POMPANO BEACH, FL - DECEMBER 23: A customer compares handguns before buying one as a Christmas present at the National Armory gun store on December 23, 2015 in Pompano Beach, Florida. F.B.I. stats indicate that gun sales have increased dramatically this year, as reports indicate that firearms are a popular choice for a holiday present.

While gun sales are lower in 2022 they are still well higher than in pre-pandemic times. And while guns are a hotly debated topic with strong feelings on both sides of the issue, guns are an important part of some states’ economies. A continued decline in sales could strain certain states. And South Carolina is one state that relies on the gun industry.

Gun control is always a high-profile political issue, but maybe, even more, this year. So far there are well over 200 mass shootings that have taken place in the US. The world watched in horror as a gunman entered a Texas elementary school. After such issues, calls are being made for stricter gun control. I won’t pretend to know what will fix this issue we clearly have in this country. I do believe it’s more complex than just passing laws and that the issue runs deeper in society. But enough about politics- you don’t care about my political opinion nor should you.

The recent events and calls for reform led WalletHub to determine the states most reliant on the firearm industry. WalletHub compared the economic impact of guns on each of the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Firearms Industry, 2) Gun Prevalence, and 3) Gun Politics.

Read the full study here or keep reading to see where North and South Carolina rank as far as being dependent on the gun industry.

1. Idaho

Total Score: 85.11

Firearms Industry: 1

Gun Prevalence: 8

Gun Politics: 5
2. Wyoming
Total Score: 81.09

Firearms Industry: 4

Gun Prevalence: 9

Gun Politics: 1
3. Kentucky

Total Score: 75.67

Firearms Industry: 20

Gun Prevalence: 1

Gun Politics: 6
4. South Dakota

Total Score: 75.19

Firearms Industry: 6

Gun Prevalence: 12

Gun Politics: 1
5. Montana

Total Score: 74.27

Firearms Industry: 5

Gun Prevalence: 2

Gun Politics: 21
6. Arkansas
Total Score: 72.61

Firearms Industry: 3

Gun Prevalence: 19

Gun Politics: 11
7. Alaska

Total Score: 65.62

Firearms Industry: 14

Gun Prevalence: 24

Gun Politics: 8
8. North Dakota

Total Score: 64.57

Firearms Industry: 19

Gun Prevalence: 25

Gun Politics: 1
9. Missouri

Total Score: 64.36

Firearms Industry: 15

Gun Prevalence: 11

Gun Politics: 12
10. Oklahoma

Total Score: 64.10

Firearms Industry: 30

Gun Prevalence: 7

Gun Politics: 9
11. Tennessee

Total Score: 63.52

Firearms Industry: 22

Gun Prevalence: 3

Gun Politics: 18
12. Alabama

Total Score: 62.4

Firearms Industry: 27

Gun Prevalence: 5

Gun Politics: 14
13. South Carolina

Total Score: 61.71

Firearms Industry: 18

Gun Prevalence: 15

Gun Politics: 10
14. Utah

Total Score: 60.47

Firearms Industry: 7

Gun Prevalence: 31

Gun Politics: 17
15. Nebraska

Total Score: 59.53

Firearms Industry: 16

Gun Prevalence: 41

Gun Politics: 1
16. West Virginia

Total Score: 59.52

Firearms Industry: 31

Gun Prevalence: 14

Gun Politics: 13
17. Indiana

Total Score: 59.39

Firearms Industry: 31

Gun Prevalence: 14

Gun Politics: 13
18. Louisiana

Total Score: 58.89

Firearms Industry: 33

Gun Prevalence: 33

Gun Politics: 7
19. Mississippi

Total Score: 58.25

Firearms Industry: 12

Gun Prevalence: 21

Gun Politics: 16
20. Kansas

Total Score: 56.04

Firearms Industry: 13

Gun Prevalence: 17

Gun Politics: 25
21. New Hampshire

Total Score: 54.57

Firearms Industry: 2

Gun Prevalence: 6

Gun Politics: 49
22. Minnesota

Total Score: 52.39

Firearms Industry: 10

Gun Prevalence: 13

Gun Politics: 34
23. Maine

Total Score: 52.33

Firearms Industry: 8

Gun Prevalence: 26

Gun Politics: 33
24. Wisconsin

Total Score: 52.24

Firearms Industry: 38

Gun Prevalence: 16

Gun Politics: 23
25. Oregon

Total Score: 52.22

Firearms Industry: 11

Gun Prevalence: 18

Gun Politics: 28
26. North Carolina

Total Score: 52.16

Firearms Industry: 21

Gun Prevalence: 32

Gun Politics: 22
27. Ohio

Total Score: 52.10

Firearms Industry: 26

Gun Prevalence: 22

Gun Politics: 24
28. Iowa

Total Score: 50.17

Firearms Industry: 28

Gun Prevalence: 38

Gun Politics: 15
29. Texas

Total Score: 50.15

Firearms Industry: 17

Gun Prevalence: 40

Gun Politics: 19
30. Pennsylvania

Total Score: 47.07

Firearms Industry: 25

Gun Prevalence: 30

Gun Politics: 27
31. Vermont

Total Score: 46.69

Firearms Industry: 36

Gun Prevalence: 10

Gun Politics: 31
32. Arizona

Total Score: 41.67

Firearms Industry: 9

Gun Prevalence: 28

Gun Politics: 48
33. Washington

Total Score: 40.13

Firearms Industry: 39

Gun Prevalence: 36

Gun Politics: 29
34. Michigan

Total Score: 40.07

Firearms Industry: 34

Gun Prevalence: 39

Gun Politics: 35
35. Florida

Total Score: 38.22

Firearms Industry: 41

Gun Prevalence: 42

Gun Politics: 26
36. Colorado

Total Score: 37.47

Firearms Industry: 24

Gun Prevalence: 27

Gun Politics: 44
37. Nevada

Total Score: 34.92

Firearms Industry: 24

Gun Prevalence: 27

Gun Politics: 44
38. New Mexico

Total Score: 34.64

Firearms Industry: 42

Gun Prevalence: 20

Gun Politics: 41
39. Illinois

Total Score: 34.17

Firearms Industry: 46

Gun Prevalence: 23

Gun Politics: 37
40. Delaware

Total Score: 31.93

Firearms Industry: 43

Gun Prevalence: 29

Gun Politics: 40
41. Virginia

Total Score: 31.29

Firearms Industry: 37

Gun Prevalence: 35

Gun Politics: 46
42. Georgia

Total Score: 30.88

Firearms Industry: 35

Gun Prevalence: 37

Gun Politics: 47
43. Connecticut

Total Score: 29.94

Firearms Industry: 29

Gun Prevalence: 43

Gun Politics: 43
44. Massachusetts

Total Score: 27.69

Firearms Industry: 40

Gun Prevalence: 47

Gun Politics: 39
45. Maryland

Total Score: 25.48

Firearms Industry: 44

Gun Prevalence: 45

Gun Politics: 32
46. California

Total Score: 23.78

Firearms Industry: 49

Gun Prevalence: 44

Gun Politics: 38
47. New York

Total Score: 22.16

Firearms Industry: 47

Gun Prevalence: 48

Gun Politics: 36
48. Hawaii

Total Score: 16.23

Firearms Industry: 50

Gun Prevalence: 50

Gun Politics: 30
49. New Jersey

Total Score: 14.86

Firearms Industry: 48

Gun Prevalence: 49

Gun Politics: 42
50. Rhode Island

Total Score: 11.57

Firearms Industry: 45

Gun Prevalence: 46

Gun Politics: 49