Alabama failed to pass any significant gun laws in 2018, earning another F. The state has one of the highest gun death rates per capita. In a notable gun safety victory, a bill that would have allowed guns in K–12 schools died in the state legislature. To raise its grade, Alabama should pass laws that require background checks on all gun purchases and restrict military-style weapons.

Learn more about Alabama’s gun laws.

Despite having the highest gun death rate in the nation, Alaska once again failed to pass new gun safety laws in 2018 and continues to be a significant exporter of crime guns to other states. In order to raise its grade above an F and save lives, the state should institute universal background checks and repeal its dangerous permitless carry law.

Learn more about Alaska’s gun laws.

Arizona failed to pass any significant gun safety legislation in 2018. In order to raise its F grade, the state should repeal its dangerous permitless concealed carry law and pass a law requiring background checks on all gun purchases. Arizona should also limit the number of firearms that may be purchased at one time and impose a waiting period on firearm sales.

Learn more about Arizona’s gun laws.

Arkansas did not enact any significant gun laws in 2018. Two dangerous gun lobby–backed bills that would have allowed guns on college campuses and in K–12 schools were defeated in the state legislature. To raise its grade and save lives from gun violence, Arkansas should pass laws that require background checks on all gun purchases and keep guns away from domestic abusers.

Learn more about Arkansas’s gun laws.

While Colorado did not pass any significant gun safety legislation in 2018, gun safety advocates successfully defeated two dangerous gun lobby–backed bills, one to allow permitless carry and another to permit guns in K–12 schools. To raise its grade above a C, Colorado should pass an extreme risk protection order law and strengthen its child access prevention and concealed carry permitting laws.

Learn more about Colorado’s gun laws.

Connecticut continued to strengthen its strong gun laws in 2018 by banning bump stocks and trigger activators. After the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012, Connecticut overhauled its gun laws and today has one of the lowest gun death rates in the nation. It could improve its gun laws further by requiring design safety standards for firearms and limiting bulk gun purchases.

Learn more about Connecticut’s gun laws.

Delaware strengthened its gun laws in 2018 by banning the use of bump stocks and other trigger activators, as well as enacting an extreme risk protection order law. To save more lives from gun violence and raise its grade, Delaware can improve its child access prevention laws, ban dangerous military-style weapons, and prohibit bulk firearm purchases.

Learn more about Delaware’s gun laws.

Florida significantly raised its grade in 2018, from an F to a C-. After the mass shooting in Parkland in February, the state legislature passed a package of gun safety bills that included an extreme risk protection law, a higher minimum age for buying firearms, and stronger waiting periods. To save more lives and further raise its grade, Florida should adopt universal background checks and regulate military-style weapons and magazines.

Learn more about Florida’s gun laws.

In 2018, Georgia moderately strengthened its gun laws by making it a crime to intentionally provide firearms to people with certain criminal convictions. Some of the many ways Georgia could raise its grade above an F and save lives from gun violence include passing universal background checks, restricting domestic abusers from accessing guns, and enacting an extreme risk protection order law.

Learn more about Georgia’s gun laws.

Hawaii continued to improve its strong gun safety laws in 2018 by banning bump stocks and requiring individuals to relinquish their firearms within seven days of becoming prohibited from owning them. Hawaii has some of the strongest gun laws in the nation and the lowest gun death rate. The state can further build on the progress made this year by enacting an extreme risk protection law.

Learn more about Hawaii’s gun laws.

Idaho weakened its already minimal laws in 2018 by enacting dangerous Stand Your Ground legislation. The state currently has no laws prohibiting bulk firearm purchases or regulating unsafe handguns. To improve its failing grade and save lives, Idaho should pass universal background checks and repeal policies like permitless carry and Stand Your Ground that encourage the reckless use of lethal force.

Learn more about Idaho’s gun laws.

Illinois strengthened its gun laws in 2018 by enacting extreme risk protection order laws, increasing its investment in violence intervention programs, and extending its firearm waiting period. The state also has lifesaving laws on the books related to waiting periods and child access prevention. Illinois could further improve its grade by strengthening the regulation of gun dealers, limiting bulk firearm purchases, and restricting large-capacity magazines.

Learn more about Illinois’s gun laws.

Indiana failed to pass any significant firearm legislation in 2018, and the state continues to be a source of guns used in crimes in other states. Fortunately, dangerous bills to allow permitless carry and guns in K–12 schools were defeated in the state legislature in 2018. To improve its poor grade, Indiana should, among other things, require a background check on all gun sales and regulate military-style weapons and magazines.

