This Is How Many Gun Stores There Are in Alaska

There are over 393 million guns in circulation in the U.S., according to estimates from the Small Arms Survey, far outnumbering the national population of 327 million. In the United States - the only country in the world home to more civilian-owned guns than people - guns are big business.

While the appropriate balance between gun rights and public safety is a hot button political issue, the economics of the firearm industry are less controversial. According to The Firearm Industry Trade Association, guns and ammunition had a total economic impact of over $70.5 billion in 2021 - generating over a billion dollars in tax revenue and providing hundreds of thousands of jobs.

According to data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, there were 518 federally licensed dealers or pawn brokers of firearms in Alaska as of January 2022, or 70.3 for every 100,000 people - the third most among states.

The concentration of gun stores reflects current demand for firearms in the state, as Alaska ranks in the top half for both measures, adjusting for population. FBI firearm background check data, which is a close proxy for firearm sales, shows that an estimated 39,759 guns were sold in Alaska in the first half of 2022, or 5,395 for every 100,000 people, the 12th most among states.