California tops the list of U.S. states with the strongest gun laws, while Wyoming ranks last and sees a 32% spike in gun-related deaths.

A new analysis by High Rise Legal Funding reveals which U.S. states have the strongest and weakest gun laws, according to data from Giffords and the CDC. The study not only ranks gun law strength in all 50 states as of 2023, but also compares these scores to those from 2014. It further explores whether stricter legislation correlates with a reduced gun death rate over the past decade.

5 States with the Strongest Gun Laws

1. California

California continues to lead the nation in firearm regulation, ranking #1 for gun law strength in both 2014 and 2023. However, despite its legislative rigor, California still experienced an 8.49% increase in gun death rate over the past ten years, reaching 8.5 deaths per 100,000 residents in 2023.

2. New Jersey

Moving up one spot since 2014, New Jersey now holds the second-highest rank for gun law strength. Notably, it is the only state in the top five to report a decrease in gun deaths over the past decade — down 10.30%.

3. Connecticut

Despite dropping one position in the rankings, Connecticut remains in the top three for its strict firearm policies. The state did, however, see a 19.32% rise in gun deaths per 100,000 people.

4. Illinois

Illinois climbed four positions since 2014, reflecting stronger legislative actions. Still, it recorded a concerning 46.52% increase in gun death rates during the same time period.

5. New York

New York retains its #5 spot, with gun-related deaths rising by 9.15% over the decade — a lower jump compared to most states.

States with the Weakest Gun Laws

1. Wyoming

Ranking last at #50, Wyoming now has the most lenient gun laws in America. Its gun death rate stands at 22.36 per 100,000 — up 40.63% from 2014. It’s worth noting Wyoming’s fall from #44 in 2014 shows a consistent loosening of regulations.

2. Missouri

Now ranked 48th (down from 44th), Missouri’s gun death rate surged by 37.59% over the past decade.

3. Arkansas

Arkansas also ranks 48th — a 16-place drop from its 2014 ranking. Its gun death rate climbed 32.32% over ten years.

4. Kentucky

Kentucky has held steady at 47th place, with a 29.58% increase in its firearm-related fatality rate.

5. Idaho

Falling seven spots to #46, Idaho has seen one of the steepest increases in gun deaths: up 41.23% since 2014.

Correlation Between Gun Law Strength and Death Rates

According to a spokesperson from High Rise Legal Funding:

“It is interesting to track the correlation between the strictness of a state’s gun laws and its increase or decrease in gun death rate from 2014 to 2023. While the strength of a state’s gun legislation does seem to correlate to a lower gun death rate per 100K people – for example, California’s rate was 8.25 versus Wyoming’s 22.36 – gun death rates have risen in almost every state except New Jersey. While stricter legislation helps, we still have a long road ahead in fully addressing gun violence.”

Methodology

Gun law strength rankings were sourced from the Giffords Law Center Annual State Scorecard, which evaluates each state based on existing firearm regulations. Historical ranks were pulled from 2014 and compared to the 2023 scorecard to assess changes over the last decade.

Gun death data was collected from the CDC Wonder tool, using population-adjusted firearm mortality rates from 2014 to 2023. Percentage change was calculated to show trends over time.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on data from the Giffords Law Center and the CDC and reflects gun law strength and gun death rates as of 2023. Results and trends may vary depending on various factors, and the analysis does not provide a definitive causal relationship between gun law strength and gun-related deaths. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as legal, medical, or policy advice. Readers are encouraged to consult official sources or professionals for specific guidance.