $200 tax payment – which has never been updated to adjust for inflation. 

Nationwide, there are over 7.5 million registered NFA weapons, or 2,300 for every 100,000 Americans. Depending on the state, the number of federally-registered weapons ranges from 462 to over 24,000 for every 100,000 people. 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the most weapons registered under the NFA by using data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. States are ranked by the number of registered weapons adjusted for population.  

The states with the fewest registered weapons tend to be along the coast, particularly in the Northeast. These states typically have relatively strict gun control laws that go far beyond the terms of the NFA. Meanwhile, the states with the highest concentration of registered firearms tend to have some of the least restrictive gun laws in the country. (These are the states where the most people have bought guns so far in 2023.) 

Here are the most government-registered guns in every state

Read below for our detailed methodology.

50. Rhode Island

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• Registered weapons in state: 462 per 100,000 people (4,887 total)
• Registered machine guns: 60 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest (630 total)
• Registered silencers: 9 per 100,000 people – the fewest (96 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 32 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest (338 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 11 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest (114 total)

49. New York

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• Registered weapons in state: 472 per 100,000 people (92,191 total)
• Registered machine guns: 69 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest (13,554 total)
• Registered silencers: 38 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest (7,406 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 39 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest (7,622 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 39 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest (7,613 total)

48. Delaware

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• Registered weapons in state: 630 per 100,000 people (6,092 total)
• Registered machine guns: 55 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest (537 total)
• Registered silencers: 42 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest (411 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 58 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest (565 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 67 per 100,000 people – 10th most (651 total)

47. Hawaii

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• Registered weapons in state: 653 per 100,000 people (9,280 total)
• Registered machine guns: 31 per 100,000 people – the fewest (441 total)
• Registered silencers: 28 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest (403 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 7 per 100,000 people – the fewest (93 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 5 per 100,000 people – the fewest (75 total)

46. Massachusetts

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• Registered weapons in state: 657 per 100,000 people (45,138 total)
• Registered machine guns: 103 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest (7,070 total)
• Registered silencers: 151 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest (10,409 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 88 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest (6,079 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 15 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest (1,040 total)

45. California

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,033 per 100,000 people (406,360 total)
• Registered machine guns: 74 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest (29,112 total)
• Registered silencers: 44 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest (17,271 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 39 per 100,000 people – 5th fewest (15,520 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 38 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest (14,757 total)

44. Michigan

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,101 per 100,000 people (109,835 total)
• Registered machine guns: 175 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest (17,464 total)
• Registered silencers: 495 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest (49,324 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 91 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest (9,120 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 17 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest (1,715 total)

43. Illinois

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,138 per 100,000 people (144,749 total)
• Registered machine guns: 240 per 100,000 people – 20th most (30,576 total)
• Registered silencers: 26 per 100,000 people – 2nd fewest (3,297 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 36 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest (4,622 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 14 per 100,000 people – 3rd fewest (1,739 total)

42. New Jersey

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,151 per 100,000 people (102,228 total)
• Registered machine guns: 500 per 100,000 people – 5th most (44,422 total)
• Registered silencers: 44 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest (3,889 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 42 per 100,000 people – 6th fewest (3,775 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 28 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest (2,528 total)

41. Vermont

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,514 per 100,000 people (9,451 total)
• Registered machine guns: 235 per 100,000 people – 22nd most (1,465 total)
• Registered silencers: 565 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest (3,528 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 145 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest (904 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 34 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest (210 total)

40. Maine

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,596 per 100,000 people (21,396 total)
• Registered machine guns: 381 per 100,000 people – 11th most (5,109 total)
• Registered silencers: 618 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest (8,285 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 228 per 100,000 people – 14th most (3,057 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 41 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest (556 total)

39. Wisconsin

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,643 per 100,000 people (95,430 total)
• Registered machine guns: 144 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest (8,391 total)
• Registered silencers: 699 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest (40,596 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 139 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest (8,070 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 25 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest (1,467 total)

38. Iowa

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,720 per 100,000 people (54,178 total)
• Registered machine guns: 229 per 100,000 people – 23rd most (7,228 total)
• Registered silencers: 715 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest (22,529 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 93 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest (2,937 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 38 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest (1,212 total)

