Gun Law Ratings by State

In addition, Alaska is performing well in gun culture, largely due to its widespread acceptance of firearms in the Alaskan way of life. In the state, guns are not a privilege, but a tool that allows citizens to continue their normal way of life. Because much of Alaska is rural, guns allow citizens to protect themselves and their families. Gov. Brian Kemp (right) signed a bill in 2022 that immediately eliminated the requirement to carry a handgun license and increased Georgia`s RTC score to 10 points. Transport permits may still be issued. The state has strong laws of force and a variety of areas. Governor Kemp`s Democratic opponent in the 2022 gubernatorial election, Stacey Abrams, is a staunch advocate for gun control. This could be a disaster for Georgia`s gun owners.

If you live in the state of Peach, go out and vote! Since our last report, there have been no changes to Missouri`s gun laws. It remains a license-free portage state that receives top marks in almost every category. The Show Me State is a great place to be a competitive shooter. Columbia is actually the birthplace of the International Practical Shooting Confederation, which was founded there in 1976 by Jeff Cooper and a group of other shooters. Rhode Island has relatively strict gun laws and took significant steps in 2020 to tighten regulations on untraceable and undetectable firearms. The state has the fifth-lowest gun death rate. To save lives from gun violence, Rhode Island lawmakers should regulate wide-body magazines and assault weapons, and invest in community violence intervention programs. In 2018, Florida passed a set of gun safety laws after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, but has since taken steps to weaken its laws. The state has the 25th lowest number of gun deaths in the country. To save lives from gun violence, Florida lawmakers should require background checks on all gun sales, extend gun protection from domestic violence to dating partners, and guide funding for community violence intervention programs.

Not far behind Alaska is Arizona, which ranked second in our analysis. Just like Alaska, Arizona has fully embraced guns as part of the state`s culture, and its gun laws reflect that. Arizona trusts its citizens to do the right thing about guns and give gun owners the benefit of the doubt to take action that is entirely responsible. While both Montana and Idaho have stricter laws regarding paper-based concealment regulations, they are more of a formality at best — and are not subject to the same complex scrutiny and lengthy procedures as some coastal states. Once again, South Carolina lawmakers failed to pass a portage without a permit bill in the 2021-2022 session. Excavation in South Carolina is its relatively low reciprocity with only 25 permits recognized by the states. Apart from this issue, South Carolina is doing well in all areas, with no restrictions on black guns or NFA articles and with strict laws on violence. The state has the third-highest rate of gun deaths in the country, according to the CDC. Which states have the ideal laws to prevent gun violence? To calculate the score, we rank each state numerically into each of the five categories: Carrying Right/CCW; access to the Black Rifles; state laws on the use of force (i.e. castle doctrine); banning items regulated by the National Firearms Act (NFA); and a collective Miscellaneous section. States receive from 0 to 10 points in each category and are ranked according to their total score. Draws are common in these rankings, so the intangible elements of “shooting culture” are taken into account for the final result.

Hawaii may be a tropical paradise, but that description doesn`t extend to state gun laws. Hawaii remains the most restrictive state in the country when it comes to port licensing. Although state law allows for their issuance, none have been issued for several years, meaning there are no valid permits at this time. Buying a handgun – even from a private party – requires a background check, purchase approval and registration. In 2022, the duration of purchase approvals was extended from 10 days to 30 days, a small step in the right direction. Hawaii restricts semi-cars, NFA items, and even “assault weapons.” Use of force laws are weak here. However, the state has a strong hunting culture.