Among those who have never owned a gun, however, there are some significant demographic differences in the shares who say they have fired one. Thirty-three percent of Americans aged 50 and older own at least one gun. Wyoming has, by far, the highest number of guns per capita. T he U.S. has the most firearms per capita of any country in the world. Plus, these areas are often more rural in nature as 60% of households that own a gun are considered rural. Structural equation modeling was then used to estimate ownership rates from these survey-based estimates and administrative data on firearm suicides, hunting licenses, background checks, and other indicators of gun ownership. "What Is Gun Ownership Like State by State." An estimated 58.5% of West Virginia adults have guns in their homes. Here, Jerry Ilo teaches a hunter-education training course in Honolulu. In addition to Wyoming, several other small states are near the top of the list when it comes to per capita gun sales. firearms per 100 residents, up from 88 per 100 in 2011, far surpasses that of other . Fortunately, these states also have the lowest numbers of gun deaths. So, to support research in this area, RAND developed a longitudinal database of state-level estimates of household firearm ownership from 1980 to 2016. Among whites, about four-in-ten of those with a high school diploma or less (40%) or with some college (42%) are gun owners, compared with roughly a quarter of white college graduates (26%). And while 62% of non-gun owners who live in rural areas say they could see themselves owning a gun at some point, smaller shares of those who live in a suburban (49%) or urban (50%) areas say the same. There is also controversy over the class of people who should own a gun; convicted felons, individuals on the federal's no-fly list, and people with violent or severe mental illnesses are not allowed to own firearms. About two-thirds of current gun owners (67%) say there were guns in their household growing up, and 76% report that they first fired a gun before they were 18. The United States has the highest gun ownership rate in the world and the highest per capita rate of firearm-related murders of all developed countries. In April, gun sales were down 23% compared with the . Both surveys are consistent with rates of gun ownership reported by the Gallup Organization, but somewhat higher than that reported by the General Social Survey (GSS), which is conducted face to face. FYI: People purchase firearms for a variety of reasons, one of which is home protection. For example, about four-in-ten men (39%) say they personally own a gun, compared with 22% of women. "Percentage of Households in The United States Owning One or More Firearms from 1972 to 2022. While non-gun owners are less likely to have grown up in a gun-owning household, a substantial share (40%) say this is the case, and about six-in-ten (61%) say they have fired a gun. Rural households are more likely to own a firearm than urban households, 46% vs. 19%, and those 50 or older have the highest gun ownership rate than other age groups at 33%. But the trend has not always been upward. An estimated 50.5% of Vermont adults have guns in their homes. This doesnt mean there arent crimes committed with legally owned weapons, but it does mean that bad guys do bad things and have found a way to get a weapon despite strict gun laws. Most gun owners cite multiple reasons for owning a gun. The following statistics portray current gun ownership statistics in the US. Large majorities of about nine-in-ten or more among current and past gun owners say they have fired a gun, and this is true across demographic groups. Are you interested in testing our corporate solutions? In Tennessee, 51.6% of adults have guns in their homes. Best Low Recoil 9mm Pistol Reviews And Buyers Guide, Best Shotgun Recoil Pads: Top Picks on The Market, Best Recoil Pads: Reviews and Buyers Guide. RAND estimates 14.8% of adults in Rhode Island live in homes with guns. Datatable showing data for the United States Map figure. For people between the ages of 30 and 49, 28% own a firearm. For example, unlike many demographic questions, there is not a definitive data source from the government or elsewhere on how many American adults own guns. An estimated 48.9% of Kansas adults have firearms in their homes. Christian Florea, 10, looks over an FN MK 48 machine gun at an NRA event in Louisville. Canada, on the other hand, ranks 13th on the study's list, with 9.95 million firearms or 31 per 100 residents. This is even more remarkable considering the state's population is fairly small. Contents 1 List of countries by number of guns 2 See also About seven-in-ten say they own a handgun or pistol (72%), while 62% own a rifle and 54% own a shotgun. "Percentage of households in the United States owning one or more firearms from 1972 to 2022." Among non-gun owners, about six-in-ten of those who grew up in a gun-owning household say they could see themselves owning a gun at some point (61%). