Utah leads states in gun sales growth over past decade, study shows

SALT LAKE CITY — As lawmakers heard statistics Wednesday on the state of gun crime in Utah, a new study shows Utah’s rate of gun ownership has increased more than any other state over the past decade.

The study, conducted by Security.org using FBI background check data, said Utah’s rate of gun sales per 1,000 adults grew 80.4% between 2009 and 2018. Only the District of Columbia, which recorded a jump of over 600%, had a greater increase — which is likely tied to the Supreme Court’s 2008 ruling in District of Columbia v. Heller, striking down the district’s most restrictive gun laws.

Utah also posted a low age-adjusted rate of gun-related homicides per 100,000 population — 2.2, tied for sixth-fewest — and a high rate of gun-related suicides per 100,000 — 11.9, tied for seventh.

Overall, Utah was estimated to have 82.8 gun sales per 1,000 adults in 2018, checking in at No. 16 among states. Montana led the way with an estimated 141.9 gun sales per 1,000 adults.