37. Ohio

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,787 per 100,000 people (208,661 total)
• Registered machine guns: 197 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest (22,979 total)
• Registered silencers: 589 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest (68,736 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 130 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest (15,158 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 56 per 100,000 people – 14th most (6,567 total)

36. Missouri

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• Registered weapons in state: 1,851 per 100,000 people (113,351 total)
• Registered machine guns: 182 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest (11,167 total)
• Registered silencers: 812 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest (49,754 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 167 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest (10,230 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 49 per 100,000 people – 20th most (2,995 total)

35. Connecticut

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,097 per 100,000 people (74,874 total)
• Registered machine guns: 987 per 100,000 people – 2nd most (35,235 total)
• Registered silencers: 522 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest (18,648 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 118 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest (4,212 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 32 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest (1,135 total)

34. North Carolina

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,139 per 100,000 people (222,166 total)
• Registered machine guns: 153 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest (15,875 total)
• Registered silencers: 739 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest (76,759 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 168 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest (17,478 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 34 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest (3,563 total)

33. Washington

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,203 per 100,000 people (165,534 total)
• Registered machine guns: 62 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest (4,673 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,042 per 100,000 people – 23rd most (78,279 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 225 per 100,000 people – 16th most (16,919 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 14 per 100,000 people – 4th fewest (1,049 total)

32. Tennessee

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,238 per 100,000 people (151,536 total)
• Registered machine guns: 217 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (14,683 total)
• Registered silencers: 894 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest (60,573 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 197 per 100,000 people – 22nd most (13,350 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 97 per 100,000 people – 6th most (6,573 total)

31. Nebraska

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,249 per 100,000 people (43,261 total)
• Registered machine guns: 125 per 100,000 people – 8th fewest (2,403 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,345 per 100,000 people – 12th most (25,879 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 180 per 100,000 people – 24th most (3,472 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 47 per 100,000 people – 22nd most (911 total)

30. Maryland

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,257 per 100,000 people (136,257 total)
• Registered machine guns: 494 per 100,000 people – 6th most (29,854 total)
• Registered silencers: 535 per 100,000 people – 11th fewest (32,275 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 126 per 100,000 people – 12th fewest (7,633 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 65 per 100,000 people – 12th most (3,898 total)

29. Minnesota

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,318 per 100,000 people (129,825 total)
• Registered machine guns: 157 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest (8,779 total)
• Registered silencers: 860 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest (48,154 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 137 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest (7,681 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 21 per 100,000 people – 7th fewest (1,154 total)

28. Oregon

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,334 per 100,000 people (97,474 total)
• Registered machine guns: 161 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest (6,740 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,178 per 100,000 people – 20th most (49,197 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 227 per 100,000 people – 15th most (9,483 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 41 per 100,000 people – 22nd fewest (1,717 total)

27. South Carolina

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,341 per 100,000 people (119,205 total)
• Registered machine guns: 216 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest (10,997 total)
• Registered silencers: 990 per 100,000 people – 24th most (50,422 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 178 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest (9,088 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 78 per 100,000 people – 8th most (3,948 total)

26. Indiana

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,353 per 100,000 people (157,546 total)
• Registered machine guns: 316 per 100,000 people – 13th most (21,137 total)
• Registered silencers: 944 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest (63,249 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 162 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest (10,872 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 142 per 100,000 people – 2nd most (9,541 total)

25. Kansas

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,398 per 100,000 people (69,850 total)
• Registered machine guns: 137 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest (3,986 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,092 per 100,000 people – 21st most (31,811 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 203 per 100,000 people – 19th most (5,924 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 44 per 100,000 people – 24th most (1,271 total)

24. Kentucky

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,439 per 100,000 people (108,833 total)
• Registered machine guns: 406 per 100,000 people – 9th most (18,128 total)
• Registered silencers: 987 per 100,000 people – 25th most (44,040 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 151 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest (6,717 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 48 per 100,000 people – 21st most (2,121 total)

23. Florida

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,445 per 100,000 people (518,725 total)
• Registered machine guns: 222 per 100,000 people – 24th most (47,117 total)
• Registered silencers: 826 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest (175,156 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 240 per 100,000 people – 12th most (50,848 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 50 per 100,000 people – 19th most (10,587 total)

