Visit Here and Find Gun Laws That Are Practically Nonexistent

Although guns have always been part of the fabric of American society, times are changing — and gun laws are too. As gun ownership becomes seemingly more politicized and polarizing than ever before, and gun violence ramps up across the United States, politicians and communities alike are starting to take notice. Several advocacy groups, including Moms Demand Action, recently gathered in Raleigh, North Carolina to protest a bill that would allow permitless concealed carry for anybody 18 years old or older who isn’t otherwise banned from owning a firearm. Alabama, which has one of the highest rates of gun deaths in the country, recently banned conversion devices that could turn rifles and pistols into machine guns. Other groups are advocating for less gun control. In Missouri, Rep. Bill Hardwick proposed House Bill 1175 as a measure to allow Missouri gun laws to supercede federal gun laws, arguing that infringing on Missouri’s Second Amendment rights is not okay. (These U.S. cities are riddled with the most gun crime.)

Regardless of your personal opinions on guns, it should be no surprise that America, with its varied communities and belief systems, cannot come to a consensus on gun laws or gun control. That’s why gun laws vary so heavily from state to state. Here, 24/7 Wall st. set out to determine which states in the U.S. had the loosest gun control laws. To do so, we used Gifford Law Center’s Annual Gun Law Scorecard, which grades all 50 states from A to F based on several factors. Grades are also compared to CDC gun death data and each state is ranked based on gun law strength and gun death rate. We listed all states with gun law grades of C-, D+, D, D-, or F in alphabetical order. Supplemental data on gun laws, what’s changed in 2024, and gun death rate per 100,000 people is also sourced from Gifford Law Center.

This previously published article was updated on April 17, 2025 to reflect new and impending legislation around gun laws in several states, as well as to provide updated gun death rates. 

Why Gun Laws and Gun Control Matter Today

The number of fatalities attributable to gun violence has been rising for years in the United States. While many states have taken active measures to reduce the likelihood of gun violence, even more have taken the opposite approach by maintaining the status quo or even expanding gun rights. In these states, firearm mortality rates tend to be higher than average. As gun laws continue to shift, we could see economic impacts, as well as human impacts. Several areas, including in Oregon, also see citizens beginning to stock up on guns in anticipation of a potential shortage or new restrictions.

Here are the 28 states with the loosest gun laws:

1. Alabama

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of certain mental health records (involuntary commitment) to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no gun owner licensing, no assault weapon restrictions, no waiting periods, no large capacity magazine bans, no open carry regulations
• What changed in 2024?: Prohibited the use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
• Gun death rate: 25.6 per 100,000 people — ranked 3rd out of 50 states

2. Alaska

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places, no child access prevention laws
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation was passed this year
• Gun death rate: 23.5 per 100,000 people — ranked 5th out of 50 states

3. Arizona

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases, firearms prohibited at polling places
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places, no extreme risk protection orders, no community violence intervention funding
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation was passed this year
• Gun death rate: 18.5 per 100,000 people — ranked 14th out of 50 states

4. Arkansas

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required partial mental health reporting to in-state databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation was passed this year
• Gun death rate: 21.9 per 100,000 people — ranked 7th out of 50 states

5. Florida

• Gun law strength grade: C-
• Notable gun controls: Mandatory waiting period for some or all firearm purchases, minimum age laws, waiting periods, open carry regulations, bump stock bans, extreme risk protection orders
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places, no lost or stolen firearm reporting
• What changed in 2024?: Invested more than $2 million in community violence intervention programs
• Gun death rate: 13.7 per 100,000 people — ranked 30th out of 50 states

6. Georgia

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws, handgun dealer regulation
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places, no domestic violence gun laws
• What changed in 2024?: Prohibited the use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
• Gun death rate: 18.6 per 100,000 people — ranked 13th out of 50 states

7. Idaho

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No extreme risk protection orders, no universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws
• Gun death rate: 17.9 per 100,000 people — ranked 18th out of 50 states

8. Indiana

• Gun law strength grade: D-
• Notable gun controls: Some open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws, extreme risk protection orders, handgun dealer regulation
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no community violence intervention funding, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Expanded gun industry immunity
• Gun death rate: 17.0 per 100,000 people — ranked 17th out of 50 states

9. Iowa

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws, some domestic violence gun laws, certain disarming procedures
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no bulk firearm purchasing restrictions, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws
• Gun death rate: 10.5 per 100,000 people — ranked 41st out of 50 states

10. Kansas

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No child access prevention laws, no universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation passed this year
• Gun death rate: 16.3 per 100,000 people — ranked 22nd out of 50 states

