A new report from High Rise Financial has ranked all 50 U.S. states by the strength of their gun laws, using data from the Giffords Law Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The findings show that while some states have made measurable progress in firearm legislation, nearly all are facing a troubling rise in gun death rates over the last decade, regardless of law strength.
The analysis reveals that California continues to lead the nation in gun law strength, maintaining its #1 ranking on the Giffords Gun Law Strength Scorecard in both 2014 and 2023. Yet despite having the country’s strictest firearm laws, California’s gun death rate rose by 8.49% over the past ten years.
? Top 5 States with the Strongest Gun Laws
| State | 2023 Giffords Rank | Gun Death Rate (2023) | 10-Year Death Rate Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 1 | 8.25 per 100K | +8.49% |
| New Jersey | 2 | 4.66 per 100K | –10.30% |
| Connecticut | 3 | 6.20 per 100K | +19.32% |
| Illinois | 4 | 13.48 per 100K | +46.52% |
| New York | 5 | 4.80 per 100K | +9.15% |
Only New Jersey has successfully reduced its gun death rate during the past decade, with a 10.3% decrease, a notable outcome considering its climb in the legislative rankings, from #3 in 2014 to #2 in 2023. The state’s strict approach, including universal background checks, permit requirements, and red flag laws, may be helping curb firearm violence.
However, not all states with strong laws are seeing improvement. Illinois, despite moving from 8th to 4th place in legislative strength, experienced the largest increase in gun deaths among the top five — a 46.52% spike since 2014.
? Bottom 5 States with the Weakest Gun Laws
| State | 2023 Giffords Rank | Gun Death Rate (2023) | 10-Year Death Rate Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 50 | 22.36 per 100K | +40.63% |
| Missouri | 48 | 21.46 per 100K | +37.59% |
| Arkansas | 48 | 22.10 per 100K | +32.32% |
| Kentucky | 47 | 18.66 per 100K | +29.58% |
| Idaho | 46 | 18.36 per 100K | +41.23% |
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Wyoming ranks 50th, earning the lowest possible score for firearm legislation. The state also reported one of the highest gun death rates in the country at 22.36 per 100,000 residents, nearly triple California’s rate. All five of the states with the weakest gun laws saw gun death rates rise by over 29% since 2014.
The steepest legislative backslide came from Arkansas, which dropped 16 places on the Giffords ranking since 2014 and now shares the 48th spot with Missouri. These states also have some of the highest rates of gun deaths, raising concerns about the real-world consequences of firearm deregulation.
? Expert Insights
“Gun violence is rising nearly everywhere in the U.S., but what our analysis shows is that states with the weakest laws are experiencing the highest death rates, and the steepest increases,” said a spokesperson for High Rise Financial. “New Jersey is a rare exception. It’s one of the few states demonstrating that tough, consistent gun policies can lead to a real reduction in firearm deaths.”
The report also suggests that while gun laws are a critical tool, they must be combined with cross-state collaboration, community programs, public education, and enforcement to be fully effective.
? About the Study
The rankings were based on data from the Giffords Law Center’s 2023 and 2014 scorecards, which evaluate each state’s firearm legislation, including background checks, concealed carry laws, red flag policies, and gun ownership regulations. Gun death rates were pulled from the CDC Wonder Tool, comparing 2023 data with figures from 2014 to calculate 10-year changes.
