17 Facts and Figures Explaining Firearm Ownership in America
A stark divide persists between people advocating for minimal firearm regulation and those vehemently pushing for stringent restrictions. Amidst this polarization, a closer look at key facts and figures reveals surprising common ground among Americans, shedding light on the nuances that both unite and separate our nation.
1: Republicans Are More Likely To Own a Weapon
Republicans and Republican-leaning Independents are twice as likely to own a firearm over Democrats and Democrat-leaning Independents, according to recent surveys.
2: More Men Own Firearms Than Women
Approximately 40% of men in the U.S. report owning a firearm. Only 25% of women can say the same. Among non-firearm owners, 50% of males said they were likely to purchase one in the future, while only 40% of women reported the same.
3: Rural Americans Own More Firearms
While 47% of rural Americans own a firearm, only 20% of those in urban areas do. Many cities and densely populated states, like New York, have strict firearm regulations, while laws tend to be more lenient in rural areas.
4: Most Firearm Owners Are White
38% of white Americans own a firearm. The number of firearm owners significantly decreases with other races. For example, only 10% of Asians report owning a firearm.
5: College-Degree Holders Less Likely To Own a Firearm
Most firearm owners have graduated high school or had some college education. In contrast, those with college degrees and postgraduate work under their belts are less likely to own a firearm.
6: Most Firearm Owners Cite Personal Protection
The vast majority of firearm owners say they purchased their weapons for self-protection. Fewer people own one for hunting and sport shooting.
7: Most People Who Own A Weapon Feel Good About It
71% of firearm owners say they enjoy owning their weapons. However, there’s an interesting divide between political parties in this area. Republicans are significantly more likely to report enjoying gun ownership than Democrats.
8: Even Split on Future Ownership
About half of non-firearm owners say they would never purchase a weapon, but the other half says they could see themselves with one in the future.
9: Firearms May or May Not Make Us Safer
Americans are split on whether firearms increase safety or not. Forty-nine percent of Americans say that firearm ownership amongst law-abiding citizens makes the country safer as a whole. The other half of the population disagrees.
10: Most Americans Think Firearm Violence Is a Problem
Six out of ten Americans believe that firearm violence is a major issue today. There have been over 500 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2023.
11: Violence Will Likely Rise
Most Americans (62%) believe that firearm violence will increase over the next five years. Homicides have seen modest decreases in recent years, but firearm deaths overall seem to be increasing, especially among teens.
12: Too Easy To Obtain
Sixty-one percent of Americans think it’s too easy to legally obtain a firearm. Though laws vary greatly from state to state, many parts of the U.S. have few restrictions on firearm ownership.
13: Small Minority Agree With Current Laws
Only 26% of Americans believe current firearm regulations are enough. The vast majority favor stricter laws on purchasing and owning a weapon.
14: Worried For Schools
Thirty-two percent of American parents are worried about a shooting at their children’s school. Many of these parents said they also believed better mental health screening and tools could curb violence in schools.
15: Most Against Concealed Carry
The majority of Americans are against concealed carry laws that don’t require a permit. Twenty-five states currently allow permitless concealed carry.
16: Republicans Support Giving Firearms To Teachers
Seventy-four percent of Republicans say they would support arming teachers and support staff in K-12 schools. Democrats disagree; only 27% of Democrats said they would support such a measure.
17: All For Mental Health Screenings
Most Americans want to prevent people with mental illnesses from owning a firearm. Eighty-seven percent of current firearm owners and 89% of non-owners supported putting measures in place to prevent this.
How US Firearm Violence Compares With 14 High-Income Nations
The United States takes center stage in many of the wrong ways when it comes to global firearm violence. Data reveals stark differences in firearm trends in fellow high-income countries.
How US Firearm Violence Compares With 14 High-Income Nations