Learn more about Indiana’s gun laws.

Iowa failed to significantly strengthen its gun laws in 2018, though the state raised its grade from a C- to a C after receiving additional points due to its requirement that all handgun purchasers first obtain a license after undergoing a background check, a policy recent research has shown to be particularly effective. This year legislators proposed a state constitutional amendment that would risk invalidating many of the state’s gun safety laws. Legislators should oppose this dangerous amendment and expand the state’s firearm licensing law to cover long guns, instead of only handguns.

Learn more about Iowa’s gun laws.

In 2018, Kansas strengthened its gun laws by prohibiting certain domestic abusers from acquiring or possessing firearms, though the state continues to have a failing grade due to its lack of basic gun safety laws. A few of the ways Kansas could raise its grade include passing universal background checks, repealing dangerous permitless carry and campus carry laws, and enacting extreme risk protection order legislation.

Learn more about Kansas’s gun laws.

Kentucky failed to pass any significant firearm legislation in 2018. Due to its weak gun safety laws, Kentucky is a leading exporter of crime guns to states with stronger laws. To raise its grade and save lives, the state should require background checks on all gun sales, pass an extreme risk protection order law, and regulate military-style weaponry and magazines.

Learn more about Kentucky’s gun laws.

Louisiana strengthened its gun laws in 2018 by making it harder for domestic abusers and other prohibited people to access guns. The state continues to have a failing grade due to its lack of basic gun safety laws. Instituting universal background checks and imposing a waiting period on firearm sales are two of the many ways Louisiana could raise its grade and save lives.

Learn more about Louisiana’s gun laws.

Maine did not pass any significant gun safety laws in 2018, earning another F this year. The state does not require a permit to carry a concealed handgun, nor does it require firearms dealers or purchasers to obtain a state license. Two ways that Maine could raise its grade include instituting universal background checks and enacting extreme risk protection order laws.

Learn more about Maine’s gun laws.

Maryland strengthened its gun laws in 2018 by enacting an extreme risk protection order law, banning bump stocks and similar products that simulate automatic fire, and allocating millions of dollars to urban violence prevention programs. The state’s gun laws jumped from sixth- to fourth-strongest in the country. Maryland should continue to strengthen its already strong gun laws by expanding its background check and firearm storage laws.

Learn more about Maryland’s gun laws.

Massachusetts continued to strengthen its lifesaving gun laws in 2018 by adopting extreme risk protection legislation and substantially increasing its investment in urban violence intervention programs, which have been proven to significantly reduce gun homicides in the state, especially among youth. Massachusetts should continue to strengthen its gun safety laws by maintaining these important investments, requiring a waiting period to buy guns, and restricting bulk firearm purchases.

Learn more about Massachusetts’s gun laws.

Michigan did not pass any new gun safety laws in 2018. The state does have laws in place that require the reporting of handgun purchases to law enforcement. To raise its grade and save lives, Michigan should enact child access prevention laws, and extreme risk protection order laws. The state should also ban dangerous military-style weapons and institute waiting periods for firearm purchases.

Learn more about Michigan’s gun laws.

Minnesota failed to pass any significant gun laws in 2018 and continues to maintain a C+ grade. Fortunately, dangerous gun lobby–backed bills to allow guns on college campuses and in K–12 schools were defeated in the state legislature. To raise its grade, Minnesota should enact background checks on all gun purchases and pass an extreme risk protection order law.

Learn more about Minnesota’s gun laws.

Mississippi did not pass any new gun safety laws in 2018. The state has one of the highest gun death rates in the nation and correspondingly weak gun laws. To raise its grade and save lives, Mississippi should, among other things, pass universal background checks, prevent domestic violence offenders from accessing firearms, and repeal its dangerous permitless carry law.

Learn more about Mississippi’s gun laws.

Missouri maintained its failing grade after neglecting to pass any significant gun laws in 2018. The state lacks a number of fundamental gun safety laws proven to save lives. To lower its high gun death rate and improve its F grade, the state should institute universal background checks, repeal its dangerous permitless carry law, and pass an extreme risk protection order law.

Learn more about Missouri’s gun laws.

Montana failed to pass any significant gun laws in 2018. The state has one of the highest gun death rates per capita in the nation and lacks the most basic gun safety laws. To raise its failing grade and save lives, the state should institute universal background checks, pass child access prevention and extreme risk protection laws, and ban military-style weapons.

