In Which US State Do Almost Two-Thirds of Households Report Owning Guns?

A new study on gun culture and school shootings was published in the open-access journal PLOS One on April 23, 2025. The study, an analysis of school shootings in the U.S., suggests that the majority of school shooters grew up in homes with strong gun cultures. In their homes, firearms were easy to access, and their families were positive towards guns in general. According to the study, not only were the shooters easily able to access their family’s guns, but their identities were shaped by attitudes towards guns.

Unsurprisingly, the states with more lax gun laws are the same states where more people own guns. These states tend to be strong in gun culture, while states with strict gun laws have much less of a gun culture present. The term “gun culture” first appeared in the 1970s when historian Richard Hofstadter first coined the phrase. After the assassination of President Kennedy in 1968, critics of American gun culture spoke out for stronger gun laws. But this didn’t go far, as Hofstadter explained, “It seems clear now that the strategic moment for gun controls has passed and that the United States will continue to endure an armed populace, at least until there is a major political disaster involving the use of guns.” As we know today, although there is great political controversy regarding gun laws, they remain easy for Americans to readily obtain. (Also check out 22 questions about gun laws that most Americans can’t answer.)

24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the strongest gun cultures using data from multiple sources, including the Rand Corporation and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. We ranked states from least to most pro-gun on a three-part, equally weighted index, made up of the number of firearm retailers for every 100,000 people, the gun ownership rate, and the strength of gun control laws. Data on firearm retailers came from the ATF and is current as of 2021. The estimated gun ownership rate is from a Rand Corporation report published in 2020. The 10 states with the strongest gun cultures include four in the South, four in the West, and two in the Midwest.

(This article was updated on April 24, 2025, to reflect recent news on a recently published study regarding school shootings in the U.S.)

Why Is This Important Now?

Gun ownership and gun culture may seem to differ dramatically from state to state. A new study regarding school shootings and gun culture suggests that school shooters tend to come from families with strong gun cultures. Knowing which state has more gun owners shapes everything from firearms dealer licensing to police staffing. These trends also predict what the market might look like for those looking to buy or sell guns and how safe a certain area might be. As you’ll see, many of the states with higher rates of gun ownership also see higher rates of gun violence. Identifying where and why this violence is occurring helps communities figure out what measures to take to make their citizens safer.

Check out which states have the weakest and strongest gun cultures:

50. New Jersey

• Firearm stores in state: 272 total; 2.9 per 100,000 people (the fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 8.9% of households (the lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A

49. Massachusetts

• Firearm stores in state: 297 total; 4.3 per 100,000 people (2nd fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 9.0% of households (2nd lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A-

48. Hawaii

• Firearm stores in state: 97 total; 6.7 per 100,000 people (5th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 9.1% of households (3rd lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A-

47. California

• Firearm stores in state: 1,763 total; 4.5 per 100,000 people (3rd fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 16.3% of households (6th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A

46. New York

• Firearm stores in state: 1,644 total; 8.4 per 100,000 people (6th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 14.5% of households (5th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A-

45. Connecticut

• Firearm stores in state: 412 total; 11.4 per 100,000 people (9th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 18.8% of households (8th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A

44. Maryland

• Firearm stores in state: 548 total; 8.9 per 100,000 people (7th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 16.7% of households (7th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A-

43. Rhode Island

• Firearm stores in state: 70 total; 6.4 per 100,000 people (4th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 13.9% of households (4th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: B+

42. Illinois

• Firearm stores in state: 1,138 total; 9.0 per 100,000 people (8th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 22.6% of households (9th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A-

41. Washington

• Firearm stores in state: 938 total; 12.0 per 100,000 people (10th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 32.1% of households (11th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A-

40. Virginia

• Firearm stores in state: 1,485 total; 17.1 per 100,000 people (16th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 35.3% of households (13th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: B+

39. Delaware

• Firearm stores in state: 124 total; 12.2 per 100,000 people (11th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 38.7% of households (21st lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: B+

38. Colorado

• Firearm stores in state: 1,520 total; 26.0 per 100,000 people (19th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 37.9% of households (19th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A-

37. Nevada

• Firearm stores in state: 444 total; 14.0 per 100,000 people (13th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 32.9% of households (12th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: B-

36. Oregon

• Firearm stores in state: 1,132 total; 26.7 per 100,000 people (18th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 41.4% of households (24th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: A-

35. Pennsylvania

• Firearm stores in state: 2,403 total; 18.5 per 100,000 people (18th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 40.2% of households (25th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: B

34. Minnesota

• Firearm stores in state: 1,291 total; 22.6 per 100,000 people (24th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 39.1% of households (23rd lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: B

