How does your state rank in terms of encouraging legal gun ownership? Our results are surprising! We took into account the current gun laws, current legislators’ past voting history, 2A-centric taxes, and more to bring you this comprehensive list for 2024.
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Report Highlights:
- New Hampshire is #1 thanks to its incredibly relaxed gun laws, low crime rates, and lack of state sales tax.
- West Virginia is #2 due to recent legislative actions to remove firearm restrictions and reduce sales tax on firearms and ammunition.
- Arkansas, Montana, and South Dakota are #3, #4, and #5, thanks to their pro-2A governors, stand-your-ground laws, and relaxed carry and conceal requirements.
- Utah, Arizona, and Kansas ranked to #25, #24, and #23 due to their current governors’ Second Amendment stance.
Our ranking factors and how we weighed each of those factors are detailed here: “Ranking Factors: What Did We Measure?”. Our sources are listed here. Without further ado, please scroll down to see how we ranked America’s best states for gun owners in 2024.
Best States for Gun Owners
#25 Utah
Utah residents may conceal or openly carry a firearm,[12] but some restrictions apply. For example, residents may not carry in courthouses, jails, or other prohibited places. Those over 18 may carry an unloaded firearm without a permit, while those over 21 may carry a loaded firearm without a permit.
While there aren’t any additional taxes, firearm purchasers will pay an additional $7.50 for background checks. However, those with an in-state CCW are exempt from this fee. There are also tax exemptions for firearms and ammunition purchases.
Utah does not require background checks for private sales and transfers, but it does impose penalties for selling firearms to prohibited persons.[13] Utah has stand-your-ground laws[13] with no duty to retreat to protect those acting in self-defense from prosecution.
Recently, Governor Spencer Cox[14] made remarks that he is open to discussing gun regulation measures. However, actions speak louder than words and the governor did sign legislation[15] in 2022 to keep local municipalities from enacting gun control restrictions.
#24 Arizona
Arizona is a Constitutional Carry state, allowing citizens to carry a firearm (open or concealed) without a permit. It’s also a shall-issue permit state[1], meaning the state must issue a permit to all eligible residents. Those over 18 can open carry a firearm without a permit, but only those over 21 can purchase handguns and conceal firearms with no permit.
The state’s CWP (Concealed Weapon Permit[2]) is valid in a whopping 36 states, and those traveling to AZ can open carry in most places[3]. If you ever find yourself in a threatening situation, AZ does have the Castle Doctrine, and there’s no duty to retreat.
Firearms are subject to the state sales tax but are exempt from the TPT (transaction privilege tax[4]) as of January 1, 2023. Arizona sits comfortably near the top of our list at the moment, but with new Governor Katie Hobbs, we can’t be sure the state will remain on this list. Her voting record[5] does not comfortably align with other pro-2A governors.
#23 Kansas
Kansas is a Constitutional Carry state where citizens can open or conceal carry a firearm without a permit.[6]
Those 18 and over can apply for the state’s CCHL (Concealed Carry Handgun Licenses). You don’t have[7] to get a CCHL in Kansas, register your firearms, or pass background checks outside of the standard federal checks.
Kansas tax rates are the same for firearms as they are for any other goods, and there are no tax breaks[8] for components or safe storage accessories. Kansas also has a Castle Doctrine with no duty to retreat[9]. Citizens with a CCHL can visit 39 other states with their firearms.
Kansas’s Governor, Laura Kelly, vetoed a bill[10] to teach firearm-appropriate training and also advocates for[11] harsher background checks and even some equipment bans.
Continue reading Most Gun Friendly States in 2025 on Ammo.com
