Gun laws in 2018

The 2018 Valentine’s Day shooting that killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida prompted students and parents to rally for gun control legislation in a way not seen after previous mass shootings. The Florida Legislature and governor responded with a package of gun-control laws that was unusually aggressive for a state dominated by Republicans, raising hopes among advocates for tougher laws in other states.

Here is a state-by-state examination by The Associated Press of gun-control measures dealt with in 2018. Some states enacted laws banning bump stocks, the device used in last year’s Las Vegas shooting, or allowing police to temporarily seize guns from individuals showing signs of mental instability or violence. And some states responded by expanding gun rights, making it easier for people to get a concealed carry permit or adding to the list of places where people can legally carry a gun. Some states took no action at all.

The table below details 133 bills considered by state legislatures in 2018. Seven were vetoed. Here are some common categories:

• Disqualifies more from owning guns: imposes restrictions or bans on certain people.
• Increases criminal penalties: for certain gun-related crimes.
• Retired officers / guns and rules: enhances or restricts laws for retired law enforcement officers.
• Bump-stock ban: Prevents sale of this rapid-fire device.
• Red flag law: allowing authorities to remove firearms from people deemed dangerous or unstable.
• Gun surrender or seizure procedures: specifying how and when firearms must be surrendered.
• Guns on school grounds: expands or restricts the right to carry a firearm on school property.
• Guns in churches: lets people lawfully carry a firearm in those places.
• Stand Your Ground / self-defense: expands a law allowing people to fire a weapon in self-defense.
• Expands background checks: adds to the types of gun purchases requiring a background check.

Top 10 categories for 2018 gun laws

Search all bills

This table contains details on all 133 bills considered by legislatures in 2018, including those vetoed. They start with the one law enacted in New York State, a bill by a Republican senator from Nassau County. More gun legislation was passed so far this year in New York. To rearrange the list, you can filter by putting "category" wording into the search box, change the search parameter to filter by state, disposition or description; and you can change the order of the list by double clicking on the column headings. This database was updated on Feb. 13, 2019.