U.S. South Leads with 11 of 22 States Graded F for Weakest Gun Laws

"Gun control laws are largely left to the states to enact and maintain (though federal law does establish a baseline in the form of NICS background checks, categories of prohibited persons, and National Firearms Act restrictions). State laws are designed to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and reduce the risk of deadly gun violence. Strict states have passed laws to expand background checks, raise ownership eligibility requirements, and ban assault rifles."

"Using the Annual Gun Law Scorecard from the gun violence prevention group Gifford Law Center, 24/7 Wall St. identified the states with the least restrictive gun control laws. The Gun Law Scorecard assigns each state a letter grade rating the strength of their firearm laws. Grades are current as of late 2024 and range from "A" for the states with the strongest laws to "F" for the states with the weakest."

"Each of the 22 states on this list received a grade of "F." None of these states, listed in alphabetical order, are in the Northeast, and the largest share-11 in total-are Southern states. This post was updated on September 5, 2025 to reflect the most up-to-date data, particularly the addition of South Carolina as an F state. Nine of the ten states with the highest rates of deadly gun violence rank on this list, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in a report on 2021 firearm mortality."

Federal law provides a baseline through NICS background checks, prohibited-person categories, and National Firearms Act limits while states enact and maintain most gun control measures. State laws aim to keep firearms out of the wrong hands and reduce deadly gun violence; strict states have expanded background checks, raised ownership eligibility, and banned assault rifles. Most states have done little to build upon federal law. The Giffords Law Center Annual Gun Law Scorecard gave 22 states an F; none are in the Northeast and 11 are Southern. Nine of the ten highest firearm-mortality states appear on the list. Legal nuances vary at state and local levels.

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