California receives an A from GIFFORDS Law Center’s Annual Scorecard for leading gun safety laws

GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence released the latest edition of its Annual Gun Law Scorecard, which grades and ranks each state on the strength of its gun laws. The comprehensive, 50-state analysis reflects that states with stronger gun laws have lower gun death rates and save lives.

This year, California received an A. In 2024, California passed 17 significant new gun safety laws. Among other things, it codified its Office of Gun Violence Prevention, enacted a safe storage law, and expanded gun relinquishment procedures.

“California has some of the lowest gun death rates in the country, and that is no coincidence,” said Emma Brown, Executive Director of GIFFORDS. “California’s A grade on the GIFFORDS Annual Scorecard is proof of how effective commonsense gun laws are in saving lives. Americans care about safety — every family wants to know that they are free to live peacefully without the constant fear of gun violence hanging over their heads. Fortunately, we have a roadmap to that reality.

“While we celebrate the gains made in states like California, there is still crucial work ahead of us. 2024 saw more than 400 mass shootings in a single year. From tragedies that rock the nation, like the one that took place at Apalachee High School, to the one that took place just yesterday at Abundant Life Christian School, to the thousands of firearm suicides every year, lawmakers must take action to save lives—and they must do it now.”

About Giffords Law Center
For over 30 years, the legal experts at GIFFORDS Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence have been fighting for a safer America by researching, drafting, and defending the laws, policies, and programs proven to save lives from gun violence.