When you purchase a firearm, they usually have a form for you to fill out. These are used to conduct a cursory background check, making sure you aren’t a felon or a dangerous individual. Today, we’re looking at which states conduct the most background checks overall.
45. Nebraska
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 12.6 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 24,857 (8th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 12.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (14th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 1,978,379 (14th lowest)
44. Massachusetts
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 13.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 92,601 (24th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 3.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (2nd lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 7,001,399 (16th highest)
43. Iowa
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 13.4 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 43,043 (11th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 11.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (10th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 3,207,004 (20th lowest)
42. Nevada
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 15.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 48,399 (13th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 18.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (15th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 3,194,176 (19th lowest)
41. Maryland
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 16.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 100,308 (24th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 13.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (16th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 6,180,253 (19th highest)
40. Georgia
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 17.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 189,623 (11th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 19.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (14th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 11,029,227 (8th highest)
39. Ohio
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 18.4 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 217,445 (8th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 15.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (25th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 11,785,935 (7th highest)
38. Texas
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 18.7 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 569,471 (the highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 15.3 deaths per 100,000 residents (25th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 30,503,301 (2nd highest)
37. Delaware
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 18.8 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 19,434 (4th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 11.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (12th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 1,031,890 (6th lowest)
36. Washington
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 19.1 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 148,894 (20th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 12.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (15th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 7,812,880 (13th highest)
35. Louisiana
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 19.3 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 88,367 (23rd lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 28.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (2nd highest)
- Total population, 2023: 4,573,749 (25th highest)
34. Florida
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 19.9 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 450,625 (2nd highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 14.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (18th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 22,610,726 (3rd highest)
33. Kansas
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 20.5 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 60,267 (17th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 16.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (21st highest)
- Total population, 2023: 2,940,546 (17th lowest)
32. Virginia
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 20.8 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 181,348 (13th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 14.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (23rd lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 8,715,698 (12th highest)
31. Kentucky
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 21.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 95,737 (25th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 18.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (16th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 4,526,154 (25th lowest)
30. Vermont
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 21.5 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 13,907 (3rd lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 12.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (13th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 647,464 (2nd lowest)
29. Arizona
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 21.7 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 161,523 (16th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 20.1 deaths per 100,000 residents (12th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 7,431,344 (14th highest)
28. Connecticut
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 21.9 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 79,266 (20th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 6.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (6th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 3,617,176 (22nd lowest)
27. Indiana
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 22.6 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 154,799 (19th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 17.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (17th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 6,862,199 (17th highest)
26. North Carolina
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 22.7 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 246,289 (7th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 16.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (20th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 10,835,491 (9th highest)
25. South Carolina
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 23.1 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 124,056 (21st highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 20.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (9th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 5,373,555 (23rd highest)
24. Arkansas
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 24.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 74,278 (19th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 21.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (8th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 3,067,732 (18th lowest)
23. Maine
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 25.5 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 35,615 (10th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 11.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (11th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 1,395,722 (9th lowest)
22. Michigan
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 25.8 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 258,627 (6th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 15.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (24th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 10,037,261 (10th highest)
21. Missouri
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 26.4 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 163,432 (15th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 24.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (5th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 6,196,156 (18th highest)
20. New Mexico
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 27.1 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 57,203 (15th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 27.3 deaths per 100,000 residents (3rd highest)
- Total population, 2023: 2,114,371 (15th lowest)
19. Mississippi
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 27.1 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 79,743 (21st lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 29.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (the highest)
- Total population, 2023: 2,939,690 (16th lowest)
18. South Dakota
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 27.4 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 25,163 (9th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 15.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (24th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 919,318 (5th lowest)
17. Minnesota
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 27.8 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 159,229 (17th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 9.6 deaths per 100,000 residents (8th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 5,737,915 (22nd highest)
16. Utah
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 28.1 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 96,094 (25th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 13.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (17th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 3,417,734 (21st lowest)
15. Tennessee
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 28.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 201,215 (9th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 20.5 deaths per 100,000 residents (10th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 7,126,489 (15th highest)
14. Oklahoma
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 28.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 114,511 (22nd highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 19.8 deaths per 100,000 residents (13th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 4,053,824 (23rd lowest)
13. North Dakota
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 28.9 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 22,683 (5th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 16.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (22nd highest)
- Total population, 2023: 783,926 (4th lowest)
12. Pennsylvania
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 29.7 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 385,218 (5th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 14.7 deaths per 100,000 residents (22nd lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 12,961,683 (5th highest)
11. Colorado
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 29.8 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 174,938 (14th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 17.1 deaths per 100,000 residents (18th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 5,877,610 (21st highest)
10. Alaska
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 31.0 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 22,730 (6th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 22.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (7th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 733,406 (3rd lowest)
9. Wisconsin
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 31.4 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 185,451 (12th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 14.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (19th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 5,910,955 (20th highest)
8. Illinois
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 34.6 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 434,044 (4th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 14.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (20th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 12,549,689 (6th highest)
7. West Virginia
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 35.1 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 62,133 (18th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 16.2 deaths per 100,000 residents (23rd highest)
- Total population, 2023: 1,770,071 (12th lowest)
6. Oregon
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 36.9 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 156,354 (18th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 14.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (21st lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 4,233,358 (24th lowest)
5. New Hampshire
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 38.7 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 54,301 (14th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 10.1 deaths per 100,000 residents (9th lowest)
- Total population, 2023: 1,402,054 (10th lowest)
4. Alabama
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 39.0 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 199,278 (10th highest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 25.5 deaths per 100,000 residents (4th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 5,108,468 (24th highest)
3. Montana
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 39.5 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 44,757 (12th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 23.9 deaths per 100,000 residents (6th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 1,132,812 (8th lowest)
2. Wyoming
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 40.2 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 23,455 (7th lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 20.4 deaths per 100,000 residents (11th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 584,057 (the lowest)
1. Idaho
- Firearm background checks per capita, Jan-Apr 2024: 40.7 per 1,000 residents
- Total firearm background checks, Jan-Apr 2024: 79,962 (22nd lowest)
- Firearm mortality rate, 2022: 17.0 deaths per 100,000 residents (19th highest)
- Total population, 2023: 1,964,726 (13th lowest)
The image featured at the top of this post is ©"Gun Store" by Matt Watts is licensed under BY-SA 2.0..
