Gun ownership in the US is at an all-time high… Is that a good thing?

Did you know that the US, along with Mexico and Guatemala, is one of only three nations where gun ownership is a constitutional right? Maybe even more shocking, according to a 2020 study by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, our country is home to an estimated 433.9 million civilian-owned firearms, equivalent to about 1.3 guns for every American.

No other country even comes close to having that many firearms, let alone more guns than people. But not all Americans are gun owners. Far from it, actually. According to a study published by a research and public policy advocacy group, only about 32% of American households own firearms.

So, based on the total number of weapons in the US, many gun-owning households likely own far more than one. At the state level, gun ownership rates differ greatly. In some parts of the nation, less than one in every 10 households own at least one firearm. In others, though, well over half of all households do.

The RAND Corporation, 24/7 Wall St., has pinpointed the states with the highest gun ownership rates. States are ranked by the estimated percentage of households that own at least one gun. Firearm regulations at the state level are closely connected with gun ownership rates.

Gun control advocacy group Giffords Law Center rates states based on the stability of their gun control laws on a scale from A to F, with A representing the most substantial gun control policies and F representing the most fragile. Standard gun control policies, mainly lacking in the states with the highest gun ownership rates, include licensing requirements, mandatory waiting periods, public carry restrictions, and stricter background check standards.

These laws are created to keep guns out of the wrong hands and decrease the likelihood of gun violence, whether it be accidental or otherwise. With a greater majority of firearms and usually a more easygoing approach to gun control, gun violence tends to be more standard in the parts of the nation with higher ownership rates.

So, which are the states with the highest gun ownership rates in the US? Continue reading to see if yours is on this list!

New Mexico

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 27.3
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 58.1

As a portion of the American Southwest, New Mexico embodies the “Old West” legacy of cowboys, cattle drives, and conflicts between Native Americans and pioneers.

Its firearm laws are moderate, with regulations praised by gun control advocates, including the requirement for private gun ownership sales to go through a criminal background check through a licensed dealer. Despite these measures, this state ranks 4th in the country for guns per capita.

Wyoming

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 20.4
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 245.8

Even though it’s the least populated state in the United States of America, Wyoming tops the list as the state with the most gun ownership per capita, with 245.8 firearms for every 1,000 citizens.

Well-known for its mountains, wide-open spaces, and Yellowstone National Park, this state is the 10th-largest in the country. It remains a popular destination for outdoor recreation, including hiking, fishing, camping, and hunting.

New Hampshire

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 10.1
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 52.1

New Hampshire is a New England state known for its charming towns and extensive wilderness. But what most don’t talk about is that it experiences an average of 143 gun ownership related deaths yearly.

This translates to a death from gun violence roughly every 61 hours. Of those, 88% are suicides and 9% are homicides. Between 2013 and 2022, the rate of gun deaths in New Hampshire rose by 57%, compared to a 36% increase nationwide.

West Virginia

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 16.2
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 92.8

West Virginia, snuggled in the tree-covered Appalachian Mountains, is well-known for its outdoor recreation, coal mining, and beautiful scenery.

This state also has one of the highest rates of gun deaths in the nation, with a rate of 16.2 gun deaths per 100,000 people. While a large number of these are suicides, the overall gun ownership death rate remains rather significant.

Idaho

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 17
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 40.2

Idaho, the 14th-biggest state in the US, is home to several national parks and a popular outdoor destination. But as recently as 2022, Idaho had the 20th highest gun death rate among the states, with an average of 303 individuals dying from gun violence yearly.

This translates to one death from this issue every 29 hours. Of these gun ownership deaths, 9% are homicides and 85% are suicides.

Alaska

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 22.4
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 38.5

Alaska, known for its stunning glaciers, vast wilderness, and mountains, is the biggest state in the US by area. A popular destination for outdoor amusement, it’s home to multiple national parks.

But, the state’s natural beauty is tainted by its reputation for violence, with the Federal Bureau of Investigation saying that Alaska’s violent crime rate remained far above the national average in recent times, with a rate of 758.9 violent crimes per 100,000 people, compared to the US rate of 380.7.

Also, the number of gun deaths per 100,000 individuals in the state came in at 22.4, the 7th highest in the country.

Virginia

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 14.9
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 49

Virginia, an eastern US state, stretches from the Chesapeake Bay to the Appalachian Mountains and has a long Atlantic coastline. This state is recognized as “the birthplace of a nation” due to being the site of the first permanent English settlement and has a significant historical heritage.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, there were 2,760 firearm injury emergency department visits in 2022, with an average of three Virginians dying by firearm every day from 2016 to the present day.

Alabama

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 25.5
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 38.7

Alabama, a southern state on the eastern side of the US, is home to significant landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement, where many pivotal events happened. Yet even though it has a proud history, the current firearm climate has tainted the state’s reputation.

With a population of a mere five million, Alabama has the 4th highest gun death rate in the nation.

Arkansas

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 21.9
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 44.3

Arkansas, the 29th biggest state in the US by area, is famous for its natural beauty, including the Ozark Mountains, and is notably the leading diamond-producing state in America.

But it also ranks among the top states with the most guns per capita and has some of the most ineffective gun laws in the nation, contributing to its 8th highest gun death rate annually.

North Dakota

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 16.4
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 40

North Dakota is a family-friendly state that is well-known for its high quality of life and relatively low cost of living. And despite its incredibly cold winters, the Peace Garden State regularly ranks as one of the happiest.

On the other hand, this state is also among the top 10 states in the US with the most guns per capita, with roughly 40 guns per capita.

Louisiana

-Gun Deaths per 100,000 People: 28.2
-Guns Ownership Per Capita: 32.9

Louisiana, a southeastern state, is renowned for its rich history as a fusion of African, French, American, and French-Canadian cultures, evident in its Cajun and Creole heritage.

And Louisiana doesn’t prohibit the public from openly carrying firearms. It also doesn’t require universal background checks for gun ownership, possibly making it one of the reasons why the state ranks second highest in firearm mortality by state, with roughly 28.2 gun deaths per 100,000 people.

So what do YOU think about gun ownership in the US? Were you surprised by this list? Be sure to leave a comment to share your thoughts. And if you found this article interesting, check out: 12 Shocking Law-Breaking Violations You’re Committing Without Realizing