The debate over gun control in the United States has centered largely on assault-style rifles, like the AR-15. Surging in popularity in recent years, AR-15 style firearms are now the best selling rifle in the U.S. — and they have also been used in 10 of the country’s 17 deadliest mass shootings since 2012. But while AR-15s have dominated the political debate, both in Washington and statehouses across the country, every year in the U.S., handguns take a far greater toll on public health.
According to the FBI, 13,620 homicides were carried out with a firearm in 2020, and at least 59% of them were determined to have been carried out with a handgun. Meanwhile, only 3% of homicides were committed with a rifle. Additionally, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that risk of suicide-by-firearm is eight times higher for male handgun owners than non-owners, and 35 times higher for female handgun owners. (Here is a look at the states where gun-related crimes are surging.)
In light of the specific risks posed by handguns, several states have implemented policies to better ensure safe and responsible ownership. These include background check expansions, mandatory safety courses, waiting periods for prospective buyers, and licensing and permitting procedures. Most states, however, have done none of the above — and in these places, virtually any adult without a record of criminal violence can legally obtain a handgun in a matter of minutes.
Mississippi is one of these states. Not only are there no universal background check laws for prospective handgun buyers, but there are also no mandatory waiting periods, licensing, or safety training requirements.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 962 firearm-related fatalities in Mississippi in 2021, or 33.9 for every 100,000 people, the highest gun death rate among the 50 states.
All data on handgun purchase and ownership requirements in this story was compiled by the Giffords Law Center, a gun control advocacy group.
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| State | Licensing and safety training requirements for handguns | Universal background checks for handgun purchases | Mandatory waiting periods for handgun purchases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | None | No | None |
| Alaska | None | No | None |
| Arizona | None | No | None |
| Arkansas | None | No | None |
| California | Safety training to obtain certificate | Yes | 10 days |
| Colorado | None | Yes | 3 days (effective Oct. 1, 2023) |
| Connecticut | Permit and safety training required for purchase | Yes | None |
| Delaware | None | Yes | None |
| Florida | None | No | 3 days minimum |
| Georgia | None | No | None |
| Hawaii | Permit and safety training required for purchase | Yes | 14 days |
| Idaho | None | No | None |
| Illinois | Ownership license required | Yes | 72 hours |
| Indiana | None | No | None |
| Iowa | None | No | None |
| Kansas | None | No | None |
| Kentucky | None | No | None |
| Louisiana | None | No | None |
| Maine | None | No | None |
| Maryland | Permit and safety training required for purchase | Yes | 7 days |
| Massachusetts | Safety training, permit required for purchase, license required for ownership | Yes | None |
| Michigan | Permit required for purchase | Yes | None |
| Minnesota | Permit required for purchase from private sellers | No | 30 days if bought from a dealer |
| Mississippi | None | No | None |
| Missouri | None | No | None |
| Montana | None | No | None |
| Nebraska | Permit required for purchase | Yes | None |
| Nevada | None | Yes | None |
| New Hampshire | None | No | None |
| New Jersey | Permit and safety training required for purchase | Yes | 7 days |
| New Mexico | None | Yes | None |
| New York | License required for purchase and ownership | Yes | None |
| North Carolina | None | No | None |
| North Dakota | None | No | None |
| Ohio | None | No | None |
| Oklahoma | None | No | None |
| Oregon | Permit and safety training required for purchase | Yes | None |
| Pennsylvania | None | Yes | None |
| Rhode Island | Permit and safety training required for purchase | Yes | 7 days |
| South Carolina | None | No | None |
| South Dakota | None | No | None |
| Tennessee | None | No | None |
| Texas | None | No | None |
| Utah | None | No | None |
| Vermont | None | Yes | None |
| Virginia | None | Yes | None |
| Washington | None | Yes | None |
| West Virginia | None | No | None |
| Wisconsin | None | No | None |
| Wyoming | None | No | None |
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