Learn more about Montana’s gun laws.

Nebraska raised its grade from a D to a C- after funding urban gun violence reduction programs and broadening the category of people prohibited from purchasing firearms. To further strengthen its relatively weak gun laws, Nebraska should apply its background check laws to long guns, instead of only to handguns, prohibit bulk firearm purchases, and regulate military-style weapons.

Learn more about Nebraska’s gun laws.

Following the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas in late 2017, the Nevada Legislature was not in session in 2018 and did not have the opportunity to enact any new gun laws or raise its grade. After the state passed universal background checks by ballot initiative in 2016, it failed to properly implement or enforce this law, contributing to its D grade. To save lives, Nevada should begin enforcing private-sale background checks and pass an extreme risk protection order law.

Learn more about Nevada’s gun laws.

New Hampshire further weakened its poor gun laws in 2018 by repealing its prohibition on carrying firearms in vehicles. The state does not require a permit to carry concealed guns in public, nor does it require background checks at gun shows, online, or in private sales. New Hampshire could raise its F grade by reinstating its concealed carry permitting law and instituting universal background checks.

Learn more about New Hampshire’s gun laws.

New Jersey continued to pass strong gun laws in 2018 by closing a long gun loophole in its background check law, strengthening its ban on high-capacity magazines, prohibiting bump stocks, and enacting an extreme risk protection order law. New Jersey also allocated $2 million to gun violence prevention research. Thanks to its robust gun laws, New Jersey has one of the nation’s lowest gun death rates.

Learn more about New Jersey’s gun laws.

New Mexico failed to enact any significant gun legislation in 2018. The state lacks fundamental gun safety laws and requires local law enforcement to issue a concealed handgun license to any applicant who meets certain basic qualifications. Some of the many ways for New Mexico to raise its failing grade and save lives include enacting extreme risk protection legislation and passing universal background checks.

Learn more about New Mexico’s gun laws.

New York further strengthened its lifesaving gun laws in 2018 by expanding prohibitions on firearm possession by domestic violence offenders. The state, which has one of the lowest gun death rates in the nation, can continue to improve its gun safety efforts by passing a child access prevention law and regulating the sale of components for homemade “ghost guns.”

Learn more about New York’s gun laws.

North Carolina did not enact any significant gun laws in 2018, though the state raised its grade from a D- to a D after receiving additional points due to its requirement that all handgun purchasers first obtain a license after undergoing a background check, a policy recent research has shown to be particularly effective. To raise North Carolina’s grade and save lives, legislators should expand this background check requirement to cover long gun sales as well, regulate military-style weapons and magazines, and invest in violence intervention programs.

Learn more about North Carolina’s gun laws.

North Dakota has incredibly weak gun laws overall and passed no significant gun safety legislation in 2018. To raise its grade above an F and save lives from gun violence, the state should require background checks for all gun sales, require a permit to carry a hidden, loaded gun in public, and implement an extreme risk protection order law.

Learn more about North Dakota’s gun laws.

Ohio moderately strengthened its gun laws in 2018 by expanding domestic violence protection orders to include dating partners. The state lacks a number of basic gun safety laws, though it does require firearm owners to report the loss or theft of their guns. Passing universal background checks and imposing a waiting period on firearm purchases would raise Ohio’s grade above a D and help save lives.

Learn more about Ohio’s gun laws.

Oklahoma legislators failed their constituents in 2018 by expanding the state’s dangerous Stand Your Ground law. The state does not significantly regulate ammunition or allow local governments to regulate firearms. To raise its failing grade and save lives from gun violence, Oklahoma should require universal background checks, pass an extreme risk protection order law, and ban military-style weapons.

Learn more about Oklahoma’s gun laws.

Oregon strengthened its moderately strong gun laws in 2018 by prohibiting stalkers from owning firearms, expanding domestic violence protections to apply to dating partners, and improving law enforcement’s ability to investigate attempted firearm purchases by prohibited people. Oregon could further raise its C+ grade by banning military-style weapons and enacting a child access prevention law.

Learn more about Oregon’s gun laws.

Pennsylvania strengthened its gun laws in 2018 by prohibiting firearm possession by individuals who have been convicted of domestic abuse or are subject to domestic violence protective orders and requiring those individuals to relinquish their firearms. Pennsylvania could further raise its grade and save lives by allowing local governments to regulate firearms and enacting extreme risk protection order legislation.

