Everytown for Gun Safety Releases 2024 State Gun Law Rankings, Montana Ranks 47th in the Nation for the Strength of its Gun Laws

HELENA, MT.  – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety launched the updated “Gun Law Rankings” for 2024, an online tool and website that ranks all 50 states based on the strength of their gun laws and catalogs gun safety laws state by state. This year, Everytown’s state gun law rankings also shows whether states’ rankings increased or decreased over the past year, reflecting progress made by passing common-sense gun safety policies or setbacks as a result of enacting dangerous measures backed by the gun lobby. Everytown’s analysis found that Montana ranks 47th in the nation for its weak gun laws.

While gun-sense legislators in other states have worked to pass common-sense gun safety policies such as legislation to require the secure storage of firearms or to temporarily disarm individuals who pose a danger to themselves or others, gun lobby-backed legislators in Montana instead invested their time debating a now failed measure that would have put a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution to allow permitless gun carry on the ballot. 

“For years we have lived through the consequences of weak gun laws but as these rankings confirm our fears, they also show the path towards progress and safety,” said Shannon Thomas, a volunteer with the Montana chapter of Moms Demand Action. “As our state continues to battle worrying gun suicide rates, we remain committed to continue engaging with lawmakers  to present comprehensive gun safety laws that protect our communities from senseless acts of gun violence.” 

In Montana, a gun suicide death occurs every 46 hours and the state has the third highest rate of firearm suicide in the country. In an average year in Montana, there are an estimated 228 gun-related deaths and 83-percent of gun deaths among children and teens are suicides. Montana also has the third highest rate of suicide among Native Americans in the country and the ninth highest gun-related death rate in the United States. Gun violence costs Montana $3 billion each year, of which $30.9 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence in Montana is available here. 
To speak with an expert about Everytown’s State Gun Law Rankings or gun violence prevention efforts in Montana, please contact [email protected]