(Washington, D.C., Wednesday, February 23, 2022) – Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence has released its annual Gun Law Scorecard, which every year ranks all 50 states and assigns them a point total and grade based on the strength of their gun laws. For more than ten years, Giffords Law Center’s Gun Law Scorecard has made it abundantly clear that states with stronger gun laws see fewer gun deaths.

With gun deaths at an all-time high and armed extremism rampant, Black, Brown, and Latino communities continue to bear the brunt of gun violence. Firearms are also the leading cause of death for American children and teens. A just and equitable approach to gun violence prevention that combines gun safety legislation with community-based approaches is crucial to ending this uniquely American epidemic.

In 2021, 27 states and the District of Columbia passed 75 significant gun safety laws, bringing the total laws passed since the tragedy in Parkland in February 2018 to 255.

States with the strongest gun laws—like California, New Jersey, New York, and Maryland—have continued taking significant steps to protect their residents from gun violence.

States with the lowest grades—including Iowa, Missouri, and Montana—are most responsible for the troubling export of guns used for crimes in other states. These states also put their residents at risk by pushing dangerous policies like Stand Your Ground, which  allows people to shoot first and ask questions later, and permitless carry, which allows untrained, unvetted people to carry hidden, loaded guns in publics.

Giffords is a leader in the movement to end gun violence in America. Led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the organization brings decades of political, legal, and policy expertise to the fight for gun safety. Their efforts shift culture, mobilize voters, and challenge injustice. Giffords is fighting to end the gun lobby’s stranglehold on our political system. For more information, visit https://giffords.org/.