California led the way in gun safety in the United States as of January 2023, with a composite score of 86.5 based on the presence of 50 key gun safety policies. New York followed, with a score of 81.5, while Hawaii rounded out the top three with a score of 79.5.
Illinois joins the no-assault weapons club
Illinois - ranking at number seven - made headlines in January 2023 for approving a statewide ban on assault weapons. The Midwestern state joined eight other states, as well as Washington, D.C., which prohibits military-style weapons.
Permissive open carry states dominate the bottom of the class
When it came to the bottom of the ranking, Mississippi's three points represented the lowest composite score. Mississippi is one of 25 U.S. states that does not require any permit to carry a gun in public. Of the 25 last states for gun law strength, 24 were permissive open carry states.
