In the United States, gun laws differ from state to state. While all citizens have the 'right to bear arms' ingrained in their Constitution, Americans who have a criminal record or suffer from mental illness may be restricted from gun ownership depending on the state they are living in. As of 2024, 38 states had prohibited people with felony convictions from having a gun, while 32 states barred firearm access by convicted domestic abusers. However, only 12 states had restricted gun possession by domestic abusers under temporary restraining orders, despite commonly cited concerns that victims may face the most danger directly after leaving their abuser. In comparison, owning a firearm was outlawed by 29 states for certain people with serious mental illness, defined as those who were involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital or found to be a danger to themselves or others. Although federal law already restricts such mentally ill individuals, as well as most convicted domestic abusers, from obtaining firearms, having statewide legislation is still considered crucial to ensure that the policy is properly enforced.
Policies prohibiting gun possession by certain people due to mental illness, abusive behavior, or criminal charges in the United States in 2024, by state
Characteristic
Prohibits people with serious mental illness?
Prohibits people with hate crime convictions?
Prohibits people with felony convictions?
Prohibits people with stalking convictions?
Prohibits convicted domestic abusers?
Prohibits domestic abusers with temporary restraining orders?
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Everytown for Gun Safety. (January 4, 2024). Policies prohibiting gun possession by certain people due to mental illness, abusive behavior, or criminal charges in the United States in 2024, by state [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 02, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1461808/state-policies-prohibiting-gun-possession-by-certain-people-us/
Everytown for Gun Safety. "Policies prohibiting gun possession by certain people due to mental illness, abusive behavior, or criminal charges in the United States in 2024, by state." Chart. January 4, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 02, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1461808/state-policies-prohibiting-gun-possession-by-certain-people-us/
Everytown for Gun Safety. (2024). Policies prohibiting gun possession by certain people due to mental illness, abusive behavior, or criminal charges in the United States in 2024, by state. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 02, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1461808/state-policies-prohibiting-gun-possession-by-certain-people-us/
Everytown for Gun Safety. "Policies Prohibiting Gun Possession by Certain People Due to Mental Illness, Abusive Behavior, or Criminal Charges in The United States in 2024, by State." Statista, Statista Inc., 4 Jan 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1461808/state-policies-prohibiting-gun-possession-by-certain-people-us/
Everytown for Gun Safety, Policies prohibiting gun possession by certain people due to mental illness, abusive behavior, or criminal charges in the United States in 2024, by state Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1461808/state-policies-prohibiting-gun-possession-by-certain-people-us/ (last visited December 02, 2024)
Policies prohibiting gun possession by certain people due to mental illness, abusive behavior, or criminal charges in the United States in 2024, by state [Graph], Everytown for Gun Safety, January 4, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1461808/state-policies-prohibiting-gun-possession-by-certain-people-us/