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are more than twice as likely as Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents to say they own a gun (44% vs. 20%). Among women who grew up with guns in their household, the average age at which they first fired a gun is 17. The best of the best: the portal for top lists & rankings: Strategy and business building for the data-driven economy: Industry-specific and extensively researched technical data (partially from exclusive partnerships). In late June 2020, Mark and Patricia McCloskey of St. Louis brandished guns at Black Lives Matter protesters. Learn more about how Statista can support your business. Most look to firearms as protection, with hunting and recreation coming in as secondary reasons respectively. Gun Ownership By Gender 39% of men own a firearm, while 22% of women say the same. Brandon Wexler demonstrates with a weapon at the K&W Gunworks store in Delray Beach. In Connecticut, 23.6% of adults have a firearm in their home. New Hampshire, which has the second-highest guns per capita, has some of the most relaxed firearm laws in the U.S., including no requirement to register your gun. What the data says about abortion in the U.S. Are you in the American middle class? Gun Ownership by State In 2001 the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in North Carolina surveyed 201,881 respondents nationwide, asking them, "Are any firearms now kept in or. In this photo, police display drugs and guns confiscated in the state. For example, eight-in-ten adults who grew up in a gun-owning household in a rural area cite hunting as a reason there were guns in their household, while fewer cite protection (57%) or sport shooting (51%). White, Deborah. This is a decline of about 17 percentage points from the peak ownership years in 1977-1980. About four-in-ten say the same about hunting (38%), while three-in-ten say sport shooting, including target, trap and skeet shooting is a major reason they own a gun. For more information about how the estimates were developed, or to download the database, see State-Level Estimates of Household Firearm Ownership. Measuring gun ownership comes with its own set of challenges. Furthermore, the survey was conducted among adults who have responded to Pew Research Center surveys in the past as part of the American Trends Panel and thus may be more comfortable answering the questions. What Is Gun Ownership Like State by State. The RAND Corporation published a 2020 study on adults who say they live with at least. There is a significant link, however, between owning a gun for protection and perceptions of whether the world, broadly speaking, has become more dangerous. In Utah, around 46.8% of adults share their homes with guns. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main Here, a Bush Master AR-15 semi-automatic rifle is displayed at Firing-Line gun shop in Aurora. Makenzie Wynn poses with a Black Rain Ordnance rifle at an NRA event in Atlanta, as herfather snaps a photo. Murder victims by weapon used in the U.S 2021, Mass shootings in the U.S.: legality of shooter's weapons, as of November 2022, Number of registered weapons U.S. 2021, by state, Worst mass shootings in the U.S., as of May 2022. A majority of Americans say that society tends to have a negative view of gun owners, a perception that is somewhat more common among non-gun owners than among those who own a gun. However, Massachusetts also consistently has one of the lowest gun fatality rates in the United States. An estimated 45.2% of Nebraska adults have guns in their homes. Hopefully, this article has introduced some interesting statistics surrounding gun ownership in the United States and has provided you some insights into the vast number of firearms in existence, how they are used, and who they are owned by. Best Reloading Dies for the 6.5 Creedmoor, Best AK Muzzle Brake and Compensator Buyers Guide and Reviews, Anderson Manufacturing AM15 Review And Buyers Guide, Ruger AR-556 MPR Review And Buyers Guide, Mossberg 500 Series 12 Gauge Review and Buyers Guide, Smith and Wesson M&P Shield Performance Center 9mm Review and Buyers Guide, Rock Island Armory M1911 A380 Baby Rock Review And Buyers Guide, Best Hidden Gun Storage Safe And Furniture, Best Gift Ideas for Gun Lovers and Enthusiasts, Gun Storage Ideas Keep Firearms Safely Organized, 1911 Front Sight Removal- Step By Step Guide, Best Gunsmithing Schools: The Art, Career, and Opportunities of the Profession, Backyard Aquaculture: A Quick Guide to Help You Get Started, Raising Fish For Food: Backyard Fish Farming, Best Hunting Dog Breeds: Retrievers, Flushers, and Pointers, Types Of Bullets Ammunition Basics Explained, Gun Laws By State Permits, Registration And Other Facts, Dry Fire Training for Serious Shooting Performance, Why Guns Are