Where every number on 2A Maps comes from.
What each map counts.
How the scores and trends are worked out.
Laws change. Every map shows the date it was last checked.
How the Numbers Work
Map Dates
Each map shows the date it was last checked against current law.
The top of 2A Maps shows the date of the most recent update to any map.
People Affected
People Affected is the number of residents living in each category of a map.
It uses U.S. Census Bureau counts from 1960 to 2020 plus the Vintage 2025 estimates.
Years between counts are interpolated, so the timeline moves smoothly.
10-Year Trend
The trend counts how many states moved toward the pro-gun-owner end or the anti-gun end of a map over the last 10 years.
The full breakdown for every topic is on the 2A Scorecard.
Each year is saved as a snapshot, starting with the 2A Maps 2026 Snapshot.
2A Freedom Score
The score counts how many maps place a state in the most pro-gun-owner category, out of 23 scored maps.
Not scored: Gun Shops by State, Who Runs Background Checks, 2A4E Diversity Shoots, Riding Shotgun With Charlie and Marijuana Laws.
Those maps show facts and network projects, not a pro or anti position.
It is a quick way to compare states, not a legal rating.
DC and Puerto Rico
Every map covers all 50 states plus DC and Puerto Rico, because we like data and those places matter to us.
Rankings cover the 50 states and DC. Puerto Rico is shown on the maps but not ranked.
Viewer Rankings
Maps 1 through 5 hold their places and Marijuana stays last.
The order of the rest is set by viewers who drag or vote maps up and down.
What Each Map Counts
Categories run from the most pro-gun-owner on top to the most restrictive on the bottom.
01 · Constitutional Carry
Whether an adult who can legally own a handgun may carry it, including concealed, without a state permit.
Categories
Constitutional Carry
Permit Required (Shall Issue)
Restrictive Permit Rules
Checked against
Each state’s carry statute and the year its permitless carry law took effect. Vermont has never required a permit.
02 · Concealed Carry Permits
How hard it is to get a carry permit where one is required or offered.
Categories
Shall Issue, Easy Permit
Shall Issue, Heavy Requirements
Restrictive Permit Rules
Checked against
State permit statutes and issuing agencies. Heavy requirements means long training, high fees, long waits or broad no-carry zones.
03 · Assault Weapon Bans
State bans on commonly owned semi-automatic rifles, by feature or by name.
Categories
No State Ban
Partial Restrictions
State Ban
Checked against
State statutes and court orders currently in force. A ban blocked by a court is noted in the state file.
04 · Suppressor Laws
Whether state law lets civilians own suppressors, and whether they can hunt with them.
Categories
Legal to Own and Hunt
Legal to Own, No Hunting
Civilian Ownership Banned
Checked against
State statutes and state wildlife agency rules. Federal NFA rules apply on top of state law. The full history back to 1909 is on Suppressor Laws Since 1909.
05 · Gun Shops by State
Active Type 01 dealer and Type 02 pawnbroker licenses in each state.
Categories
1,300 or More
1,000 to 1,299
750 to 999
390 to 749
Under 390
Checked against
ATF Report of Active Firearms Licenses. A dealer license covers storefronts, gunsmiths and home-based dealers. Not scored.
06 · Home-Built Firearm Laws
State rules on building your own firearm and on unfinished frames, receivers and kits.
Categories
No State Restriction
Serial Number or Partial Rules
Ban on Unserialized Guns or Kits
Checked against
State statutes on privately made firearms.
07 · Stand Your Ground
Whether you must try to retreat before defending yourself in a place you have a right to be.
Categories
Stand Your Ground Law
Stand Your Ground by Court Ruling
Duty to Retreat Outside the Home
Checked against
State self-defense statutes and state supreme court rulings.
08 · Permit to Purchase
Whether a state permit or license is needed before buying a firearm.
Categories
No Permit to Purchase
Permit for Some Firearms
Permit for Most or All Firearms
Checked against
State purchase permit statutes.
09 · Castle Doctrine
How state law protects defending yourself in your home.
Categories
Castle Doctrine in Law
Limited Castle Protection
Duty to Retreat in Some Home Situations
Checked against
State self-defense statutes and court rulings.
10 · Firearm Registration
Whether the state keeps a registry of firearms or of firearm sales.
Categories
No State Registration
Some Firearms or Sales Records
Registration of All Firearms
Checked against
State registration and record-keeping statutes.
11 · Magazine Capacity Limits
State limits on how many rounds a magazine can hold.
Categories
No State Limit
Limit Above 10 Rounds
10-Round Limit
Checked against
State statutes and court orders currently in force.