22. Oklahoma

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,617 per 100,000 people (103,368 total)
• Registered machine guns: 248 per 100,000 people – 16th most (9,776 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,580 per 100,000 people – 10th most (62,404 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 221 per 100,000 people – 17th most (8,738 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 51 per 100,000 people – 17th most (2,023 total)

21. Colorado

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,628 per 100,000 people (149,382 total)
• Registered machine guns: 135 per 100,000 people – 9th fewest (7,666 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,179 per 100,000 people – 19th most (67,008 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 238 per 100,000 people – 13th most (13,509 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 37 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest (2,119 total)

20. Mississippi

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,707 per 100,000 people (80,712 total)
• Registered machine guns: 165 per 100,000 people – 17th fewest (4,906 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,226 per 100,000 people – 17th most (36,545 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 180 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (5,354 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 38 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest (1,132 total)

19. Pennsylvania

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,721 per 100,000 people (348,167 total)
• Registered machine guns: 165 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest (21,169 total)
• Registered silencers: 653 per 100,000 people – 15th fewest (83,563 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 166 per 100,000 people – 20th fewest (21,215 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 109 per 100,000 people – 4th most (13,884 total)

18. West Virginia

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,820 per 100,000 people (50,963 total)
• Registered machine guns: 407 per 100,000 people – 8th most (7,359 total)
• Registered silencers: 758 per 100,000 people – 19th fewest (13,696 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 161 per 100,000 people – 18th fewest (2,913 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 67 per 100,000 people – 11th most (1,215 total)

17. Georgia

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• Registered weapons in state: 2,892 per 100,000 people (304,124 total)
• Registered machine guns: 405 per 100,000 people – 10th most (42,545 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,232 per 100,000 people – 16th most (129,566 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 202 per 100,000 people – 20th most (21,232 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 114 per 100,000 people – 3rd most (12,026 total)

16. Louisiana

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• Registered weapons in state: 3,260 per 100,000 people (152,061 total)
• Registered machine guns: 154 per 100,000 people – 13th fewest (7,206 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,544 per 100,000 people – 11th most (72,042 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 197 per 100,000 people – 21st most (9,212 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 43 per 100,000 people – 25th most (2,025 total)

15. Montana

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• Registered weapons in state: 3,455 per 100,000 people (36,678 total)
• Registered machine guns: 238 per 100,000 people – 21st most (2,531 total)
• Registered silencers: 2,393 per 100,000 people – 6th most (25,409 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 246 per 100,000 people – 11th most (2,612 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 62 per 100,000 people – 13th most (660 total)

14. Texas

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• Registered weapons in state: 3,515 per 100,000 people (1,006,555 total)
• Registered machine guns: 162 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest (46,318 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,848 per 100,000 people – 9th most (529,150 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 283 per 100,000 people – 9th most (81,000 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 36 per 100,000 people – 14th fewest (10,362 total)

13. Arizona

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• Registered weapons in state: 3,606 per 100,000 people (258,691 total)
• Registered machine guns: 265 per 100,000 people – 15th most (19,032 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,190 per 100,000 people – 18th most (85,353 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 351 per 100,000 people – 5th most (25,203 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 44 per 100,000 people – 23rd most (3,170 total)

12. Utah

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• Registered weapons in state: 3,758 per 100,000 people (118,408 total)
• Registered machine guns: 246 per 100,000 people – 18th most (7,745 total)
• Registered silencers: 2,525 per 100,000 people – 5th most (79,557 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 292 per 100,000 people – 8th most (9,212 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 53 per 100,000 people – 15th most (1,668 total)

11. Alaska

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• Registered weapons in state: 3,831 per 100,000 people (28,237 total)
• Registered machine guns: 245 per 100,000 people – 19th most (1,802 total)
• Registered silencers: 2,061 per 100,000 people – 8th most (15,192 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 422 per 100,000 people – 2nd most (3,108 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 208 per 100,000 people – the most (1,534 total)

10. Nevada

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• Registered weapons in state: 3,927 per 100,000 people (119,007 total)
• Registered machine guns: 481 per 100,000 people – 7th most (14,577 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,250 per 100,000 people – 15th most (37,880 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 418 per 100,000 people – 3rd most (12,662 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 83 per 100,000 people – 7th most (2,500 total)

