There isn't one single "freest" state, as different sources highlight various states like New Hampshire, Mississippi, Montana, Alaska, and South Dakota, often due to permitless carry laws, minimal regulations, and Second Amendment-friendly policies, with Vermont being historically significant as a permitless carry state. New Hampshire frequently tops lists for its relaxed constitutional carry and lack of sales tax on firearms, while Mississippi has some of the fewest regulations overall, though it does require background checks for felons.
New Hampshire tops the list of gun-friendly states for 2025. It is a Constitutional Carry state. Anyone over 18 years old who can lawfully possess a firearm can open or carry a concealed weapon. New Hampshire recognizes gun permits from all other states.
Alaska. Alaska has some of the weakest gun laws in the country and the sixth highest gun death rate, which can only be reversed by enacting the gun safety policies proven to save lives.
Forty-four states have a provision in their state constitutions similar to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects the right to keep and bear arms. The exceptions are California, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, and New York.
Yes, you can own a handgun in Australia, but it's heavily regulated and requires a license, a "genuine reason" (like target shooting or security work), passing extensive checks, and adhering to strict state-based rules for storage and use, with target shooting requiring club membership and minimum participation. It's not a simple purchase; you must prove need, complete training, undergo background checks, and usually join a shooting club for several months before applying, proving a legitimate need for sport or work.
Australia's 4 million guns were owned by 943,000 people with licences. And some individuals have hundreds each. "There are two individuals in inner Sydney who own over 300 firearms each," the Australia Institute report says.
Firearms categories
Rates of Gun Ownership by State
Wyoming has the highest rate of gun ownership, with an estimated 66 firearms per 100 residents. Massachusetts and New Jersey share the lowest rate at 14.7 firearms for every 100 residents. The state-level ownership may be lower due to data restraints.
Federally designated areas where weapons are banned, even with a permit: Federal Courthouses* Federal Buildings* Any Building Owned, Leased or Rented by the Federal Government — This includes buildings in national forests which are property of the federal government.
In the United States, it is legal to carry a concealed handgun in public in all 50 states. Many states require a person to have a permit to carry a loaded, concealed handgun in public.
Report Highlights:
In April 2022, Governor Kemp signed a “Constitutional Carry Bill” allowing residents to carry handguns in public without a license or background check. Other recent pro-gun legislation signed by the governor includes House Bill 362 legalizing the new CVA .
The places with the highest gun murder rates in 2023 included the District of Columbia (28.5 per 100,000 people), Mississippi (17.6), Louisiana (17.2), Alabama (13.2) and New Mexico (11.1). Those with the lowest gun murder rates included Hawaii (1.5), Utah (1.8), Nebraska (1.8), Idaho (1.8) and Massachusetts (1.8).
Apart from the picture-perfect overview, Switzerland is widely known for its vast gun culture and having some of the most relaxed gun laws in the world. Until 2010, all capable males were required to keep a Sig SG 550 and a Sig Sauer p229 at home or at the local armory, to provide for the national defense.
10 Easiest States to Buy a Gun
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." In 1791, the United States adopted the Second Amendment, and in 1868 adopted the Fourteenth Amendment.
In eighteen countries or territories, the police do not carry firearms unless the situation is expected to merit it: Botswana, Cook Islands, Fiji, Iceland, Ireland, Kiribati, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom (except for Northern Ireland), the ...
LEOSA Is The Only Way To Carry In All 50 States
LEOSA, enacted in 2004, provides qualified active and retired law enforcement officers the overarching privilege to carry concealed firearms across state lines, regardless of state or local laws.
Number of registered weapons U.S. 2024, by state
Texas was the state with the highest number of registered weapons in the United States in 2024, with 1,136,732 firearms. Rhode Island, on the other hand, had the least, with 4,895 registered firearms.
#1 New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a Constitutional Carry state with incredibly relaxed gun laws and low crime rates. Any citizen over 18 years old who is lawfully permitted to possess a firearm can open and concealed carry. New Hampshire residents can travel to 29 other states with a pistol and revolver license.
The following states had the highest rate of gun sales, adjusted for population.
Yes, you can defend your home in Australia using reasonable force, especially during a home invasion, but the law requires your actions to be proportionate to the threat, often allowing more leeway for defending your dwelling than just property; however, laws vary by state (like SA's "home invasion" exception vs. QLD's "reasonable force" codes) and there's ongoing debate and calls for "Castle Laws" to expand these rights further, as current rules can still leave defenders facing prosecution if force is deemed excessive.
Yes, Glocks are legal in Australia, but owning one is highly restricted, requiring a specific handgun license, a "genuine reason" (like target shooting or occupational use, not self-defense), membership in a pistol club, extensive training, background checks, and a mandatory 28-day waiting period for each purchase, with strict storage and registration rules, varying slightly by state.
Yes, you can carry a gun in your car in Australia, but only if it's unloaded, securely stored out of sight in a locked container (like a case in the boot/trunk), with ammunition stored separately in another locked container, and the firearm rendered inoperable (e.g., with a trigger lock or removed bolt). Loaded firearms, even with ammunition in the magazine, are generally prohibited in vehicles, and firearms must never be left unattended in a vehicle unless extremely secure. Specific state laws apply, but these core security principles are consistent across Australia.