11. Kentucky

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Prohibited the use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
• Gun death rate: 18.4 per 100,000 people — ranked 16th out of 50 states

12. Louisiana

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws, disarming procedures
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no child access prevention laws, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Enacted permitless carry, enacted a law to punish businesses that boycott the gun industry, legally declared violence a public health issue
• Gun death rate: 28.3 per 100,000 people — ranked 2nd out of 50 states

13. Mississippi

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Partially required reporting of mental health records to federal databases, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places, no open carry regulations
• What changed in 2024?: Banned machine gun conversion devices
• Gun death rate: 29.4 per 100,000 people — ranked 1st out of 50 states

14. Missouri

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some open carry restrictions, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places, no domestic violence gun laws
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation passed this year
• Gun death rate: 21.4 per 100,000 people — ranked 10th out of 50 states

15. Montana

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation passed this year
• Gun death rate: 21.5 per 100,000 people — ranked 9th out of 50 states

16. Nebraska

• Gun law strength grade: C-
• Notable gun controls: Universal background checks for some or all firearms, firearm licensing requirements, community violence intervention funding, domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No assault weapon bans, no lost or stolen firearm reporting, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Invested $1 million in community violence intervention programs
• Gun death rate: 10.6 per 100,000 people — ranked 40th out of 50 states

17. New Hampshire

• Gun law strength grade: D-
• Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws, certain disarming procedures, state database background checks
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no open carry regulations, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Prohibited employers from restricting gun storage in parking lots
• Gun death rate: 9.6 per 100,000 people — ranked 42nd out of 50 states

18. North Carolina

• Gun law strength grade: C-
• Notable gun controls: Certain domestic violence gun laws, concealed carry permit requirements, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, no minimum age restrictions
• What changed in 2024?: Improved mental health reporting
• Gun death rate: 16.4 per 100,000 people — ranked 21st out of 50 states

19. North Dakota

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some domestic violence gun laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation passed this year
• Gun death rate: 12.8 per 100,000 people — ranked 34th out of 50 states

20. Ohio

• Gun law strength grade: D-
• Notable gun controls: Reporting for lost or stolen firearms
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no community violence intervention funding, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation passed this year
• Gun death rate: 15.0 per 100,000 people — ranked 23rd out of 50 states

21. Oklahoma

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, no community violence intervention funding
• What changed in 2024?: Allowed concealed carry permits to be renewed online
• Gun death rate: 19.9 per 100,000 people — ranked 11th out of 50 states

22. South Carolina

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no extreme risk protection orders, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Enacted permitless carry
• Gun death rate: 19.1 per 100,000 people — ranked 12th out of 50 states

23. South Dakota

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, no open carry regulations
• What changed in 2024?: Made it easier to carry a concealed gun on school grounds
• Gun death rate: 12.3 per 100,000 people — ranked 36th out of 50 states

24. Tennessee

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Some open carry restrictions, domestic violence gun laws, disarming procedures
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, no lost and stolen firearm reporting
• What changed in 2024?: Prohibited gun possession by youth in the juvenile justice system, forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws, made it easier to carry a concealed gun on school grounds
• Gun death rate: 22.0 per 100,000 people — ranked 6th out of 50 states

25. Texas

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Required reporting of mental health records to federal databases, child access prevention laws
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, no community violence intervention funding, no extreme risk protection orders
• What changed in 2024?: No significant gun legislation passed this year
• Gun death rate: 14.9 per 100,000 people — ranked 24th out of 50 states

26. Utah

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, child access prevention laws, extended background check period, state database background checks
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no strong concealed carry laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, no open carry regulations
• What changed in 2024?: Made it easier to carry a concealed gun on school grounds, prohibited the use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
• Gun death rat: 14.8 per 100,000 people — ranked 25th out of 50 states

27. West Virginia

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: Domestic violence gun laws, certain disarming procedures
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no extreme risk protection orders, no firearm licensing requirements, permitless concealed carry in public places
• What changed in 2024?: Forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws
• Gun death rate: 16.8 per 100,000 people — ranked 19th out of 50 states

28. Wyoming

• Gun law strength grade: F
• Notable gun controls: No concealed carry in bars
• Notable gun rights: No universal background check laws, no assault weapon bans, no high capacity magazine ban, no waiting period for firearm purchases, no firearm licensing requirements, no child access prevention laws
• What changed in 2024?: Forbade local governments from enacting gun safety laws, prohibited use of a merchant category code for gun dealers
• Gun death rate: 21.5 per 100,000 people — ranked 8th out of 50 states

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