A recent survey by World Population Review provides an in-depth look at gun laws in the United States, ranking states from the most stringent to the most lax. Using a comprehensive methodology that draws from federal and state agencies, public records, and reputable research organizations, the survey evaluates states on several key indicators. These include the strength of their gun laws, their Gifford grades, and gun death rates per 100,000 people. According to the survey, California takes the lead with the strictest gun laws, holding a Gifford Grade of “A” and one of the lowest rates of gun-related deaths. On the opposite side of the spectrum, states like Mississippi and Louisiana maintain more permissive approaches, thus illustrating the complicated tapestry of gun laws that exist across the nation. Here are the 25 states with the strictest gun laws in the country.
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25. Ohio
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 25Gifford Grade: FGun Death Rate Per 100k: 16.5Gun Death Rate Rank: 24
Ohio’s rank reflects a lack of stringent gun laws, which correlates with a high rate of gun-related deaths compared to other states.
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24. Wisconsin
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 24Gifford Grade: D+Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 13.5Gun Death Rate Rank: 36
Wisconsin has slightly stricter laws compared to Ohio but still only manages a grade of D+. Its gun death rate is somewhat lower but still concerning.
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23. Florida
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 23
Gifford Grade: C-
Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 14.1
Gun Death Rate Rank: 34
Florida ranks 23rd in gun law strictness, sporting a C- Gifford Grade. Its gun death rate per 100,000 people is relatively high.
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22. Vermont
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 22Gifford Grade: C-Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 11.9Gun Death Rate Rank: 38
Vermont has the same Gifford Grade as Florida but a slightly lower gun death rate. It ranks 22nd in gun law strictness.
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21. North Carolina
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 21Gifford Grade: CGun Death Rate Per 100k: 17.3Gun Death Rate Rank: 21
North Carolina lands at 21st with a Gifford Grade of C. Its gun death rate remains high, suggesting room for improvement in regulation.
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20. Nebraska
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 20Gifford Grade: CGun Death Rate Per 100k: 10.3Gun Death Rate Rank: 41
Nebraska shares a Gifford Grade of C with North Carolina but boasts a lower gun death rate, securing the 20th spot.
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19. New Mexico
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 18Gifford Grade: C+Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 27.8Gun Death Rate Rank: 3
New Mexico ranks 18th, but its alarmingly high gun death rate points to gaps in its gun laws, even with a C+ grade.
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18. Minnesota
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 18Gifford Grade: C+Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 10Gun Death Rate Rank: 42
Minnesota ties with New Mexico at 18th in strictness but has a much lower gun death rate, showcasing the effectiveness of its laws.
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17. Nevada
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 17Gifford Grade: C+Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 19.8Gun Death Rate Rank: 15
Nevada secures the 17th spot with a C+ grade. However, its high gun death rate indicates a need for stronger regulations.
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16. Michigan
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 16Gifford Grade: C+Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 15.4Gun Death Rate Rank: 28
Michigan ranks 16th with a C+ grade, and its middle-of-the-road gun death rate suggests room for improvement in its laws.
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15. Pennsylvania
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 15Gifford Grade: B-Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 14.8Gun Death Rate Rank: 31
Pennsylvania stands at the 15th position with a Gifford Grade of B-. Its gun death rate suggests that there’s room for tightening regulations to improve safety.
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14. Colorado
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 14Gifford Grade: BGun Death Rate Per 100k: 17.8Gun Death Rate Rank: 18
Colorado lands at 14th, holding a Gifford Grade of B. However, its high gun death rate indicates the need for more stringent laws.
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13. Delaware
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 13Gifford Grade: BGun Death Rate Per 100k: 16.6Gun Death Rate Rank: 23
Delaware ranks 13th with a Gifford Grade of B. Its gun death rate suggests there’s potential for improvement in its gun regulations.
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12. Virginia
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 12Gifford Grade: BGun Death Rate Per 100k: 14.3Gun Death Rate Rank: 32
Virginia secures the 12th spot with a Gifford Grade of B. Its gun death rate sits in the middle, indicating that more can be done to improve safety.
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11. Oregon
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 11Gifford Grade: B+Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 14.9Gun Death Rate Rank: 30
Oregon comes in at 11th, achieving a Gifford Grade of B+. Though better rated, its gun death rate suggests there’s more work to be done.
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10. Washington
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 10Gifford Grade: B+Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 11.2Gun Death Rate Rank: 39
Washington holds the 10th position, boasting a Gifford Grade of B+ and one of the lower gun death rates, signaling effective regulation.
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9. Rhode Island
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 9Gifford Grade: B+Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 5.6Gun Death Rate Rank: 46
Rhode Island ranks 9th with a Gifford Grade of B+ and boasts one of the lower gun death rates in the country, signaling effective regulation.
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8. Illinois
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 8Gifford Grade: A-Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 16.1Gun Death Rate Rank: 26
Securing the 8th position, Illinois has a Gifford Grade of A-. Its gun death rate suggests there’s room for improvement in gun safety measures.
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7. Maryland
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 7Gifford Grade: A-Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 15.2Gun Death Rate Rank: 29
Maryland takes the 7th spot, holding a Gifford Grade of A-. Though well-rated, its gun death rate indicates more can be done to ensure public safety.
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6. Massachusetts
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 6Gifford Grade: A-Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 3.4Gun Death Rate Rank: 50
Ranking 6th, Massachusetts achieves a Gifford Grade of A- and has the lowest gun death rate, setting a benchmark in gun safety.
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5. Hawaii
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 5Gifford Grade: A-Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 4.8Gun Death Rate Rank: 49
Hawaii secures the 5th position with a Gifford Grade of A-. Its low gun death rate underlines the effectiveness of its strict regulations.
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4. New York
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 4Gifford Grade: A-Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 5.4Gun Death Rate Rank: 47
Landing at 4th, New York holds a Gifford Grade of A- and also maintains one of the lower gun death rates, suggesting effective legislation.
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3. Connecticut
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 3Gifford Grade: A-Gun Death Rate Per 100k: 6.7Gun Death Rate Rank: 45
Connecticut ranks 3rd with a Gifford Grade of A-. Its relatively low gun death rate indicates that its strict laws are having a positive impact.
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2. New Jersey
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 2Gifford Grade: AGun Death Rate Per 100k: 5.2Gun Death Rate Rank: 48
New Jersey takes the 2nd spot, boasting a Gifford Grade of A and one of the lowest gun death rates, marking it as a leader in gun regulation.
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1. California
Gun Laws Strength Rank: 1Gifford Grade: AGun Death Rate Per 100k: 9Gun Death Rate Rank: 43
At the top of the list is California, with the strictest gun laws earning it a Gifford Grade of A. It also maintains one of the lower gun death rates, highlighting the effectiveness of its legislation.
This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.
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