What Grade Did Your State Get on Our Gun Law Scorecard?
It’s really simple: Fewer people die from gun violence in states that pass commonsense gun safety laws.
We’ve been publishing the GIFFORDS Annual Gun Law Scorecard for 15 years now.
And throughout this time, our process hasn’t changed. GIFFORDS experts analyze every gun law in every state, including new laws as they’re enacted. Policies are assigned point values based on how effective they are at reducing gun violence, and then the points are tallied to determine grades and rankings. The grades are then compared to the latest CDC gun death data.
Another thing that hasn’t changed? Our findings. Year after year, we conclude that states with stronger gun laws have lower gun death rates.
In 2025, 33 states enacted 89 significant new gun safety laws—bringing the total of significant gun safety laws passed since Sandy Hook to 820. Colorado, which received an A-, was the most improved state this year, passing 12 strong gun safety laws. In fact, 13 states received an A or A- this year, and 12 of those passed new strong laws this year.
But not every state moved in a positive direction. This year, 24 states received an F, and South Dakota—with the biggest drop from last year—passed 5 dangerous gun lobby bills. Of the 15 states with the highest gun death rates, 13 received Fs.
The answer to this country’s gun violence crisis is straightforward: Gun laws save lives. We know which evidence-based solutions work, and many states have already successfully implemented them. Yet tens of thousands of Americans continue to die every year, because some states refuse to take action.
Until all of our lawmakers are willing to pursue the policies that save lives, gun violence will remain an epidemic in America.
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The gun safety movement is on the march: Americans from different background are united in standing up for safer schools and communities. Join us to make your voice heard and power our next wave of victories.
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