You Will Shoot Your Eye Out

35. West Virginia
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 106,284
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 134,231 (15th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -27,947 (-20.8% — 15th largest decrease)
> Population: 1,807,426 (13th smallest)

34. Kansas
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 109,269
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 137,411 (16th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -28,142 (-20.5% — 17th largest decrease)
> Population: 2,912,619 (16th smallest)

33. Arkansas
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 129,709
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 173,978 (21st fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -44,269 (-25.4% — 9th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,011,873 (18th smallest)

32. Massachusetts
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 132,526
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 163,387 (18th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -30,861 (-18.9% — 24th smallest decrease)
> Population: 6,873,003 (15th largest)

31. Maryland
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 135,997
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 170,047 (20th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -34,050 (-20.0% — 22nd largest decrease)
> Population: 6,037,624 (19th largest)

Source: vkbhat / E+ via Getty Images

 

30. Idaho
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 137,864
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 167,472 (19th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -29,608 (-17.7% — 18th smallest decrease)
> Population: 1,754,367 (12th smallest)

 

Source: Larry_Reynolds / iStock via Getty Images

 

29. Iowa
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 140,667
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 174,518 (22nd fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -33,851 (-19.4% — 24th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,150,011 (20th smallest)

 

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

 

28. Connecticut
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 143,723
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 180,514 (23rd fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -36,791 (-20.4% — 19th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,570,549 (22nd smallest)

 

Source: Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ via Getty Images

 

27. Mississippi
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 153,309
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 188,058 (24th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -34,749 (-18.5% — 21st smallest decrease)
> Population: 2,981,835 (17th smallest)

 

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

 

26. Louisiana
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 194,208
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 241,517 (25th fewest)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -47,309 (-19.6% — 23rd largest decrease)
> Population: 4,664,616 (25th largest)

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

 

25. Oklahoma
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 208,191
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 249,508 (25th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -41,317 (-16.6% — 19th largest decrease)
> Population: 3,949,342 (23rd smallest)

 

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

 

24. Oregon
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 231,636
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 275,189 (24th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -43,553 (-15.8% — 21st smallest decrease)
> Population: 4,176,346 (24th smallest)

ALSO READ: 25 High-Velocity Handguns, Ranked

 

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

 

23. South Carolina
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 239,709
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 299,794 (22nd most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -60,085 (-20.0% — 21st largest decrease)
> Population: 5,091,517 (23rd largest)

 

Source: benedek / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

 

22. New York
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 259,322
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 278,258 (23rd most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -18,936 (-6.8% — 14th smallest decrease)
> Population: 19,514,849 (4th largest)

 

Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

 

21. Missouri
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 300,841
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 387,999 (19th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -87,158 (-22.5% — 13th largest decrease)
> Population: 6,124,160 (18th largest)

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

 

20. Colorado
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 307,624
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 386,038 (20th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -78,414 (-20.3% — 20th largest decrease)
> Population: 5,684,926 (21st largest)

 

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

 

19. Arizona
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 316,018
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 360,924 (21st most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -44,906 (-12.4% — 4th smallest decrease)
> Population: 7,174,064 (14th largest)

24/7 Wall St.
Countries Exporting the Most Guns to the US

 

Source: YinYang / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

 

18. Virginia
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 322,937
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 397,518 (18th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -74,581 (-18.8% — 23rd smallest decrease)
> Population: 8,509,358 (12th largest)

 

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

 

17. Georgia
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 343,966
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 519,142 (14th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -175,176 (-33.7% — 4th largest decrease)
> Population: 10,516,579 (8th largest)

 

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

 

16. North Carolina
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 361,510
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 497,299 (15th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -135,789 (-27.3% — 6th largest decrease)
> Population: 10,386,227 (9th largest)

Source: DavidPrahl / iStock via Getty Images

 

15. Wisconsin
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 362,292
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 455,437 (16th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -93,145 (-20.5% — 18th largest decrease)
> Population: 5,806,975 (20th largest)

 

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

 

14. Ohio
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 386,047
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 530,395 (13th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -144,348 (-27.2% — 7th largest decrease)
> Population: 11,675,275 (7th largest)

ALSO READ: States Where the Most Guns are Traced by the Federal Government

 

Source: Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

 

13. Alabama
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 428,403
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 581,290 (11th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -152,887 (-26.3% — 8th largest decrease)
> Population: 4,893,186 (24th largest)

 

Source: SEASTOCK / iStock via Getty Images

 

12. Washington
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 455,979
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 438,343 (17th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: +17,636 (+4.0% — 3rd largest increase)
> Population: 7,512,465 (13th largest)

 

Source: Davel5957 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images

 

11. Michigan
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 461,270
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 610,029 (9th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -148,759 (-24.4% — 11th largest decrease)
> Population: 9,973,907 (10th largest)

Source: f11photo / iStock via Getty Images

 

10. Tennessee
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 483,652
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 590,497 (10th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -106,845 (-18.1% — 20th smallest decrease)
> Population: 6,772,268 (16th largest)

 

Source: Gian Lorenzo Ferretti Photography / E+ via Getty Images

 

9. Minnesota
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 524,882
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 568,852 (12th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -43,970 (-7.7% — 3rd smallest decrease)
> Population: 5,600,166 (22nd largest)

 

Source: Renphoto / iStock via Getty Images

 

8. Utah
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 592,276
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 733,790 (8th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -141,514 (-19.3% — 25th smallest decrease)
> Population: 3,151,239 (21st smallest)

 

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

 

7. Indiana
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 708,359
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 1,244,066 (3rd most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -535,707 (-43.1% — 2nd largest decrease)
> Population: 6,696,893 (17th largest)

 

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

 

6. Pennsylvania
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 713,491
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 863,914 (7th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -150,423 (-17.4% — 5th smallest decrease)
> Population: 12,794,885 (5th largest)

Source: MattGush / iStock via Getty Images

 

5. California
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 812,650
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 886,292 (6th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -73,642 (-8.3% — hve)
> Population: 39,346,023 (the largest)

 

Source: felixmizioznikov / iStock via Getty Images

 

4. Florida
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 868,987
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 1,059,122 (5th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -190,135 (-18.0% — 19th smallest decrease)
> Population: 21,216,924 (3rd largest)

24/7 Wall St.
States Where the Most Guns are Stolen

 

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

 

3. Texas
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 991,759
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 1,197,967 (4th most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -206,208 (-17.2% — 17th smallest decrease)
> Population: 28,635,442 (2nd largest)

 

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

 

2. Illinois
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 2,391,483
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 6,707,482 (the most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: -4,315,999 (-64.3% — the largest decrease)
> Population: 12,716,164 (6th largest)

 

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

 

1. Kentucky
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2022: 2,419,871
> Firearm background checks Jan-July 2021: 1,984,388 (2nd most)
> Change in sales, first seven months year-to-date: +435,483 (+21.9% — the largest increase)
> Population: 4,461,952 (25th smallest)