Gun Ownership by State. How Armed is Your State…?

Michael Pereira
6 min readJun 26, 2020

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Statistics on gun ownership across the U.S. are hard to nail down; the ATF’s National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record is not all-inclusive, and some guns go unregistered.

A survey published in 2015 taken by a scholarly journal called “Injury Prevention” has released what may be the closest look yet.

Their survey asked a representative sample of 4,000 adults nationwide whether they own firearms. The findings helped the research group estimate gun ownership rates in each state.

Here are the results from lowest to highest.

51. Delaware

Delaware’s gun ownership rate is the lowest in the country, at 5.2 percent. That’s far below the national average of 29.1 percent.

Here, revolvers are on display at Miller’s Gun Center in New Castle, Delaware.

50. Rhode Island

According to the survey data, the gun ownership rate in Rhode Island is 5.8 percent.

Here, Rhode Island State Police Capt. James Manni argues for legislation banning the sale of assault weapons.

49. New York

The gun ownership rate in New York is 10.3 percent.

The illegal guns seem here were seized by the New York Police Department in 2013 in the largest such operation in city history.

48. New Jersey

The gun ownership rate in New Jersey is 11.3 percent.

Here, a man checks out a handgun for sale at the RTSP shooting range in Randolph.

47. New Hampshire

The gun ownership rate in New Hampshire is 14.4 percent.

Here, a customer checks out a shotgun in Merrimack. The store owner said their sales doubled from 2015 to 2016.

46. Connecticut

The gun ownership rate in Connecticut is 16.6 percent.

This photo from investigators shows firearms and ammunition found on or near the shooter’s body at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.

45. Ohio

The gun ownership rate in Ohio is 19.6 percent.

Here, guns are displayed at a show in Mansfield.

43 (TIE). Nebraska & California

The gun ownership rate in California and Nebraska is 19.8 percent.

Here, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti shows the results of an anonymous gun buyback program in 2017.

42. Maryland

The gun ownership rate in Maryland is 20.7 percent.

Here, a woman practices with a handgun at a National Rifle Association virtual shooting booth in National Harbor.

40 (TIE). Massachusetts & Main

The gun ownership rate in Massachusetts and Main is 22.6 percent.

Here, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino looks at confiscated handguns in 2006.

39. Washington, D.C.

The gun ownership rate in Washington, D.C., is 25.9 percent.

Here, guns seized by Washington, D.C., police over the years are shown in the firearms examination section at police headquarters.

38. Illinois

The gun ownership rate in Illinois is 26.2 percent.

Here, Dr. Shandrea Boyd shoots at the Eagle Sports gun range during a concealed-carry certification test in Oak Forest.

37. Oregon

The gun ownership rate in Oregon is 26.6 percent.

Guns are shown here at Roseburg Gun Shop in Roseburg.

35 (TIE). Pennsylvania & Missouri

The gun ownership rate in Pennsylvania and Missouri is 27.1 percent.

Gun salesman Nathan Palermo is shown here holding an AR-15.

34. Washington

The gun ownership rate in Washington state is 27.7 percent.

Here, a woman displays her rifle to fellow demonstrators during a pro-gun rally in Olympia.

33. North Carolina

The gun ownership rate in North Carolina is 28.7 percent.

In this photo from 2000, the late actor and NRA president Charlton Heston holds up a musket at the 129th Annual Meeting & Exhibit in Charlotte.

31 (TIE). Vermont &Michigan

The gun ownership rate in Vermont and Michigan is 28.8 percent.

Here, supporters of Michigan’s open-carry law hold decorated Olympic Arms .223 pistols.

30. Virginia

The gun ownership rate in Virginia is 29.3 percent — close to the national average in the survey.

Here, a protester wears a pistol on his hip during a demonstration in Charlottesville.

29. Oklahoma

The gun ownership rate in Oklahoma is 31.2 percent.

Here, the founder and president of H&H Gun Range looks over a Henry Golden Boy rifle in his store in Oklahoma City.

28. Georgia

The gun ownership rate in Georgia is 31.6 percent.

Here, Makenzie Wynn poses for her father while holding a Black Rain Ordinance rifle at the 146th NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Atlanta.

27. Utah

The gun ownership rate in Utah is 31.9 percent.

Here, the owner of Ready Gunman stands by guns for sale at his shop in Springville.

26. Kansas

The gun ownership rate in Kansas is 32.2 percent.

Here, Assistant Kansas Attorney General Amy Hanley shows a jury a Ruger Redhawk gun during a 2013 murder trial.

