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Best States for Gun Owners 2024
If you live in the United States and have some access to the news, you know that gun control is a hot topic due to the rising number of school shootings and other mass shootings. While some citizens and politicians are very vocal about increasing gun control and even banning guns completely, many citizens believe that everyone in the United States has the right to bear arms as outlined in the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
Gun laws are not determined by the federal government. Instead, each state determines the requirements for obtaining a gun, as well as the requirements for open carry and concealed carry. Additionally, some states have constitutional carry permitting people to carry a concealed gun without a license or permit.
While there aren’t any states that have banned gun ownership, some states have “may issue” policies that make it difficult for average citizens to obtain and own a gun. This article will focus on the states that don’t have such strict laws regarding owning or carrying a gun. These are considered the best states for gun owners.
State | Combined Rank |
|---|---|
| Delaware | 50 |
| Hawaii | 49 |
| Rhode Island | 48 |
| Iowa | 47 |
| New Jersey | 46 |
| New Mexico | 45 |
| Vermont | 44 |
| Nevada | 43 |
| Nebraska | 42 |
| Maryland | 41 |
Best States for Gun Owners
Arizona
A little over 46% of Arizona households own at least one firearm. It also has some of the most favorable laws for gun owners in the country.
Idaho
With household gun ownership of over 60% and laws that are very favorable to gun owners, Idaho is another state that is a good home for those who own firearms.
Texas
Although the percentage of households who own firearms is slightly lower, at 45.7%, Texas is a good state for gun owners because of the number of firearm-related jobs. There are over 11,000 firearm-related jobs in the state.
Arkansas
Fifty-seven percent of households in Arkansas have at least one firearm. Along with the relatively favorable laws for gun owners, this makes Arkansas a good state for gun owners.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire has the lowest household gun ownership percentage and the least favorable gun laws in the top five states, but it is still a good state for gun owners. This is because there are many gun-related jobs in the state and the average pay for these jobs is quite high at $77,343.67.
Combined rankings were determined by compiling state-level scores in four indicators:
- Number of guns per capita
- Favorability of gun laws
State | Combined Rank | Favorable Gun Laws Rank | % of Households w/Guns | # of Gun Jobs | Average Gun Job Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 1 | 6 | 46.3% | 3,476 | $51,985 |
| Idaho | 2 | 2 | 60.1% | 3,610 | $40,938 |
| Texas | 3 | 14 | 45.7% | 11,467 | $36,019 |
| Arkansas | 4 | 10 | 57.2% | 3,101 | $40,979 |
| New Hampshire | 5 | 21 | 41.1% | 2,551 | $77,344 |
| Georgia | 6 | 18 | 49.2% | 4,519 | $36,251 |
| Alabama | 7 | 13 | 55.5% | 3,105 | $35,310 |
| Mississippi | 8 | 1 | 55.8% | 2,324 | $41,558 |
| Missouri | 9 | 4 | 48.8% | 5,513 | $29,516 |
| South Carolina | 10 | 20 | 49.4% | 2,957 | $42,023 |
| Utah | 11 | 24 | 46.8% | 3,108 | $44,615 |
| Florida | 12 | 29 | 35.3% | 7,107 | $37,392 |
| North Carolina | 13 | 26 | 45.8% | 5,146 | $36,647 |
| Virginia | 14 | 25 | 44.6% | 2,806 | $35,151 |
| Minnesota | 15 | 38 | 42.8% | 4,757 | $65,399 |
| Wyoming | 16 | 2 | 66.2% | 676 | $30,489 |
| Pennsylvania | 17 | 39 | 40.7% | 6,107 | $38,747 |
| Kentucky | 18 | 4 | 54.6% | 2,069 | $31,239 |
| Kansas | 19 | 8 | 48.9% | 2,713 | $27,331 |
| South Dakota | 20 | 7 | 55.3% | 1,028 | $32,461 |
| Oregon | 21 | 35 | 50.8% | 2,885 | $67,613 |
| Ohio | 22 | 26 | 40% | 6,407 | $30,282 |
| Illinois | 23 | 43 | 27.8% | 5,286 | $57,827 |
| Louisiana | 24 | 18 | 53.1% | 2,437 | $29,682 |
| Tennessee | 25 | 22 | 51.6% | 3,175 | $34,714 |
| Montana | 26 | 14 | 66.3% | 1,427 | $30,712 |
| Massachusetts | 27 | 44 | 14.7% | 3,676 | $73,448 |
| Connecticut | 28 | 48 | 23.6% | 2,289 | $75,285 |
| Oklahoma | 29 | 10 | 54.7% | 2,216 | $25,426 |
| California | 30 | 50 | 28.3% | 9,196 | $45,568 |
| Alaska | 31 | 9 | 64.5% | 717 | $27,926 |
| New York | 32 | 47 | 19.9% | 3,745 | $67,377 |
| Michigan | 33 | 31 | 40.2% | 4,230 | $33,725 |
| Indiana | 34 | 23 | 44.8% | 3,037 | $25,738 |
| Maine | 35 | 14 | 46.8% | 1,376 | $30,925 |
| West Virginia | 36 | 14 | 58.5% | 817 | $21,962 |
| Colorado | 37 | 37 | 45.1% | 2,471 | $36,536 |
| North Dakota | 38 | 12 | 55.1% | 529 | $28,326 |
| Wisconsin | 39 | 30 | 45.3% | 2,619 | $34,146 |
| Washington | 40 | 41 | 42.1% | 3,688 | $32,901 |
| Maryland | 41 | 45 | 30.2% | 1,599 | $57,811 |
| Nebraska | 42 | 33 | 45.2% | 1,831 | $37,931 |
| Nevada | 43 | 35 | 47.3% | 1,405 | $27,914 |
| Vermont | 44 | 28 | 50.5% | 357 | $47,166 |
| New Mexico | 45 | 34 | 46.2% | 733 | $20,482 |
| New Jersey | 46 | 49 | 14.7% | 1,145 | $62,275 |
| Iowa | 47 | 31 | 43.6% | 1,171 | $27,291 |
| Rhode Island | 48 | 42 | 14.8% | 197 | $87,691 |
| Hawaii | 49 | 46 | 14.9% | 178 | $33,517 |
| Delaware | 50 | 40 | 34.4% | 163 | $24,143 |