Gun Ownership in Nevada Compared to Other States and Its Correlation with Gun Homicides
In Nevada, 47% of households have guns, exceeding the national average of approximately 43%. With a population of 3.2 million, Nevada is estimated to have around 1.5 million firearms, though exact figures are uncertain due to limited state registration laws.
Nevada ranks 21st in state gun ownership, driven by permissive laws allowing concealed and open carry. Recent reforms, including expanded background checks (effective 2020), a bump stock ban (effective 2020), and a ghost gun ban (effective 2022), have strengthened its gun law framework, earning a 19th-place for gun law strength nationwide in 2025.
In comparison, Montana tops the nation with more than 66% of households owning firearms, followed closely by Wyoming. In stark contrast, New Jersey and Massachusetts report the lowest rates at around 14%. These disparities highlight regional variations of gun culture, shaped by hunting traditions in the Midwest and stringent regulations in the Northeast.
The United States leads the world with an estimated 120.5 civilian firearms per 100 residents, far surpassing other nations. However, its gun homicide rate of approximately 5 per 100,000 people is exceeded by countries grappling with severe instability, such as El Salvador and Honduras, per the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. This highlights that gun violence is a complex issue, shaped by socioeconomic disparities, governance challenges, and cultural factors beyond just firearm availability.
Montana, with the nation's highest gun ownership rate, maintains a low gun homicide rate, likely due to its sparse population, limited urban crime, and a culture emphasizing responsible firearm use. Conversely, Mississippi, with 55% ownership, sees higher gun violence (10 per 100,000), driven by high poverty. New Jersey and Massachusetts, with the lowest gun ownership rates in the U.S., have the lowest gun homicide rates (3 and 2 per 100,000) and overall gun death rates (4 and 3 per 100,000).
The relationship between gun ownership and homicide rates is complex. Studies suggest a correlation between higher firearm ownership and increased firearm homicide rates, even when controlling for factors like poverty and urbanization. For example, a 10% increase in gun ownership is associated with a 1% rise in firearm homicides. States with weaker gun laws and higher ownership, often in the South and West, have higher gun death rates (19 per 100,000 in states with weaker laws) compared to states with stricter laws (7 per 100,000). However, when focusing solely on homicides (excluding suicides), the correlation weakens. Data from 2023–2025 indicates that states with relaxed gun laws averaged 322 homicides per state in 2024, compared to 309 in states with stricter laws, suggesting similar homicide rates despite differing gun ownership levels.
Nevada's statistics align with this nuance: its above-average firearm ownership—estimated at nealry half of Nevada’s households—and relatively permissive mid-tier gun laws correlate with a homicide rate that closely mirrors the national average, rather than showing the sharp increases observed in states with even more lenient regulations. In 2024, Nevada’s overall gun death rate, which includes homicides, suicides, and accidents, was approximately 21 per 100,000 residents, notably higher than the U.S. national average of 13 per 100,000. However, gun homicides (firearm-related killings of others) accounted for about 5 per 100,000, aligning precisely with the national annual mean, highlighting a pattern of moderated violence despite widespread firearm access. This trend is consistent with earlier data, as Nevada’s gun homicide rate in 2021 was 6 per 100,000, matching the national average for that year.
While higher gun ownership doesn’t consistently correlate with higher gun homicide rates—evident in states like Montana and Wyoming—a clear trend persists: states with lower gun ownership, such as New Jersey and Massachusetts, reliably report lower gun homicide rates. In high-ownership states with elevated homicide rates, factors like poverty and population density often amplify violence. Intriguingly, low-ownership states with similar socioeconomic challenges can exhibit comparable homicide rates, underscoring the pivotal role of economic and social conditions in driving gun violence. The inclusion of gun suicides further complicates the picture, shifting focus from interpersonal violence to self-harm. In the U.S., where gun suicide rates are roughly 7 per 100,000 compared to a global average of 1 per 100,000, this distinction distorts gun violence narratives, particularly in politicized debates. Nevada, with high gun ownership but moderate homicide rates, highlights the nuanced interplay of regional, economic, and cultural factors shaping America’s intricate firearm landscape.
