14 States With the Strictest and Most Lenient Firearm Rules

Firearm laws vary greatly across the United States. While some states make it difficult to purchase, own, or carry guns, other jurisdictions have virtually no restrictions.

According to the Giffords gun law scorecard, these are the states with the strictest firearm laws.

1: California 

The Giffords scorecard ranks California as having the strictest firearm laws in the nation. The Golden State requires 10-day waiting periods, criminal background checks, and mental health checks.

California has the seventh-lowest firearm fatality rate in the nation. These numbers include people taking their own lives, which is different than looking at firearm fatalities from a homicide-only perspective.

2: New Jersey

New Jersey is the second strictest state for firearm laws. Owners must register with the state police and pass an approved safety course. New Jersey also limits magazines to 15 rounds or less. 

3: Connecticut

Connecticut scores an A on the Giffords scorecard. In October of 2023, the state enacted more laws to protect citizens, banning open carry and putting stricter purchasing rules into effect.  

4: Hawaii

Hawaii requires its residents to be 21 years old to own a firearm, and the state is strict about where people can carry guns. Current Governor Josh Green is a retired physician who sees firearm violence as a major public health crisis. 

5: Illinois 

Scoring an A- on the Giffords scorecard, Illinois has some of the strictest firearm laws in the country. It also has a relatively high firearm fatality rate, at 14.7 fatalities per 100,000 people.

6: Maryland

In Maryland, firearm owners must be at least 21 years old and pass a background check. There are also restrictions on gun size and capacity. Recently, the state also passed Jaelynn’s Law, which requires owners to use secure storage for their firearms. 

7: Massachusetts

Massachusetts requires firearm owners to obtain a license and register with the state police. They must also maintain a permit, which requires training and a background check. Massachusetts boasts one of the lowest firearm fatality rates in the nation at 3.7 deaths per 100,000 citizens. 

8: New York 

In New York, firearm owners must pass a stringent set of background checks. To purchase a weapon, new owners must submit two character references and provide a full mental health history. 

States Most Lenient On Firearms 

While several states have strong firearm laws in place, according to the Giffords scorecard, almost half of the nation fails; twenty-four out of fifty states received an “F” grade for their lax or non-existent firearm laws. The following six states are among the most lenient. 

1: Mississippi

Mississippi has the highest firearm fatality rate in the nation and some of the most lenient gun laws. Firearm owners buying from a private dealer don’t need a background check to make a purchase. They also don’t need a permit to carry a concealed firearm. 

2: Alabama

Alabama is another state with extremely lenient firearm laws and a high firearm fatality rate per capita. Firearm owners in the Cotton State only need to be 19 years of age, and there are no background check requirements when buying from private sellers. 

3: Louisiana

Louisiana also has some of the most lenient firearm laws and has the second-highest number of firearm fatalities per capita (26.3 per 100,000 citizens). No private seller background checks are required. That said, Louisiana requires a permit for concealed carry. 

4: Wyoming

Wyoming also fails the Giffords scorecard and stands out as a top state for firearm fatalities. There are no permit or private seller background check requirements. There is also no waiting period for firearm purchases. 

5: Alaska

Alaska has general restrictions on where citizens can carry firearms. When purchasing a gun, there are no waiting periods or licensing requirements. The Last Frontier also doesn’t require registration for semi-automatic weapons.

6: Montana

In recent years, Montana has made its lenient firearm laws even moreso. As of 2021, firearm owners can carry concealed firearms in the state without a permit. They also don’t require licensing or registration. 

Firearm Ownership Rates by State Ranked From 1 to 50

Do you know which states have the highest and lowest rates of firearm ownership? Find out where your state stands.

Firearm Ownership Rates by State Ranked From 1 to 50

States With the Highest and Lowest Firearm Fatality Rates

Most Americans would agree that too many citizens lose their lives to firearms. However, some states have higher rates of firearm fatalities than others. These are the states with the most and least annual firearm fatalities.

States With the Highest and Lowest Firearm Fatality Rates Ranked From 1 to 50