12 · Carry Permit Reciprocity
Which out-of-state carry permits a state honors.
Categories
Honors All Permits
Honors Some Permits
Honors No Permits
Checked against
State reciprocity statutes and attorney general reciprocity lists.
13 · Red Flag Laws
Whether a state allows court orders to take firearms from a person without a criminal charge, or has banned those orders.
Categories
State Bans Red Flag Orders
No Red Flag Law
Red Flag Law
Checked against
State extreme risk protection order statutes, and state laws that prohibit them.
14 · Who Runs Background Checks
Whether dealers call the FBI or a state agency for background checks.
Categories
FBI Runs Checks
State Checks Handguns, FBI Long Guns
State Runs All Checks
Checked against
FBI NICS Participation Map and ATF Permanent Brady State Lists. Not scored.
15 · Firearm Purchase Age
The minimum age a state sets to buy long guns and handguns.
Categories
18 for All Long Guns
21 for Some Long Guns
21 for All Firearms
Checked against
State purchase age statutes and court rulings.
16 · NFA Item Laws
State rules on short-barreled rifles and shotguns, machine guns, AOWs and destructive devices.
Categories
NFA Items Allowed
Some NFA Items Banned
Most NFA Items Banned
Checked against
State statutes, with the ATF National Firearms Act Handbook for the federal rules.
17 · Non-Resident Carry Permits
Whether a state issues carry permits to people who live in other states.
Categories
Issues Non-Resident Permits
Limited Non-Resident Permits
Residents Only
Checked against
State permit statutes and issuing agencies.
18 · Permit to Own
Whether a state license is needed just to possess a firearm.
Categories
No Permit to Own
Handguns Only
Required for All Firearms
Checked against
State licensing statutes.
19 · State Right to Bear Arms
How strongly the state constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms.
Categories
Strong Right, Strict Scrutiny
State Constitutional Right
No State Right to Arms
Checked against
The text of each state constitution.
20 · Ammunition Background Checks
Whether buying ammunition requires a check, license or ID card.
Categories
No Ammunition Check
License or ID Card Required
Point-of-Sale Ammo Check
Checked against
State ammunition statutes.
21 · Private Sale Background Checks
Whether a sale between two private parties has to go through a background check.
Categories
No Private Sale Check
Required for Handguns or Some Guns
Required for All Firearms
Checked against
State transfer statutes.
22 · 2A Sanctuary States
Whether the state has a law limiting enforcement of federal gun restrictions.
Categories
State 2A Preservation Law
Resolution or Partial Measure
No State Sanctuary Law
Checked against
State statutes and legislative resolutions.
23 · NFA Sanctuary Laws
Whether the state has a law protecting NFA items made and kept within its borders.
Categories
State NFA Protection Law
No NFA Protection Law
Checked against
State statutes.
24 · State Preemption
Whether the state keeps gun regulation for itself or lets cities and counties write their own rules.
Categories
Full State Preemption
Partial Preemption
Little or No Preemption
Checked against
State preemption statutes and court rulings.
25 · 2A Sanctuary Counties
How many counties in a state have passed 2A sanctuary measures.
Categories
Statewide Sanctuary Law
Most Counties
Some Counties
No Sanctuary Counties
Checked against
County resolutions and state sanctuary statutes.
28 · 2A4E Diversity Shoots
States where 2A4E has held a Diversity Shoot or made an appearance.
Categories
Diversity Shoots Held
Speaking and Appearances
No Diversity Shoot Yet
Checked against
2A4E event records. Not scored.
27 · Riding Shotgun With Charlie
States where Riding Shotgun With Charlie has filmed a ride.
Categories
Rides Filmed
Not Visited Yet
Checked against
The Riding Shotgun With Charlie channel. Not scored.
26 · Marijuana Laws and Gun Owners
Where state marijuana law stands, since federal firearm law treats it separately.
Categories
Recreational and Medical
Medical Marijuana
Not Legal or CBD Only
Checked against
State statutes, with the CDC state medical cannabis summary. Not scored.
Primary Sources
State statutes, state constitutions and state agency rules are the starting point for every map.
Court rulings are added when they change what is in force, starting with NYSRPA v. Bruen (2022).
U.S. Census Bureau State Population Estimates
ATF Federal Firearms Licensee Listings
ATF Permanent Brady State Lists
ATF National Firearms Act Handbook
Each map also links to the 2A groups that track that issue.
Spot Something Out of Date?
Laws change fast. If a state has moved, let us know and the map gets checked.
Educational information, not legal advice. Check current law where you live and travel.