Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
Read our research on:
1. The demographics of gun ownership
For those with a single gun, handguns are by far the most common type
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- 1. The demographics of gun ownership
- About six-in-ten Americans say people in their community have a positive view of most gun owners
- About seven-in-ten Americans say they have fired a gun
- Men, on average, become gun owners at an earlier age than women
- Among those who grew up with guns, men are far more likely than women to have participated in certain gun-related activities when they were young
- About half of U.S. adults say they grew up in a gun-owning household
- For those with a single gun, handguns are by far the most common type
- Most gun owners own multiple guns
- Protection tops the list of reasons for owning a gun
- About half of non-gun owners could see themselves owning a gun in the future
- Gun ownership is far more common among Republicans than Democrats
- Three-in-ten adults say they own a gun
- Many adults who don’t currently own a gun could see themselves owning one in the future
- For those with a single gun, handguns are by far the most common type