25. Arizona

The gun ownership rate in Arizona is 32.3 percent.

Here, the owner of Sarge’s Sidearms near Benson displays an AR-15 “sport” rifle.

24. Florida

The gun ownership rate in Florida is 32.5 percent.

Here, Brandon Wexler shows a customer a weapon at the K&W Gunworks store in Delray Beach.

22 (TIE). Indiana & Iowa

The gun ownership rate in Indiana and Iowa is 33.8 percent.

Here, an NRA convention-goer holds a 24-karat-gold-plated Desert Eagle pistol at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

21. Colorado

The gun ownership rate in Colorado is 34.3 percent.

Here, a Bush Master AR15 assault rifle is displayed at Firing-Line gun shop in Aurora CO.

20. Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s gun ownership rate is 34.7 percent.

Here, a model walks the runway during the NRA Concealed Carry Fashion Show in Milwaukee WI.

19. South Dakota

South Dakota’s gun ownership rate is 35 percent.

Here, firearms instructor Shannon Hinrichs watches as State Rep. Sam Marty shoots at a target at the George S. Mickelson Criminal Justice Center in Pierre in 2014.

18. Texas

The gun ownership rate in Texas is 35.7 percent.

Here, a man walks around a gun show in Fort Worth.

17. Minnesota

The gun ownership rate in Minnesota is 36.7 percent.

Here, a Ruger .22 caliber semiautomatic and other guns are displayed in Woodbury.

16. Nevada

The gun ownership rate in Nevada is 37.5 percent.

Here, recording artist Miranda Lambert attends the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena with a small pistol attached to her shoe.

15. Tennessee

The gun ownership rate in Tennessee is 39.4 percent.

Here, convention-goers look at Old West handguns at the NRA Annual Convention in Nashville.

14. Kentucky

Kentucky’s gun ownership rate is 42.4%

Here, Christian Florea, 10, looks over an FN MK 48 machine gun at an NRA event in Louisville.

13. Mississippi

Mississippi’s gun ownership rate is 42.8 percent.

Here, Jake Driskell, a police officer and owner of Gun Guy Tactical, helps first-time shooter Katherine Huffman in Petal.

12. South Carolina

South Carolina’s gun ownership rate is 44.4 percent.

Here, Mike Jones poses beside a display of weapons in a gun store in Simpsonville SC.

11. Louisiana

The gun ownership rate in Louisiana is 44.5 percent.

Here, Devereaux Sellers teaches his wife, Madelie, how to hold a .45 caliber pistol at Precision Guns and Indoor Range in Baton Rouge.

10. Hawaii

Hawaii’s gun ownership rate is 45.1 percent.

Here, Jerry Ilo teaches a hunter-education training course in Honolulu.

9. North Dakota

North Dakota’s gun ownership rate is 47.9 percent.

Here, Rick Berg target shoots at the National Guard Armory in Bismarck.

8. Alabama

Alabama’s gun ownership rate is 48.9 percent.

Here, Prince William County prosecutor Richard C. Conway holds a gun during a 2003 trial of a sniper suspect.

7. New Mexico

The gun ownership rate in New Mexico is 49.9 percent.

Here, salesman Nathan Williams attends to customers at The Outdoorsman gun shop in Santa Fe.

6. Montana

Montana’s gun ownership rate is 52.3 percent.

Two men training at a range in Montana.

5. Wyoming

Wyoming’s gun ownership rate is 53.8 percent.

Here, the co-owners of Thunder Beast Arms Corp. prepare to shoot high-powered rifles at a range west of Cheyenne.

4. West Virginia

The gun ownership rate in West Virginia is 54.2%

Here, Ralph Schoolcraft looks through the scope on a hunting rifle at Spring Hill Rod and Gun in South Charleston.

3. Idaho

Idaho’s gun ownership rate is 56.9 percent.

A rifle with accessiores on display at a gun shop in Idaho.

2. Arkansas

The gun ownership rate in Arkansas is 57.9 percent.

Here, a semi-automatic handgun and a holster are displayed at a North Little Rock, Ark., gun shop.

1. Alaska

Alaska has the highest gun ownership rate in the country at 61.7 percent.

Alaska Guard trains with a M17 pistol at the range.

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Michael Pereira
Michael Pereira

Written by Michael Pereira

Marine Corps Veteran & current Owner/Ceo of Tactical Elite L.L.C. “Our Mission, to supply elite quality tactical gear to ensure maximum combat effectiveness.”

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