STATE
CALIFORNIA GUN LAWS
Overall, California has the strongest gun safety laws in the nation and has been a trailblazer for gun safety reform for the past 30 years.
Scorecard Grade
California has been the first state in the nation to adopt a number of gun safety reforms, ranging from assault weapons restrictions and strong background check requirements to extreme risk protection orders and domestic violence protections. In 2024, California had the seventh lowest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 3,314 people die from gun violence in the state. That means that someone dies from gun violence every three hours. Forty-eight percent of these deaths are gun suicides, and 48% are gun homicides. In California, the rate of gun deaths decreased 9% from 2015 to 2024, while the gun death rate rose 15% nationwide over this same time period.
EXPLORE CALIFORNIA’S GUN LAWS
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
PRESS RELEASES & NEWS
VICTORY: Gun safety champion Randy Villegas elected to the U.S. House in CA-22
Nov 04, 2026
GIFFORDS applauds CA’s new interagency group promoting community safety
Oct 26, 2026
GIFFORDS endorses Xavier Becerra for governor of California
Oct 13, 2026
SPOTLIGHT
GUN VIOLENCE STATISTICS
Explore facts, figures, and original analysis compiled by our experts. To end our gun violence crisis, we need to better understand where, how, and why violence occurs.
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Nearly 47,000 Americans lose their lives to gun violence every year. In communities, courts, and ballot boxes nationwide, GIFFORDS fights to save lives from gun violence. Will you join us?