Gun Control in the United States: A Comparative Survey of State Firearm Laws

Author: Open Society Institute, United States
Publication: Spectrum: Journal of State Government
Topics: Legislation and Policy State U.S./National
Keywords: California Connecticut citizen gun ownership citizen gun use firearm-crime relationships gun control legislation handguns, Hawaiian Islands, Illinois, licensing, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, state-by-state analyses, state laws, violence prevention, United States of America
Bibliographic information +

This study reviews State laws related to gun ownership, possession, sale, and transfer, with the gun control laws of each state scored on 30 criteria that include registration of firearms, safety training, regulation of firearm sales, safe storage and accessibility, owner licensing, and litigation. 42 states had weak gun control laws, two states (Massachusetts and Hawaii) had strong gun control laws and six states had moderate gun control laws. Overall, the gun control laws differ widely from state to state. Recommendations to enhance the consistent application of gun control laws are offered.