Learn more about Pennsylvania’s gun laws.

Rhode Island strengthened its relatively strong gun laws in 2018 by adopting extreme risk protection legislation and banning dangerous trigger activators like bump stocks. To raise its B+ grade, Rhode Island should continue to pass new gun safety measures, including restricting the sale of military-style weapons and prohibiting the purchase of firearms by hate crime offenders.

Learn more about Rhode Island’s gun laws.

South Carolina failed to pass any significant gun laws in 2018. The state lacks a number of basic gun safety laws, though it does prohibit gun possession by certain domestic abusers. South Carolina could raise its grade above an F and save lives by instituting universal background checks, passing child access prevention legislation, and enacting extreme risk protection order laws.

Learn more about South Carolina’s gun laws.

South Dakota made marginal gun safety strides in 2018 by requiring concealed carry permit applicants to pass a federal background check, but the state’s laws remain very weak overall. The state previously required a 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases, but repealed this law in 2009. South Dakota could reduce gun deaths by, among other things, implementing private-sale background checks and an extreme risk protection order law.

Learn more about South Dakota’s gun laws.

Tennessee moderately strengthened its gun laws in 2018 by making it easier for law enforcement to investigate when an individual prohibited from possessing a firearm for mental health reasons attempts to purchase a gun. The state has weak gun safety laws overall and could improve its poor grade by requiring background checks for all gun sales and enacting an extreme risk protection order law.

Learn more about Tennessee’s gun laws.

Texas did not enact any firearm-related legislation in 2018. The state has very weak gun safety laws and is a major exporter of crime guns. To raise its grade above an F and save lives from gun violence, Texas should pass universal background checks, prohibit hate crime offenders from accessing guns, and repeal its dangerous campus carry law.

Learn more about Texas’s gun laws.

Utah strengthened its gun laws and raised its grade from an F to a D- in 2018 by expanding protections for domestic violence survivors and funding urban violence prevention programs. It offset this improvement, though, by worsening its already dangerous Stand Your Ground law. Utah could improve its grade and save lives by enacting fundamental gun safety policies such as universal background checks and extreme risk protection order laws.

Learn more about Utah’s gun laws.

In 2018, Vermont comprehensively strengthened its previously weak gun laws—and raised its grade from an F to a D+—by passing universal background checks and extreme risk protection order legislation, raising the minimum age to purchase firearms, banning sales of large-capacity magazines, and authorizing law enforcement to remove firearms in certain domestic violence incidents. Vermont can further build on this notable progress by adopting waiting periods and enacting laws to combat gun trafficking.

Learn more about Vermont’s gun laws.

Virginia did not enact any significant new gun laws in 2018. Though the state’s laws could be much stronger, Virginia does regulate gun shows and require employees of federally licensed firearms dealers to undergo background checks. To strengthen its D grade, Virginia should, among other things, pass universal background checks, require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms, and enact an extreme risk protection order law.

Learn more about Virginia’s gun laws.

Washington improved its already strong gun laws in 2018. In the November midterm elections, voters passed a ballot initiative that, among other things, raises the minimum age to buy firearms to 21 and requires safe storage of firearms under certain circumstances. State legislators also made it harder for domestic abusers to access firearms and banned bump stocks. The state can further build on this progress by banning military-style weapons and restricting bulk firearms sales.

Learn more about Washington’s gun laws.

West Virginia weakened its already poor gun laws in 2018 by forcing private property owners to allow firearms in their parking lots. The state is a significant exporter of crime guns to other states and fails to require background checks on private sales of guns. West Virginia can improve its laws by instituting universal background checks and requiring concealed carry permits.

Learn more about West Virginia’s gun laws.

Wisconsin marginally improved its gun safety laws in 2018 by making it a crime to purchase a firearm with the intent to transfer it to someone prohibited from possessing guns. In order to improve its grade from a C-, Wisconsin should, among other things, enact universal background checks, require waiting periods for all firearm sales, and regulate unsafe handguns.

Learn more about Wisconsin’s gun laws.

In 2018, Wyoming legislators put their constituents at risk by enacting a dangerous Stand Your Ground law and passing legislation allowing people with concealed carry permits to bring guns into places of worship. The state has very weak gun laws and a remarkably high gun suicide rate. Wyoming could save lives by, among other things, passing universal background checks and imposing waiting periods on gun purchases.

Learn more about Wyoming’s gun laws.