9. Alabama

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• Registered weapons in state: 3,983 per 100,000 people (194,920 total)
• Registered machine guns: 709 per 100,000 people – 3rd most (34,702 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,318 per 100,000 people – 13th most (64,506 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 180 per 100,000 people – 25th most (8,830 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 52 per 100,000 people – 16th most (2,552 total)

8. North Dakota

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• Registered weapons in state: 4,074 per 100,000 people (30,975 total)
• Registered machine guns: 220 per 100,000 people – 25th most (1,670 total)
• Registered silencers: 3,030 per 100,000 people – 2nd most (23,042 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 263 per 100,000 people – 10th most (2,003 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 42 per 100,000 people – 24th fewest (319 total)

7. Idaho

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• Registered weapons in state: 4,356 per 100,000 people (76,425 total)
• Registered machine guns: 302 per 100,000 people – 14th most (5,299 total)
• Registered silencers: 2,323 per 100,000 people – 7th most (40,755 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 306 per 100,000 people – 7th most (5,376 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 37 per 100,000 people – 16th fewest (654 total)

6. Arkansas

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• Registered weapons in state: 4,448 per 100,000 people (133,981 total)
• Registered machine guns: 189 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest (5,689 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,264 per 100,000 people – 14th most (38,058 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 169 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest (5,076 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 43 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (1,294 total)

5. Virginia

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• Registered weapons in state: 4,979 per 100,000 people (423,707 total)
• Registered machine guns: 516 per 100,000 people – 4th most (43,877 total)
• Registered silencers: 1,063 per 100,000 people – 22nd most (90,454 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 310 per 100,000 people – 6th most (26,361 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 105 per 100,000 people – 5th most (8,935 total)

4. New Hampshire

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• Registered weapons in state: 5,345 per 100,000 people (72,433 total)
• Registered machine guns: 1,536 per 100,000 people – the most (20,817 total)
• Registered silencers: 2,727 per 100,000 people – 4th most (36,954 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 562 per 100,000 people – the most (7,613 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 50 per 100,000 people – 18th most (681 total)

3. New Mexico

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• Registered weapons in state: 5,864 per 100,000 people (122,968 total)
• Registered machine guns: 202 per 100,000 people – 23rd fewest (4,233 total)
• Registered silencers: 948 per 100,000 people – 25th fewest (19,873 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 219 per 100,000 people – 18th most (4,590 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 40 per 100,000 people – 21st fewest (839 total)

2. South Dakota

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• Registered weapons in state: 7,354 per 100,000 people (64,666 total)
• Registered machine guns: 247 per 100,000 people – 17th most (2,176 total)
• Registered silencers: 6,330 per 100,000 people – the most (55,666 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 183 per 100,000 people – 23rd most (1,612 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 30 per 100,000 people – 10th fewest (265 total)

1. Wyoming

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• Registered weapons in state: 24,468 per 100,000 people (142,247 total)
• Registered machine guns: 347 per 100,000 people – 12th most (2,019 total)
• Registered silencers: 2,869 per 100,000 people – 3rd most (16,681 total)
• Registered short-barreled rifles: 359 per 100,000 people – 4th most (2,089 total)
• Registered short-barreled shotguns: 74 per 100,000 people – 9th most (433 total)

Methodology

To identify the states with the most registered weapons, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the Firearms Commerce in the United States report from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. States are ranked by the number of weapons registered with the ATF in the state for every 100,000 people as of May 2021. 

Weapons registered with the ATF fall into one of six categories: 1) machine guns, defined as a firearm capable of automatically firing more than one shot with a single trigger-pull; 2) silencers, defined as a device that can muffle or suppress the sound of a gunshot; 3) short-barreled rifles, defined as a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches or an overall length less than 26 inches; 4) short-barreled or sawed-off shotguns, defined as a shotgun with one or more barrels less than 18 inches long or an overall length of less than 26 inches; 5) destructive devices, a broad catagory that includes explosives such as bombs or grenades; and 6) any other weapon, a catch-all classification that includes certain firearms that can be concealed in items such as pens or walking canes.