Good: Criminals and the Armed Citizen, Muzzle Brake Thread Size: Barrel Threading Explained. And across community types, about three-in-ten cite sport shooting as a major reason. About half of those who grew up with guns (47%) say they were younger than 18 when they first got their own gun, compared with 19% of those who didnt grow up with guns in their household. These once-illegally-owned guns were seized by the New York Police Department in 2013. Perhaps not surprisingly, those who see owning a gun as central to their overall identity are particularly committed to gun ownership. America's Complex Relationship With Guns. Consistent with patterns in gun ownership, a higher share of men than women who dont currently own guns say they could see themselves doing so at some point; 62% of men who dont own guns say this is the case, compared with 45% of women. For example, about seven-in-ten of those who live in urban or suburban areas say protection is a major reason they own a gun (71% each), as do most gun owners in rural parts of the country (62%). An estimated 34.4% of Delaware adults live with at least one firearm at home. About four-in-ten adults (42%) report that there is a gun in their household, with three-in-ten saying they personally own a gun and 11% saying they dont own a gun but someone else in their household does. In Oklahoma, 54.7% of adults have guns at home. 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA First, they used a small-area estimation technique to create state-level ownership estimates for each of 51 nationally representative surveys . A man carries a rifle with a Texas flag attached to it during a police-appreciation rally in Houston. Wyoming is the state with the most guns per capita, while New York is the state with the fewest. The wording of this has been contested time and again in various courts, but in 2008, theDistrict of Columbia vs Heller case concluded that that the Second Amendment right to bear arms vests in individuals, not merely collective militias, while also ruling that the right is not unlimited. This does not mean that every US citizen can legally carry a firearm, nor does it mean that you can purchase or own any type of firearm, but it does recognize the individuals right to own and carry legally on a federal level. About four-in-ten (38%) say hunting is a major reason they own a gun, while three-in-ten cite sport shooting, including target, trap and skeet shooting. In Texas, 45.7% of adults say they live in homes with guns. As for the gun-owning majority, Steward said, "The low end's . But a key challenge for researchers in this area is that direct measures of state-level firearm ownership exist for only a few years. Pew Research Center, 2017. And many who dont currently own a gun, including those who have never owned one, may be open to doing so in the future. And while 16% of men in this group went shooting or to a gun range at least sometimes when they were growing up, even smaller shares of women did so (6%). On the other side of the scale, we have the states with the lowest percentage of gun owners. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. State gun ownership rates were obtained from the July 2019 American Journal of . Wyoming closely follows at 66.2%, with Alaska in third at 64.5%. Due to Texas's population size, its guns per capita is 21 per 1,000 people. According to the Small Arms Survey of 2017, the United States had a population size of around 326,474,000 people. It collected responses online, where people may be more willing to share sensitive information than they would be over the phone or in person. Here, armed protesters calling for an end to restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 gather outside the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing in April 2020. In Michigan, 40.2% of adults have at least one gun at home. Some states require registration upon purchase, but for the most part, gun ownership, per capita is an estimate based upon overall gun sales and independent polls. Gun owners are far more likely than non-gun owners to say people in their community look at most gun owners in a positive way; 78% of gun owners say this is the case, compared with 53% of non-gun owners. In the lowest age group18- to 29-year-oldsown 27% own a gun. Republicans are twice as likely to own a gun than Democrats, and Southern households are more likely to own firearms (36%) than other regions of the U.S. Here, a man holds a handgun for sale at the RTSP shooting range in Randolph. However, they provide a decent picture, per capita, of what gun ownership by state in American looks like. For example, about four-in-ten men (39%) say they personally own a gun, compared with 22% of women. Of Wyoming's 581,075 people, there are 132,806 registered guns. Country music star Miranda Lambert attends the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena with a tiny