Guns & Ammo Magazine Rates Best and Worst Firearm States

Do you live in a gun friendly state?

Some states are definitely better than others when it comes to Second Amendment freedoms. The premier firearms magazine Guns & Ammo has recently come out with their list of the best and worst firearm states to live in for gun enthusiasts in 2019. Here is the breakdown of the best and worst firearm states to live in and how the judges in the industry decide the rankings.

How The Experts Decide the List

Guns & Ammo looks at a variety of different factors when coming up with this list year after year. Not only do they look at the gun laws in each state, but they also consider right to carry, use of force laws, access to “black rifles,” and items not allowed by the National Firearms Act. There is also a miscellaneous category that represents other things like the number of places to shoot.

Looking further at the “black rifles” category, this one goes into gun items that each state bans based on the look of the firearm. This category also includes certain accessory items that are gun related, such as bump stocks.

All of the categories require an in-depth look into each state’s gun laws and practices.

The Most Gun Friendly States

So, who are the winners that come out on top in the most gun friendly states? Arizona leads the charge being the number one state for gun lovers. This state has long been a supporter of the Second Amendment. One of the reasons they have ranked so high is that the state doesn’t require a permit for concealed carry. They have the least restrictive gun laws of any state. Here’s how the rest of “the best” list stacks up.

5. Oklahoma

4. Kansas

3. Alaska

2. Idaho

1. Arizona

The Worst States for Gun Rights

And on the flip side, let’s look at where it’s not easy to own guns. The worst states for gun enthusiasts are the following:

5. California

4. Hawaii

3. New Jersey

2. Massachusetts

1. New York

It’s not surprising that California is on the list. The state isn’t friendly towards people that own guns, because the laws are very restrictive there. New York is the worst state overall for people that own guns. It’s very hard to get a concealed carry license there unless you are law enforcement. Forget about it if you live in Manhattan, it’s even harder there than in a place like upstate New York.

In fact, a case is going to the United States Supreme Court in December over where you can transport your firearm in New York. The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association has implemented this case and it’s going to be very interesting to see the outcome.

The Full Rankings at Guns & Ammo

If you want to see the full rankings of all 50 states you can check out the list at Guns & Ammo Magazine. It’s interesting to find out where your own state ends up on the list.