The Staggering Gun Buyback Figures That Have Everyone Talking

There is no question that the United States is a gun-friendly nation thanks to a passionate belief that the Second Amendment is one of the most popular issues in the country. As a result, there are approximately 120 guns for every 100 citizens in the country. However, to counter this number, many states are looking to buy back guns to reduce the number of illegal weapons on the street. 

While the idea behind gun buyback programs might be sound, they are not without criticism. Between 2019 and 2023, the state of New York voluntarily received more than 7,000 firearms. However, any correlation between gun violence and buyback programs is flimsy at best. The reality is that gun buyback programs are, in some ways, little more than feel-good programs for cities and counties to claim they are getting guns off the streets.

Unsurprisingly, these programs do not attract criminals looking to give up their guns. However, there are still plenty of supporters of these buyback programs, which can be expected to continue well into the future.

None of this is to say that the future of gun buyback programs is inevitable, as any indicators the programs have shifted into the criminal element may cause them to be shut down in the future.

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 0.94 per 10,000 people (total: 131)
• Rate of firearm ownership: 46.3% of households (19th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 10.3 fatalities per 100,000 people (9th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 0.97 per 10,000 people (total: 140)
• Rate of firearm ownership: 9.1% of households (3rd lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 4.5 fatalities per 100,000 people (3rd lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.10 per 10,000 people (total: 71)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 50.3% of households (15th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 12.2 fatalities per 100,000 people (13th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.36 per 10,000 people (total: 79)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 60.7% of households (2nd highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 20.6 fatalities per 100,000 people (11th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.39 per 10,000 people (total: 1,399)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 38.9% of households (22nd lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 15.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (24th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.41 per 10,000 people (total: 273)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 57.8% of households (4th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 17.5 fatalities per 100,000 people (18th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.43 per 10,000 people (total: 458)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 38.5% of households (20th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 11.3 fatalities per 100,000 people (10th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.56 per 10,000 people (total: 566)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 18.8% of households (8th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 7.0 fatalities per 100,000 people (6th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.62 per 10,000 people (total: 126)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 53.3% of households (9th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 16.5 fatalities per 100,000 people (22nd highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.63 per 10,000 people (total: 321)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 39.2% of households (24th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 12.3 fatalities per 100,000 people (14th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.67 per 10,000 people (total: 565)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 39.7% of households (25th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 14.0 fatalities per 100,000 people (17th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.82 per 10,000 people (total: 1,414)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 32.1% of households (11th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 12.6 fatalities per 100,000 people (15th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.84 per 10,000 people (total: 1,284)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 9.0% of households (2nd lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 3.7 fatalities per 100,000 people (2nd lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.85 per 10,000 people (total: 1,712)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 8.9% of households (the lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 5.0 fatalities per 100,000 people (4th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.93 per 10,000 people (total: 1,135)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 47.1% of households (17th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 14.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (18th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.95 per 10,000 people (total: 3,829)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 14.5% of households (5th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 5.3 fatalities per 100,000 people (5th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 1.96 per 10,000 people (total: 214)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 13.9% of households (4th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 3.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (the lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.03 per 10,000 people (total: 618)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 51.8% of households (14th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 22.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (8th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.13 per 10,000 people (total: 1,314)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 52.8% of households (10th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 24.4 fatalities per 100,000 people (6th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.18 per 10,000 people (total: 1,246)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 39.1% of households (23rd lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 9.7 fatalities per 100,000 people (8th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.18 per 10,000 people (total: 160)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 57.2% of households (5th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 22.7 fatalities per 100,000 people (7th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.26 per 10,000 people (total: 908)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 54.9% of households (7th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 20.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (13th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.38 per 10,000 people (total: 698)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 42.3% of households (22nd highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 17.0 fatalities per 100,000 people (21st highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.38 per 10,000 people (total: 1,389)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 37.9% of households (19th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 17.3 fatalities per 100,000 people (19th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.41 per 10,000 people (total: 427)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 60.0% of households (3rd highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 16.4 fatalities per 100,000 people (23rd highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.42 per 10,000 people (total: 220)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 55.0% of households (6th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 16.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (24th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.42 per 10,000 people (total: 2,645)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 37.7% of households (18th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 20.0 fatalities per 100,000 people (14th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.49 per 10,000 people (total: 733)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 54.1% of households (8th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 29.7 fatalities per 100,000 people (the highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.59 per 10,000 people (total: 3,043)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 41.9% of households (23rd highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 15.7 fatalities per 100,000 people (25th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.61 per 10,000 people (total: 7,834)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 35.5% of households (14th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 15.7 fatalities per 100,000 people (25th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.66 per 10,000 people (total: 299)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 65.0% of households (the highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 24.5 fatalities per 100,000 people (5th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.70 per 10,000 people (total: 6,008)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 28.8% of households (10th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 14.4 fatalities per 100,000 people (20th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.76 per 10,000 people (total: 1,886)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 42.4% of households (21st highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 17.6 fatalities per 100,000 people (17th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.82 per 10,000 people (total: 1,432)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 52.8% of households (10th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 25.9 fatalities per 100,000 people (4th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.90 per 10,000 people (total: 2,134)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 36.0% of households (16th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 20.5 fatalities per 100,000 people (12th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 2.94 per 10,000 people (total: 2,556)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 35.3% of households (13th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 15.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (24th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 3.01 per 10,000 people (total: 307)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 38.7% of households (21st lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 12.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (12th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 3.12 per 10,000 people (total: 1,323)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 41.4% of households (24th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 14.6 fatalities per 100,000 people (21st lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 3.23 per 10,000 people (total: 1,457)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 52.5% of households (12th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 18.9 fatalities per 100,000 people (16th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 3.35 per 10,000 people (total: 1,065)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 32.9% of households (12th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 19.3 fatalities per 100,000 people (15th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 3.36 per 10,000 people (total: 1,775)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 45.0% of households (20th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 21.3 fatalities per 100,000 people (9th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 3.46 per 10,000 people (total: 4,353)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 22.6% of households (9th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 14.4 fatalities per 100,000 people (20th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 3.66 per 10,000 people (total: 774)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 35.9% of households (15th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 27.5 fatalities per 100,000 people (3rd highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 3.68 per 10,000 people (total: 4,771)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 40.2% of households (25th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 14.8 fatalities per 100,000 people (22nd lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 4.06 per 10,000 people (total: 4,348)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 37.1% of households (17th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 17.1 fatalities per 100,000 people (20th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 4.48 per 10,000 people (total: 3,159)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 46.9% of households (18th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 20.9 fatalities per 100,000 people (10th highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 5.88 per 10,000 people (total: 22,958)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 16.3% of households (6th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 8.7 fatalities per 100,000 people (7th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 6.03 per 10,000 people (total: 2,767)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 52.3% of households (13th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 28.2 fatalities per 100,000 people (2nd highest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 6.31 per 10,000 people (total: 874)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 47.7% of households (16th highest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 12.0 fatalities per 100,000 people (11th lowest of 50 states)

• Guns voluntarily relinquished (2022): 6.54 per 10,000 people (total: 4,034)
• Rate of firearm-ownership: 16.7% of households (7th lowest of 50 states)
• Latest annual firearm mortality rate: 13.6 fatalities per 100,000 people (16th lowest of 50 states)