33. Michigan

• Firearm stores in state: 1,847 total; 18.4 per 100,000 people (17th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 38.9% of households (22nd lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: B-

32. New Mexico

• Firearm stores in state: 497 total; 23.5 per 100,000 people (21st most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 35.9% of households (15th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: C+

31. Florida

• Firearm stores in state: 2,800 total; 12.6 per 100,000 people (12th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 28.8% of households (10th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: D+

30. North Carolina

• Firearm stores in state: 2,158 total; 20.2 per 100,000 people (24th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 37.1% of households (17th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: C-

29. Wisconsin

• Firearm stores in state: 1,329 total; 22.6 per 100,000 people (25th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 47.1% of households (17th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: C

28. Nebraska

• Firearm stores in state: 657 total; 33.4 per 100,000 people (11th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 39.2% of households (24th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: C-

27. Vermont

• Firearm stores in state: 264 total; 40.8 per 100,000 people (8th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 50.3% of households (15th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: B-

26. Texas

• Firearm stores in state: 5,586 total; 18.6 per 100,000 people (19th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 35.5% of households (14th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

25. Ohio

• Firearm stores in state: 1,988 total; 16.9 per 100,000 people (15th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 41.9% of households (23rd highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: D-

24. Georgia

• Firearm stores in state: 1,764 total; 16.2 per 100,000 people (14th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 37.7% of households (18th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

23. Arizona

• Firearm stores in state: 1,397 total; 19.0 per 100,000 people (20th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 36.0% of households (16th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

22. Indiana

• Firearm stores in state: 1,312 total; 19.2 per 100,000 people (23rd fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 42.4% of households (21st highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: D-

21. South Carolina

• Firearm stores in state: 1,014 total; 19.2 per 100,000 people (22nd fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 45.0% of households (20th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: D-

20. Utah

• Firearm stores in state: 766 total; 22.7 per 100,000 people (22nd most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 39.7% of households (25th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

19. New Hampshire

• Firearm stores in state: 359 total; 25.7 per 100,000 people (20th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 46.3% of households (19th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: D-

18. Tennessee

• Firearm stores in state: 1,349 total; 19.1 per 100,000 people (21st fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 46.9% of households (18th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

17. Iowa

• Firearm stores in state: 1,166 total; 36.4 per 100,000 people (9th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 38.5% of households (20th lowest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

16. Maine

• Firearm stores in state: 424 total; 30.6 per 100,000 people (13th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 47.7% of households (16th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: D-

15. Kansas

• Firearm stores in state: 954 total; 32.5 per 100,000 people (12th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 42.3% of households (22nd highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

14. Alabama

• Firearm stores in state: 1,057 total; 20.8 per 100,000 people (25th fewest of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 52.8% of households (10th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

13. Louisiana

• Firearm stores in state: 1,038 total; 22.6 per 100,000 people (23rd most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 52.3% of households (13th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

12. Kentucky

• Firearm stores in state: 1,230 total; 27.3 per 100,000 people (17th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 52.5% of households (12th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

11. Missouri

• Firearm stores in state: 1,875 total; 30.3 per 100,000 people (14th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 52.8% of households (11th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

10. Mississippi

• Firearm stores in state: 836 total; 28.4 per 100,000 people (16th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 54.1% of households (8th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

9. Oklahoma

• Firearm stores in state: 1,190 total; 29.6 per 100,000 people (15th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 54.9% of households (7th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

8. Arkansas

• Firearm stores in state: 1,098 total; 36.1 per 100,000 people (10th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 51.8% of households (14th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

7. Idaho

• Firearm stores in state: 813 total; 41.9 per 100,000 people (7th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 57.8% of households (4th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

6. West Virginia

• Firearm stores in state: 812 total; 45.7 per 100,000 people (6th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 60.0% of households (3rd highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

5. South Dakota

• Firearm stores in state: 491 total; 54.0 per 100,000 people (5th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 55.0% of households (6th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

4. North Dakota

• Firearm stores in state: 443 total; 56.8 per 100,000 people (4th most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 53.3% of households (9th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

3. Alaska

• Firearm stores in state: 446 total; 60.8 per 100,000 people (3rd most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 57.2% of households (5th highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

2. Montana

• Firearm stores in state: 848 total; 75.5 per 100,000 people (2nd most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 65.0% of households (the highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

1. Wyoming

• Firearm stores in state: 537 total; 92.4 per 100,000 people (most of 50 states)
• Est. firearm ownership rate: 60.7% of households (2nd highest of 50 states)
• State gun safety law grade: F

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