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Compare State Gun Laws

Pick any two states to see how they compare head-to-head on all 50 policies. You can also click on any state or policy for more detail.

Rank for gun law strength

#14

Up from #17 last year

#3

Up from #7 last year

Gun Law Strength

Composite score

53.5

Last year: 38.5

83

Last year: 77

Gun Violence Rate

Gun deaths per 100,000 residents (national average: 14.2)

9.6
14.4
Foundational laws

Background Check and/or Purchase Permit

Requires Background checks for handgun purchases at point of sale and/or for permit to purchase

Background Check and/or Purchase Permit

Does the law cover only handgun purchases, or also rifle and shotgun purchases?
Handguns and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons
All firearms (handguns, rifles, and shotguns)
When is the background check performed?
Permit to purchase or point-of-sale
Permit to purchase and point-of-sale

Concealed Carry Permit Required

Requires any person who carries a concealed firearm in public to first obtain a permit

Concealed Carry Permit Required

If so, does the state require training?
Yes
Yes
Does state training include firing an actual gun?
Yes
Yes

Extreme Risk Law

Allows law enforcement (and often family members) to petition for a court order to temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing guns.

Extreme Risk Law

Who may petition for an order?
Law enforcement and family members
Law enforcement and family members

No Shoot First Law

Does not have a dangerous Shoot First law in place

No Shoot First Law

Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

Requires that firearms be stored locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition in certain circumstances

Secure Storage or Child Access Prevention Required

When does the law apply?
When child may or is likely to access
After child gains access
How does the state define child?
Under 18
Under 14
Does the state law require storage to prevent access by other prohibited people?
No
No
Gun industry and product safety

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Bars purchase of certain assault-style weapons originally designed for military use

Assault Weapons Prohibited

Consumer Safety

Requires new handgun models sold in the state to have childproofing features

Consumer Safety

Ghost Guns Regulated

Regulates ghost gun parts, ensuring they cannot be sold without serial numbers and a background check

Ghost Guns Regulated

What does the state law require?
—
Serial numbers and background checks for all firearms and component parts

High Capacity Magazines Prohibited

Bars purchase of gun magazines larger than a prescribed size

High Capacity Magazines Prohibited

Microstamping for New Handguns

Requires new handgun models sold in the state to include microstamping technology

Microstamping for New Handguns

No Special Immunity for Gun Industry

Does not have a dangerous legal immunity law in place

No Special Immunity for Gun Industry

Does the law proactively give gun violence survivors access to justice?
No
Yes
Guns in public

Crime Gun Tracing

Requires officials to trace all guns recovered at crime scenes, using the federal tracing system

Crime Gun Tracing

No Carry After Violent Offense

Bars concealed carry by people with assault or other violent misdemeanor convictions

No Carry After Violent Offense

How long is a person disqualified?
3 years
5 years

No Guns Mandate on College Campuses

Does not force colleges and universities to allow concealed carry

No Guns Mandate on College Campuses

If not, where and to whom does the mandate apply?
Permit holders must be allowed to carry on public campuses
—

No Guns at State Capitols and/or Demonstrations

Blocks the public carry of guns on state capitol grounds and/or political protests

No Guns at State Capitols and/or Demonstrations

No Guns in Bars

Blocks the concealed carry of guns in bars

No Guns in Bars

No Guns in K-12 Schools

Does not have a law allowing carry in K–12 schools by staff or other permit holders

No Guns in K-12 Schools

Open Carry Regulated

Regulates how guns may be carried visibly in public, either requiring a permit or else barring open carry altogether

Open Carry Regulated

How is open carry regulated?
Permit required for all firearms.
Prohibited for all firearms

Strong Concealed Carry Authority

Allows officials to bar concealed carry by people who pose a danger

Strong Concealed Carry Authority

Does the state also require permission to carry on private property open to the public?
No
No
Keeping guns out of the wrong hands

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Bars domestic abusers from having guns while subject to short-term emergency orders

Emergency Restraining Order Prohibitor

Felony Prohibitor

Bars gun possession by people with felony convictions

Felony Prohibitor

How long is a person prohibited by the state law?
Indefinitely
Indefinitely

Fugitive from Justice Prohibitor

Bars gun possession by fugitives

Fugitive from Justice Prohibitor

Does the state prohibitor cover any people with outstanding warrants?
No
No

Gun Removal Program

Requires officials to identify and seek removal of illegal guns

Gun Removal Program

Hate Crime Prohibitor

Bars people from having guns after a hate crime conviction

Hate Crime Prohibitor

Mental Health Prohibitor

Bars gun possession by people who have been involuntarily committed or found to be a danger to self or others

