
The Daily Beast finds the most armed states in America.
Seth Perlman / AP Photo
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents (Sept. 2010 – Feb. 2012): 78,703
Previous rank: 1st

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 46,898
Previous rank: 2nd

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 16,888
Previous rank: 3rd

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 15,718
Previous rank: 6th

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 14,616
Previous rank: 5th

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 13,986
Previous rank: 4th

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 13,952
Previous rank: 8th

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 13,624
Previous rank: 7th

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 11,279
Previous rank: 12th

NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 11,150
Previous rank: 9th

11. Alabama
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 11,070
Previous rank: 10th
12. Tennessee
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 10,889
Previous rank: 11th
13. New Hampshire
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 10,557
Previous rank: 16th
14. Idaho
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 10,261
Previous rank: 13th
15. Missouri
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 10,228
Previous rank: 15th

16. Colorado
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 10,208
Previous rank: 14th
17. Mississippi
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 10,035
Previous rank: 17th
18. Illinois
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 9,831
Previous rank: 18th
19. Minnesota
NICS background checks per 100,000 residents: 9,730
Previous rank: 22nd
20. Louisiana
Population: 4,533,372
Previous rank: 21st




