Economics of an epidemic: These are the 4 states most dependent on the gun industry

We can’t truly address the epidemic of gun violence in the United States without taking a hard look at America’s deep-rooted economic dependence on the arms and ammunitions industry.

The firearms sector spans the country, including jobs, political contributions and ownership. According to one analysis, in 2014 alone the guns and ammunitions industry pumped almost $43 billion into the economy.

Gun manufacturers have emphasized their roles as job creators to justify their wide presence—and their power. Of course, they do not mention the high financial cost of gun violence, nor the immeasurable human loss.

From police killings to mass shootings, the disturbing—and often racialized—nature of gun violence in America is garnering concern and some limited reforms. Meanwhile, many argue that the heft of this industry is precisely the problem, pointing to the need for economic transformation that provides real alternatives to an increasingly deadly sector.

A new report from the personal finance website WalletHub provides a state-by-state breakdown of gun industry-dependence, citing data from the National Shooting Sports Foundation. Here are the top four states where the gun industry has a stranglehold on the lives, and the livelihoods of Americans.

1. New Hampshire leads the country in firearms-related jobs per capita, coming in at a stunning seven times that of Washington DC. The state also has the greatest total industry output per capita. Home to large-scale companies like Sturm, Ruger & Co., as well as smaller defense contractors, New Hampshire is peppered with gun and ammunition manufacturers. Notably, when it comes to gun ownership, New Hampshire comes in 47th in the country.

2. Idaho comes in right behind New Hampshire, with the second highest number of firearm industry jobs per capita. However, WalletHub places the state number one in overall gun dependence, thanks to its industry, gun prevalence and “gun politics” ranking. Notably, Idaho comes in 25th in the country in wages and benefits among those employed by the industry, raising questions about how ordinary people are faring amid the state’s heavy dependence. In 2013, Gov. Butch Otter infamously touted the state's low wages in a bid to attract gun manufactuers.

3. New Mexico is number one in exploitation, with workers in the firearms industry suffering the lowest wages and benefits in the nation, at three times less than their counterparts in Washington DC. Pay is suppressed in a state grappling with soaring unemployment and the highest child poverty rate in the country. At a time when many are hurting, the arms and ammunitions industry is paying far short of a living wage.

4. Alaska comes in second in overall gun dependence, but number one in private ownership. The state is followed in ownership by Arkansas, Idaho, West Virginia, and Wyoming, all of them majority rural. According to the study, gun ownership in Alaska is a stunning 12 times that of Delaware.

WalletHub has its own national assessment of gun dependence, based on evaluation of the gun industry, politics and prevalence. Here is its ranking from most to least dependent.

1. Idaho
2. Alaska
3. Montana
4. South Dakota
5. Arkansas
6. Wyoming
7. New Hampshire
8. Minnesota
9. Kentucky
10. Alabama
11. North Dakota
12. West Virginia
13. Mississippi
14. Utah
15. Indiana
16. Oregon
17. Colorado
18. South Carolina
19. Kansas
20. Connecticut
21. Tennessee
22. Louisiana
23. Missouri
24. Wisconsin
25. Vermont
26. Nebraska
27. New Mexico
28. Texas
29. Oklahoma
30. Illinois
31. Iowa
32. Arizona
33. Nevada
34. Pennsylvania
35. Florida
36. Georgia
37. North Carolina
38. Massachusetts
39. Virginia
40. Ohio
41. District of Columbia
42. Washington
43. Hawaii
44. Maine
45. Michigan
46. California
47. Maryland
48. New York
49. New Jersey
50. Rhode Island
51. Delaware