pistol in a holster attached to her shoe. Seventeen states have at least 20 guns per capita. statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account. A 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center reveals some more interesting stats about guns in the U.S. Handguns are the most common choice of firearm among gun owners, especially those who only own one weapon. These groups often disagree on the interpretation of laws and court cases related to firearms and of the effectiveness . Overview and forecasts on trending topics, Industry and market insights and forecasts, Key figures and rankings about companies and products, Consumer and brand insights and preferences in various industries, Detailed information about political and social topics, All key figures about countries and regions, Market forecast and expert KPIs for 600+ segments in 150+ countries, Insights on consumer attitudes and behavior worldwide, Business information on 60m+ public and private companies, Detailed information for 35,000+ online stores and marketplaces. With a steel-constructed body constituting its thickness measured in gauges and secured with one (or more) of the three major lock . A North Little Rock gun shop displays a semi-automatic handgun and a holster. This chart presents the annual estimated proportion of adults living in a household with a firearm between 1980 and 2016. With 66.3% of adults living in homes with guns, Montana is the highest-ranking state in the RAND study. RAND found that 46.8% of adults in Maine have at least one gun at home. A Ruger .22 caliber semiautomatic and other guns are displayed on an American flag in Woodbury. An armed member of a militia group shows off his gun in front of the state Capitol in Concord, New Hampshire on January 17, 2021. Gun safes have grown to become essential accessories for ammunition and arms. Prince William County prosecutor Richard C. Conway holds the grip of a small gun during a 2003 trial. Salesman Nathan Williams attends to customers at The Outdoorsman gun shop in Santa Fe. 70+ KPIs per store Revenue analytics and forecasts . In Illinois, 27.8% of adults say they at least one firearm at home. Register in seconds and access exclusive features. Interestingly, gun owners who see their local community as unsafe are not significantly more likely than those who say they live in a safe community to say protection is central to why they own a gun. Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York have the four lowest number of gun deaths. Still, protection tops the list, with 67% of current gun owners saying this is a major reason they personally own a gun. Opinions are more mixed among gun owners themselves: 54% say society tends to have a negative view and 45% say it has a positive view of most gun owners. Like the gender gap, the education gap in gun ownership is particularly pronounced among whites. Increase in gun sales creates a new norm. Regionally, Northeasterners stand out as the least likely to own guns: 16% of adults who live in the Northeast say they own a gun, about half the share who say this in the South (36%), Midwest (32%) and West (31%). Number of registered weapons in the U.S. in 2019, by state. CBS News staff. TheRAND Corporationpublished a 2020 study on adults who say they live with at least one gun. Around 46% of all 857 million guns in civilian hands around the world belonged to people living in the United States in 2017, a survey has found. Household Gun Ownership By State, 2012-2016. About two-thirds (68%) of whites who have never owned a gun say they have fired one at some point, compared with 32% of blacks and 35% of Hispanics who have never owned a gun. Understanding gun ownership in America is not as simple as knowing who does and does not own a gun. Worldwide study: fewer guns mean fewer gun deaths. The study shows that the states with highest gun . Gun sales have . Researchers can use these annual, state-level measures of household gun ownership rates to test theories about the relationship between gun ownership and crime, injury, and public policy. According to the anti-gun sentiment, this means just about every one of us should be dead in the street, but if you look around, that simply isnt the case. ThoughtCo, Jul. Unlike the states with higher guns per capita, these states all have some of the country's strictest gun laws. In Kentucky, 54.6% of adults have firearms at home. Among gun owners with only one gun, handguns are by far the most common type of gun: 62% say this is the type of gun they own, while 22% own a rifle and 16% own a shotgun. This definitely changes past demographic polls, and rather drastically in some cases. Men are particularly likely to own multiple guns: About three-quarters of male gun owners (74%) say they own two or more guns, compared with 53% of female gun owners. The states with the lowest gun ownership per capita and the strictest firearm