Mental Health Prohibitor

How long is a person prohibited by the state law?
Indefinitely
5 years

Minimum Age to Purchase

Requires handgun buyers to be 21+ and rifle and shotgun buyers to be 18+

Minimum Age to Purchase

What is the minimum age for gun buyers?
—
21 for all firearms

No Gun Purchases After Violent Offense

Bars gun purchases by people with assault or other violent misdemeanor convictions

No Gun Purchases After Violent Offense

Does the prohibitor cover assault and battery crimes?
No
Yes
How long is a person prohibited?
3 years
5 years

Prohibition for Convicted Domestic Abusers

Bars domestic abusers from having guns after a misdemeanor conviction

Prohibition for Convicted Domestic Abusers

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes
Yes

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Bars domestic abusers from having guns while subject to restraining orders

Prohibition for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Does the law close the boyfriend loophole by covering abusive dating partners?
Yes
Yes

Relinquishment for Convicted Domestic Abusers

Requires domestic abusers to turn in guns after a misdemeanor conviction

Relinquishment for Convicted Domestic Abusers

Does the state bar the surrender of firearms to third parties?
No
No

Relinquishment for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Requires domestic abusers to turn in guns when a restraining order is placed

Relinquishment for Domestic Abusers Under Restraining Orders

Does the state bar the surrender of firearms to third parties?
No
Yes

School Threat Assessment Teams

Requires threat assessment programs to identify students at risk of violence

School Threat Assessment Teams

Stalker Prohibitor

Bars gun possession by convicted stalkers

Stalker Prohibitor

How long is a person prohibited by the state law?
3 years
Indefinitely
Policing and civil rights

Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence

Issues targeted solicitations to use federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) funds to assist victims of gun violence or for gun violence intervention

Funding for Services for Victims of Gun Violence

Local Gun Laws Allowed

Does not preempt towns and cities from making their own gun safety policy

Local Gun Laws Allowed

If not, does the state also threaten to punish localities that regulate firearms?
No
—

No Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights

Does not impede efforts to hold police accountable for excessive force and other misconduct

No Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights

Office of Violence Intervention

Has a dedicated office for gun violence prevention

Office of Violence Intervention

Police Use of Deadly Force Standard

Bars deadly force unless necessary to prevent serious bodily injury, does not make exception for felony suspects fleeing arrest

Police Use of Deadly Force Standard

Police Use of Force Incident Data Collection and Reporting

Requires law enforcement agencies to collect and report data on use of force incidents

Police Use of Force Incident Data Collection and Reporting

Qualified Immunity Limited

Limits qualified immunity, a legal shield for police officers accused of civil and constitutional violations

Qualified Immunity Limited

Violence Intervention Program Funding

State budget includes funding for community violence intervention programming

Violence Intervention Program Funding

Sales and permitting

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Allows officials to deny sales if buyer poses a danger

Authority to Deny Gun Purchase for Public Safety

Charleston Loophole Closed or Limited

Ensures gun sales can’t proceed while a background check is still ongoing

Charleston Loophole Closed or Limited

What does the state law require?
Requires a 30-day waiting period for dealer sales of handguns and semiautomatic military-style assault weapons (can be waived after purchaser determined not to be prohibited); authorities also have 30 days to issue or deny an application for permits to purchase firearms
Authorities have 30 days to issue or deny application for permit, required to purchase any firearm.

Dealer License Required

Requires all gun dealers to obtain a state license

Dealer License Required

Lost and Stolen Reporting

Requires gun owners to notify law enforcement if their guns are lost or stolen

Lost and Stolen Reporting

Mental Health Record Reporting

Requires or allows officials to report prohibiting records into the background check system

Mental Health Record Reporting

Are officials required to report, or merely allowed to do so?
Required
Required

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Requires notice to law enforcement when a prohibited person tries to buy a gun

Notification of Failed Background Checks

Sales Records Sent to Law Enforcement

Requires all handgun sale information be recorded by officials

Sales Records Sent to Law Enforcement

Training Required to Purchase Guns

Requires certain gun buyers to take a training course before their purchase

Training Required to Purchase Guns

Waiting Periods

Requires gun buyers to wait a prescribed time before completing a purchase

Waiting Periods