
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.
Alaska enacted a dangerous “stand your ground” law in 2014, removing the duty to retreat from a violent altercation in most public spaces. In 2023, Alaska had the fifth highest gun death rate among the states. In an average year, 175 people die from gun violence in the state. That means someone dies from gun violence every two days. Seventy-one percent of these deaths are gun suicides, and 22% are gun homicides. In Alaska, the rate of gun deaths increased 23% from 2014 to 2023, compared to a 33% increase nationwide.
What Alaska Does Well
- Mental health record reporting
What Alaska Is Missing
- Universal background checks
- Gun owner licensing
- Extreme risk protection orders
- Most domestic violence gun laws
- Assault weapon restrictions
- Large capacity magazine ban
- Waiting periods
- Concealed carry permit
- Open carry regulations
- Child access prevention laws

SPOTLIGHT
GUN LAW SCORECARD
The data is clear: States with stronger gun laws have less gun violence. See how your state compares in our annual ranking.
Read MoreEXPLORE ALASKA’S GUN LAWS
WHO CAN HAVE A GUN
OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
CHILD & CONSUMER SAFETY
GUNS IN PUBLIC
HARDWARE & AMMUNITION
OTHER LAWS & POLICIES
SUPPORT GUN SAFETY
We’re in this together. To build a safer America—one where children and parents in every neighborhood can learn, play, work, and worship without fear of gun violence—we need you standing beside us in this fight.