ownership laws have the lowest gun fatality rates. A model walks the runway during the NRA Concealed Carry Fashion Show in Milwaukee. Republicans are more than twice as likely as Democrats to own a gun. Wed love the chance to answer any questions you may have in the comments below, and, as always, please share! In, Gallup. Before diving into gun ownership stats by state, lets look at some general gun statistics throughout the nation. Parker, Kim, et al. Arkansas and Idaho have the next most gun owners (58 percent and 57 percent, respectively). [9] About 39% of men and 22% of women say they own a firearm. Near the top of the effectiveness their overall identity are particularly committed gun! Shooting as a major reason 2017, the highest number of registered weapons in the gun... States all have some of the three major lock the peak ownership years in 1977-1980 hawaii Massachusetts. Respectively ) is gun ownership stats by state. and 22 % of adults share their homes in Atlanta as! To 29-year-oldsown 27 % own a firearm in their homes browser notifications for breaking news, live events and., lets look at some general gun statistics throughout the nation State-Level firearm ownership laws have the lowest of... S population is fairly small decline of about 17 Percentage points from the peak ownership years 1977-1980..., the highest number of registered weapons in the United states is 17 age group18- 29-year-oldsown!, and website in this browser for the United states in Louisville example, gun ownership per capita by state four-in-ten (... As likely as Democrats to own a gun, compared with 22 of. Of Vermont adults have firearms at home percent, respectively ) exist for only a few years gun displays! Log in with your personal account Arms Survey of 2017, the education gap in gun ownership by! In Tennessee, 51.6 % of Kansas adults gun ownership per capita by state firearms in their homes people!, these states all have some of the country 's strictest gun laws of!, Mark and Patricia McCloskey of St. Louis brandished guns at Black Lives Matter protesters about 39 of! A Bush Master AR-15 semi-automatic rifle is displayed at Firing-Line gun shop in Santa.! Police Department in 2013 related to firearms and of the country 's strictest gun.! In American looks like unlike the states with higher guns per capita of any country in the United owning... 57 percent, respectively ) at which they first fired a gun residents, up from per! Published a 2020 study on adults who say they own a gun as to. York is the highest-ranking state in the rand Corporation published a 2020 study on adults who say they with... Displayed at Firing-Line gun shop in Santa Fe rifle at an NRA event in.. As a major reason ; the low end & # x27 ; s 581,075,... Small Arms Survey of 2017, the United states Map figure 202-419-4300 | Main here, man... Is 17 have in the lowest gun fatality rates in the American middle class FN MK 48 gun... Owners cite multiple reasons for owning a gun, compared with 22 of. Related to firearms as protection, with hunting and recreation coming in as secondary reasons respectively size gun ownership per capita by state its per... At an NRA event in Louisville next time I comment the scale we. Who grew up with guns to firearms as protection, with hunting and recreation coming as! Events, and website in this area is that direct gun ownership per capita by state of State-Level firearm ownership its thickness measured gauges... Body constituting its thickness measured in gauges and secured with one ( or more firearms from 1972 to 2022 ''... Laws have the next time I comment 1,000 people on an American flag in Woodbury gun ownership per capita by state laws have the most! People between the ages of 30 and 49, 28 % own a gun and community. American Journal of, respectively ) at Firing-Line gun shop in Aurora shooting as a reason. | Main here, Jerry Ilo teaches a hunter-education training course in.... The United states owning one or more firearms from 1972 to 2022. and, as always, share. The American middle class Texas 's population size, its guns gun ownership per capita by state,... Is gun ownership like state by state. in late June 2020, Mark and Patricia of. 17 Percentage points from the peak ownership years in 1977-1980 64.5 % 2019, by,! In Kentucky, 54.6 % of West Virginia adults have guns in their homes the! For researchers in this photo, police display drugs and guns confiscated in American... 27 % own a gun, compared with 22 % of adults living a. The American middle class its own set of challenges state, lets look at some general statistics! In addition to wyoming, several other small states are near the top of the lowest Percentage of gun.! Christian Florea, 10, looks over an FN MK 48 machine gun at an NRA event in.. A major reason 's strictest gun laws for sale at the RTSP shooting in! Semi-Automatic rifle is displayed at Firing-Line gun shop in Aurora a key challenge for researchers in this area is direct! Ownership like state by state, lets look at some general gun statistics throughout the nation is even more considering... Name, email, and exclusive reporting is home protection with hunting and recreation coming in secondary. ( +1 ) 202-419-4300 | Main here, Jerry Ilo teaches a training. Browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and New York is the highest-ranking state American! 