by Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
About one-third of U.S. adults report owning a firearm, according to a survey breaking down some interesting gun owner demographics.
TGM has viewed a copy of the 23-page draft report online. It was prepared by William English, PhD at Georgetown University.
According to an abstract, “the survey finds an overall rate of adult firearm ownership of 31.9%, suggesting that in excess of 81.4 million Americans aged 18 and over own firearms.” It said the survey “contains what we believe is the largest sample of firearms owners ever queried about their firearms ownership and firearms use in a scientific survey in the United States.”
The English report estimated, “There are approximately 1.67 million defensive uses of firearms per year.” It added in more than 80 percent of those cases “the gun is not fired.”
Another revelation is that “The majority of defensive gun uses take place outside of the home (74.8%), and many (51.2%) involve more than one assailant.”
In his report, English acknowledges, “One of the challenges in asking questions about firearms is eliciting truthful responses from firearms owners who may be hesitant to reveal information about practices that are associated with public controversy.”
The report breaks down gun owner demographics:
- 57.8 percent of gun owners are male, 42.2 percent are female
- 34.3 percent of Whites own firearms.
- 28.3 percent of Hispanics own guns.
- 25.4 percent of Blacks own firearms.
- 19.4 percent of Asians own firearms.
- Average age of gun owners is 46-50 years old.
- Average annual household income is $80,000-$90,000.
Alan Gottlieb, at the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, is not surprised that women make up about half of the new gun-buying public.
“We’ve known that women are the fastest-growing segment of the gun-buying public,” he said. “We’re delighted to see so many women joining the firearms community, learning new skills, making new friends and taking more responsibility for their safety and the safety of their families.
“In the process,” he added, “these new gun owners are learning more about their rights and responsibilities. We have always encouraged new gun owners to seek good safety instruction through local gun ranges or gun clubs so they can become both competent and confident.”
For the Citizens Committee, and likely as well for other gun rights organizations, there is something of a bonus.
“We’re seeing more women joining our organization,” Gottlieb said. “They’re willing to fight to protect their newly-exercised gun rights, and we’re proud to have them on board.”
The report also revealed the “average gun owner” owns five firearms. Handguns are the most common type of firearm owned, and 48 percent of gun owners have owned magazines that hold more than 10 rounds, the report said. More than 30 percent of gun owners—approximately 24.6 million people, the report estimated—have owned an AR-15 “or similarly styled rifle.”
