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This is the state where gun sales are surging | FBI data is the best available record of U.S. gun sales. Since 1999, the first full year for which the FBI collected data, gun sales have risen annually. In 1999, 9,183,123 sales were recorded. Last year, the figure reached 39,695,315 — up from 28,369,750 in 2019. In addition, gun sales through the first eight months of 2021 totaled 27,841,219, compared to 26,756,487 in the same period last year. Keep reading to find out which state had the highest gun sales in 2021.
This is the state where gun sales are surging | FBI data is the best available record of U.S. gun sales. Since 1999, the first full year for which the FBI collected data, gun sales have risen annually. In 1999, 9,183,123 sales were recorded. Last year, the figure reached 39,695,315 — up from 28,369,750 in 2019. In addition, gun sales through the first eight months of 2021 totaled 27,841,219, compared to 26,756,487 in the same period last year. Keep reading to find out which state had the highest gun sales in 2021.
50. Hawaii | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 8.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 11,433 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 20,102 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 12,666 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 58.7%
49. New York | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 16.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 313,077 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 507,940 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 355,374 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 42.9%
48. New Jersey | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 18.8 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 167,241 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 177,901 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 91,25 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 94.9%
47. California | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 25.5 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 1,007,251 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 1,601,054 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 1,240,632 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 29.1%
46. Rhode Island | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 26.0 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 27,587 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 51,369 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 24,338 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 111.1%
45. Massachusetts | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 26.7 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 184,223 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 262,583 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 212,316 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 23.7%
44. Maryland | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 31.3 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 189,066 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 302,563 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 148,813 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 103.3%
43. Nebraska | Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 32.2 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 62,329 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 104,511 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 68,236 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 53.2%
42. Nevada | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 43.4 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 133,544 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 219,349 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 128,312 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 70.9%
41. Texas | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 46.3 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 1,342,221 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 2,325,281 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 1,487,212 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 56.4%
40. Delaware | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 49.2 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 47,883 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 77,057 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 46,427 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 66.0%
39. Ohio | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 50.3 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 588,140 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 976,751 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 638,495 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 53.0%
38. Virginia | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 52.0 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 443,429 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 823,513 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 512,766 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 60.6%
37. North Carolina | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 52.5 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 550,432 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 890,284 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 530,365 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 67.9%
36. Kansas | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 52.8 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 153,687 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 249,589 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 167,010 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 49.4%
35. Georgia | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 54.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 574,331 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 904,035 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 539,113 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 67.7%
34. Arizona | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 54.7 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 398,289 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 665,458 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 372,912 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 78.4%
33. Florida | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 55.0 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 1,180,925 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 1,912,204 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 1,195,539 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 59.9%
32. Connecticut | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 55.6 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 198,404 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 219,227 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 172,935 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 26.8%
31. Vermont | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 56.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 34,990 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 57,965 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 35,843 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 61.7%
30. Louisiana | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 57.4 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 267,015 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 430,537 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 282,264 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 52.5%
29. Iowa | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 60.9 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 192,252 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 270,614 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 182,802 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 48.0%
28. Maine | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 61.9 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 83,198 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 137,149 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 90,626 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 51.3%
27. New Mexico | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 63.9 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 134,043 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 206,252 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 156,829 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 31.5%
26. Arkansas | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 64.2 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 193,661 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 324,741 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 221,344 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 46.7%
25. Washington | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 64.6 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 491,867 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 781,471 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 607,170 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 28.7%
24. South Carolina | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 65.2 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 335,589 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 530,930 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 328,221 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 61.8%
23. Michigan | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 67.8 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 677,525 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 1,068,511 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 492,171 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 117.1%
22. Oklahoma | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 70.0 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 277,119 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 470,286 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 360,043 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 30.6%
21. Missouri | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 70.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 430,098 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 708,184 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 497,858 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 42.2%
20. North Dakota | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 70.8 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 53,930 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 85,465 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 60,389 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 41.5%
19. Mississippi | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 71.2 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 211,870 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 366,829 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 238,388 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 53.9%
18. Oregon | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 73.3 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 309,043 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 516,096 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 357,700 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 44.3%
17. Colorado | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 75.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 432,423 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 680,507 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 469,535 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 44.9%
16. Pennsylvania | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 75.5 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 966,950 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 1,452,921 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 987,886 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 47.1%
15. New Hampshire | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 77.6 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 105,513 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 174,662 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 112,173 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 55.7%
14. South Dakota | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 80.4 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 71,157 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 115,448 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 85,426 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 35.1%
13. West Virginia | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 83.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 148,903 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 265,705 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 206,196 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 28.9%
12. Alaska | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 84.9 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 62,133 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 98,952 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 76,923 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 28.6%
11. Wisconsin | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 89.2 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 519,645 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 731,618 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 435,685 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 67.9%
10. Tennessee | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 96.5 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 659,169 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 984,760 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 635,313 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 55.0%
9. Wyoming | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 98.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 56,778 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 91,384 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 61,291 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 49.1%
8. Montana | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 99.8 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 106,711 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 172,695 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 115,823 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 49.1%
7. Idaho | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 104.7 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 187,020 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 281,284 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 209,275 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 34.4%
6. Minnesota | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 114.3 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 644,447 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 958,391 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 682,356 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 40.5%
5. Alabama | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 132.1 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 647,523 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 1,085,475 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 690,084 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 57.3%
4. Indiana | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 202.5 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 1,363,127 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 1,935,587 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 1,450,565 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 33.4%
3. Utah | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 258.8 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 829,624 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 1,216,773 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 823,270 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 47.8%
2. Kentucky | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 528.2 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 2,359,658 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 3,330,462 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 4,120,892 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: -19.2%
1. Illinois | Firearm background checks per capita YTD, August 2021: 563.0 for every 1,000 people – Firearm background checks YTD, August 2021: 7,134,045 – Firearm background checks in 2020: 7,455,065 – Firearm background checks in 2019: 4,949,570 – YoY change from 2019 to 2020: 50.6%