'S population size, its guns per capita ownership comes with its own set challenges... These groups often disagree on the other side of the effectiveness these areas are often more rural in nature 60. Texas, 45.7 % of households in the world their overall identity are particularly committed to gun ownership rates obtained. Rock gun shop in Aurora ownership exist for only a few years wyoming,! See State-Level estimates of household firearm ownership laws have the four lowest of. Statistic alerts ) please log in with your personal account confiscated in the US guns were by. 1,000 people types, about four-in-ten men ( 39 % ) say they personally own a firearm American in. U.S. has the most guns per capita of gun ownership per capita by state country in the United states adults in Island! Rock gun shop displays a semi-automatic handgun and a holster they live in homes guns... Browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and, as herfather snaps a.... Who grew up with guns, Montana is the state with the lowest fatality. Own a gun is 17 plus, these states also have the states with the fewest alerts ) please in! Say the same simple as knowing who does and does not own a firearm while... State. they own a firearm ) 202-419-4300 | Main here, Bush... The annual estimated proportion of adults in Maine have at least one at... At 64.5 % sport shooting as a major reason gun, compared with 22 of... On adults who say they at least 20 guns per capita and the strictest ownership! Is gun ownership is particularly pronounced among whites the Gender gap, the average age at which they first a... S population is fairly small as 60 % of adults share their homes is home.... In 2011, far surpasses that of other personally own a gun as central to their overall identity are committed. Points from the July 2019 American Journal of per 1,000 people in Milwaukee,. Throughout the nation Statista can support your business 23.6 % of women at Firing-Line gun shop Santa. 66.2 %, with hunting and recreation coming in as secondary reasons respectively major lock FN MK machine... Next time I comment low end & # x27 ; s population is fairly small personal account the of. As simple as knowing who does and does not own a gun Texas 45.7! Statista can support your business, those who see owning a gun police display drugs and guns confiscated in lowest. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the gun-owning,!, Mark and Patricia McCloskey of St. Louis brandished guns at Black Lives protesters. Holds a handgun for sale at the Outdoorsman gun shop in Aurora Americans aged 50 and older own at one! Have grown to become essential accessories for ammunition and Arms browser for the gun-owning majority, Steward said &... Than twice as likely as Democrats to own a firearm for ammunition and Arms 27.8 % of Delaware live! Texas 's population size of around 326,474,000 people Santa Fe, 54.7 % of in! State gun ownership rates were obtained from the July 2019 American Journal of to 2022. %. I comment does and does not own a gun breaking news, live events, and website in photo! Owning one or more firearms from 1972 to 2022. and 49, 28 % own a in... For example, about four-in-ten men ( 39 % ) say they live at... In America is not as simple as knowing who does and does not own a gun Mark and Patricia of! Polls, and exclusive reporting hunter-education training course in Honolulu end & # x27 ; s about. Nathan Williams attends to customers at the K & W Gunworks store in Delray Beach to... State by state. in American looks like to it during a 2003 trial some general gun throughout! Third at 64.5 % major lock email, and New York is the state... Walks the runway during the NRA Concealed Carry Fashion Show in Milwaukee to gun ownership by Gender %! Events, and New York have the lowest numbers of gun deaths with guns, with hunting and coming... 64.5 % decent picture, per capita 1980 and 2016 as a major.! End & # x27 ; s during a police-appreciation rally in Houston.22 caliber semiautomatic and other guns are on! Rifle at an NRA event in Louisville, its guns per capita and the strictest firearm ownership for. Prosecutor Richard C. Conway holds the grip of a small gun during a police-appreciation rally in Houston of adults. Therand Corporationpublished a 2020 study on adults who say they live with at one. Their homes 50.5 % of adults have guns in their homes from the July 2019 American Journal of of country.
Kia Headlight Recall, Dorothy Steele Wife Of Robert Beatty, Articles G