2026 FPC STATE Freedom Index

hOW DOES YOUR STATE COMPARE?

18.18%

STATE OF
DISASTER

90.91%

FREEISH
STATE

ARMS
NO	Does the State prohibit or restrict the purchase, possession, or transfer of common handguns (by, e.g., "rosters")?	NO
YES	Does the State prohibit or restrict the purchase, possession, or transfer of semi-automatic firearms (e.g., "Assault Weapons" bans)?	NO
YES	Does the State prohibit or restrict the purchase, possession, or transfer of a Short-Barreled Rifle (SBR) that is otherwise compliant with federal law (e.g., NFA registration)?	NO
YES	Does the State prohibit or restrict the purchase, possession, or transfer of a Short-Barreled Shotgun (SBS) that is otherwise compliant with federal law (e.g., NFA registration)?	NO
YES	Does the State prohibit or restrict the purchase, possession, or transfer of a Machine Gun (automatic firearm) that is otherwise compliant with federal law (e.g., NFA registration)?	NO
YES	Does the State prohibit or restrict the purchase, possession, or transfer of a firearm sound suppressor (“silencer”) that is otherwise compliant with federal law (e.g., NFA registration)?	NO
YES	Does the State prohibit or restrict the purchase, possession, or transfer of firearm magazines/ammunition feeding devices based on a capacity limit (e.g., limit of 10 rounds)?	NO
NO	Does the State prohibit or restrict the purchase, possession, or transfer of body armor?	NO
YES	Does the State prohibit or restrict the personal manufacture of firearms?	NO
Carry
YES	Does the State require a typical person to acquire a permit or license to carry a handgun in public (including in vehicles) for self-defense? (Respond "yes" if both permitless and permitted carry are available but a license allows for carry in more places.)	NO
YES	Does the State impose an age-based ban on the ability of 18-to-20 year-old adults to acquire a license or permit to carry handguns in public for self-defense?	YES
YES	Does the State impose a ban on carrying firearms on private property open to the public unless the property owner expressly allows it (the "vampire rule" or similar concept)?	NO
NO	Does the State impose a ban on carrying firearms at places of worship?	NO
NO	Does the State impose a ban on carrying firearms at outdoor public facilities and lands (e.g., parks, trails, campgrounds)?	NO
YES	Does the State impose a ban on carrying firearms on public transportation or at public transit facilities other than the secure area of airports (train, bus, light rail, multimodal, etc.)?	NO
YES	Does the State impose a ban on carrying firearms at government buildings (other than schools, legislative/executive office buildings, courthouses/judicial offices, jails/prisons, mental health facilities, and military installations) that are open to the public?	YES
Acquisition
YES	Does the State impose a requirement for a license or permit to purchase or possess firearms?	NO
YES	Does the State impose an age-based ban on the purchase of rifles, shotguns, or handguns (or their ammunition) by 18-to-20 year-old adults?	NO
YES	Does the State impose a “rationing” ban (e.g., “1-in-30”) that limits how many firearms a person can lawfully purchase in a given time period?	NO
YES	Does the State impose a “waiting period” or “cooling-off period” ban (e.g., "10-day wait") that prevents people from taking possession of a firearm for a specific period of time following the purchase of a firearm?	NO
Other
YES	Does the State require mandatory registration of firearms (i.e., it maintains a list of arms sold and possessed in the State as well as their owners/possessors)?	NO
YES	Does the State lack strong state preemption that prevents political subdivisions (like counties and cities) from enacting gun control laws more stringent than the State’s?	NO