These 21 States Have the Least Restrictive Gun Laws
These 21 States Have the Least Restrictive Gun Laws
Drawing on insights from the Gifford Law Center’s Annual Gun Law Scorecard, a reputable organization dedicated to preventing gun violence, this compilation highlights states with the least stringent gun control regulations.
The Scorecard evaluates states on a scale from “A” to “F,” according to the strictness of their gun laws, and each state featured in this list has received an “F” grade. It’s interesting to note that a significant portion of these states are located in the Southern United States.
All data can be found at the Gifford Law Center.
1. Alabama
Alabama receives an F grade for its gun laws, with a high gun death rate of 25.9 per 100,000 people. This year, Alabama made strides in improving its gun safety measures by enhancing the reporting of mental health records. Despite this progress, the state remains among those with the least restrictive gun laws in the country, underscoring the ongoing challenges in balancing gun rights with public safety concerns.
2. Alaska
Alaska’s gun laws are some of the least restrictive in the United States, earning an F grade. The state has a gun death rate of 22.7 per 100,000 people, and annually, 171 people die from gun violence. In 2023, Alaska did not pass any significant gun legislation, indicating a continuation of its lenient approach to gun control.
3. Arizona
Arizona, with an F grade for its gun laws, sees 1,300 people die from gun violence each year, contributing to a gun death rate of 20.5 per 100,000. The state’s lenient approach to gun control, characterized by minimal restrictions, highlights a significant challenge in addressing gun-related fatalities.
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4. Arkansas
Arkansas receives an F grade due to its minimal gun control laws, with a gun death rate of 22.1 per 100,000. The state sees 632 people die from gun violence annually, and in 2023, it did not pass any significant gun legislation.
5. Georgia
Georgia’s gun laws are among the least restrictive, earning it an F grade. The state has a gun death rate of 20.0 per 100,000, with 1,935 fatalities due to gun violence each year. Georgia’s law allows for permitless carrying of guns, highlighting the state’s lenient approach to gun control.
6. Idaho
Idaho, with an F grade, has a gun death rate of 17.5 per 100,000 and sees 303 people die from gun violence each year. The state’s lack of universal background checks exemplifies its minimal restrictions on gun ownership.
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7. Iowa
Iowa receives an F grade for its gun laws, with a low gun death rate of 11.3 per 100,000. Annually, 332 people die from gun violence in the state.
8. Kansas
Kansas, earning an F grade for its gun laws, has a gun death rate of 17.0 per 100,000, with 465 annual fatalities due to gun violence.
9. Kentucky
Kentucky’s gun laws receive an F grade, with a gun death rate of 18.9 per 100,000. The state has taken a bold stance by making law enforcement criminally liable for enforcing federal gun laws.
10. Louisiana
Louisiana, with an F grade for its gun laws, has the highest gun death rate at 28.2 per 100,000. The state recently banned trigger activators and protected DUI offenders’ concealed carry rights, reflecting a lenient approach to gun control.
11. Mississippi
Mississippi earns an F grade for its gun laws, with the highest gun death rate of 29.7 per 100,000. The state incentivizes teachers to carry guns in schools and prohibits firearm records, highlighting its minimal restrictions on gun ownership.
12. Missouri
Missouri receives an F grade, with a gun death rate of 24.4 per 100,000 and 1,416 annual fatalities due to gun violence.
13. Montana
Montana, with an F grade for its gun laws, has a gun death rate of 24.5 per 100,000. The state requires courts to apply strict scrutiny to gun rights cases, underscoring its strong commitment to protecting Second Amendment freedoms.
14. North Dakota
North Dakota earns an F grade, with a gun death rate of 16.5 per 100,000. The state eliminated residency requirements for permitless carry and prohibited gun owner lists, reflecting a highly permissive stance on gun ownership.
15. Oklahoma
Oklahoma, with an F grade, has a gun death rate of 20.1 per 100,000 and sees 775 people die from gun violence each year. The state’s gun laws reflect a strong commitment to individual freedoms, with minimal restrictions on gun ownership.
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16. South Dakota
South Dakota receives an F grade for its gun laws, with a gun death rate of 16.1 per 100,000. Annually, 126 people die from gun violence in the state, reflecting its lenient approach to gun control.
17. Tennessee
Tennessee, with an F grade, has a gun death rate of 20.9 per 100,000. The state recently passed a law increasing gun industry civil immunity, reflecting its strong commitment to protecting gun rights.
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18. Texas
Texas earns an F grade for its gun laws, with a gun death rate of 15.7 per 100,000. The state mandated armed security in schools and prohibited insurance requirements for gun owners.
19. Utah
Utah receives an F grade, with a gun death rate of 14.0 per 100,000. The state took significant steps by prohibiting some domestic violence offenders from owning guns, banning enforcement of federal gun laws, and allowing self-prohibition from gun purchases.
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20. West Virginia
West Virginia, with an F grade, has a gun death rate of 16.4 per 100,000. The state allowed guns on college and university campuses, reflecting a commitment to expanding gun rights.
21. Wyoming
Wyoming earns an F grade for its gun laws, with a gun death rate of 20.6 per 100,000 and 137 annual fatalities due to gun violence.
We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home.
We are Mary and Eric, the founders of Be Right Back, a blog dedicated to romance around the globe and at home. With over 10 years of experience in dating and traveling to romantic places, we share our favorite date ideas and romantic destinations to help couples level up their relationships. Having lived in and traveled through the USA, we also share our favourite things to do in the States.
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