12 States Where Civilians Hold the Most Guns

Curious about which states have the most civilian firearms? Dive into our list to discover where gun ownership is at its highest in the U.S.

Gun ownership rates vary significantly across the country, influenced by state laws, cultural attitudes, and local regulations. This article highlights the states where civilians hold the most guns, reflecting the diverse landscape of American gun ownership.

We’ve focused on states with the highest rates of civilian gun ownership to showcase how local laws and cultural attitudes shape firearm prevalence. This list provides a snapshot of where gun ownership is most prominent, offering insights into regional differences and trends.

1. Montana

With a gun ownership rate of 65.7%, Montana emerges at the top. When looking at guns per capita, for every 1000 people, there are 33.2 registered guns. This Republican state suffers from a gun death rate of 20.9 for every 100,000 people.

2. Wyoming

While placed second for a gun ownership rate of 60.7%, this Republican state has the highest number of registered guns at 245.8 per 1000 people. Wyoming faces a stark gun death rate of 25.9 for every 100,000 individuals.

3. West Virginia

Closely following Wyoming, the Republican state of West Virginia has a gun ownership rate of 60.6%. For every 1000 people, the registered number of guns is 92.8, the second-highest in the country. The gun death rate comes out to 18.1 per 100,000 people.

4. Idaho

A gun ownership rate of 57.8% grants Idaho the fourth place on this list. This Republican state has the eighth-highest number of registered guns at 40.2 per 1,000 people. For every 100,000 people, there are 17.6 deaths caused by the use of firearms.

5. Alaska

While the gun ownership rate of 57.2% ranks Alaska high, the number of registered guns is comparatively low, coming out to 38.5 for every 1,000 individuals. The number of gun fatalities in this Republican state is 23.5 per 100,000 people.

6. South Dakota

This reliably red state has a high gun ownership rate of 55.6%, with 72.2 registered guns for every 1,000 individuals. The gun death rate in South Dakota comes out to 13.6 per 100,000 individuals.

7. Oklahoma

Oklahoma, another Republic state, boasts a gun ownership rate of 54.9%, with the number of registered guns coming out to 25.9 per 1,000 people. For every 100,000 individuals, the death rate is 20.7.

8. Mississippi

With a gun ownership rate of 54.1%, Mississippi ranks 8th. For every 1,000 people, there are 27.4 registered guns. This red state suffers from a gun death rate of 28.6 per 100,000 individuals.

9. North Dakota

North Dakota has the ninth-highest number of registered guns in the country at 40 for 1,000 people. With a gun ownership rate of 53.3%, this reliably red state faces a gun death rate of 13.8 per 100,000 people.

10. Alabama

At a gun ownership rate of 52.8%, Alabama earns the tenth spot. This red state also has the tenth-highest number of registered guns at 38.7 per 1,000 people. The number of gun deaths is 23.6 per 100,000 people.

11. Missouri

The Republican state of Missouri ties with Alabama at a gun ownership rate of 52.8%. For every 1,000 people, there are 18.4 registered guns. The Show-Me State suffers from a gun death rate of 23.9 for every 100,000 individuals.

12. Kentucky

The Bluegrass State boasts a gun ownership rate of 52.5%. This predominantly red state has 24.1 registered guns for every 1,000 people. The number of deaths from gun use comes out to 20.1 per 100,000 individuals.  Source: Wisevoter.

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