Sporting Event Gun Safety: What to Know Before Attending (2025)
- Yet another political shooting took place on September 10, 2025, in Utah.
- Political commentator Charlie Kirk was shot and killed in the incident.
- Gun safety laws continue to be inconsistent based on the area involved.
With mass shootings and targeted attacks becoming ever more present in America’s intense political climate, there is a legitimate reason to hold concern over attending public events. In order to help you feel more comfortable attending sporting events, we’ll provide a guide with everything you need to know about gun safety at professional and collegiate sports stadiums in America.
Gun Safety Laws by State
Gun safety laws in America vary wildly based on state, and gun violence follows a similar trend. Here is a map showcasing the 50 states and grading them based on gun safety and overall lack of gun violence, with the darker shaded states being the safest.
Here Utah is being listed among the most dangerous states, with an F rating, due to having more relatively lax gun safety laws.
Gun Safety Laws by League
Firearms and other types of weapons have received a blanket ban at most sporting events, despite some rather surprising legislation being proposed in the past to make taking a gun into a baseball game legal. Because of these regulations, mass shootings and other acts of violence are exceedingly rare at sporting events, though not totally non-existent. Here are specifics:
NFL
The NFL banned all firearms from stadiums in 2013, explicitly forbidding weapons of any kind. This ban includes police officers and security personnel on duty within the stadium, making it one of the most significant blanket weapons bans in all of sports.
NBA
The NBA has a zero-tolerance policy for firearms, restricting both fans and players from taking them into events. They also ban the possession of firearms in practice facilities, during travel, and in any other league-controlled areas, extending the protection.
MLB
The MLB has faced the most opposition for their similar zero-tolerance weapons policies, resisting legislation to allow firearms into games. Currently, weapons of any kind are strictly forbidden from being brought into any and all MLB stadiums and facilities.
NHL
The NHL has similar policies as other major leagues, listing firearms and other weapons as prohibited from being brought into events. However, the NHL also has more vague travel rules, perhaps because of the vast difference in legislation in Canada.
NCAA
At NCAA events, gun safety laws are the least restrictive and most vague, often leaving the strictness of the policy up to the University and state it resides in. This has made campuses less safe, though major events still face heavy weapon restrictions.
How to Stay Safe at Public Events
Staying aware of your surroundings and keeping your head up are key to staying safe at highly populated events, and the more you know about the venue, the better. With every state and league holding slightly different rules, it can be tough to know exactly what to expect. Check out this useful guide with a variety of key info so you can enjoy your favorite sporting events to the fullest.
