Two Gun Reports Firearms Owners Should Know About

Whether you’re trying to arm yourself so you can make a?compelling case, educate your opposition or educate yourself to be a better informed gun owner, it is important for responsibly armed Americans to be familiar with the most recent firearms studies. Below is a summary of two recently released by Gallup and Georgetown University McDonough School of Business that all gun owners should read.

National Firearms Survey

This Georgetown University?report?by Dr. William English summarizes the findings of a national survey of firearms ownership and use conducted between February and March 2021. The survey found that 31.9 percent of Americans are gun owners, suggesting that more than 81.4 million over the age of 18 own firearms. When it comes to gender, 57.8 percent of gun owners are male and 42.2 percent are female. Also, a total of 25.4 percent of gun owners are Black, 34.3 percent are white, 28.3 percent are Hispanic and 19.4 percent are Asian. The statistics demonstrate that the?face of gun ownership?continues to change.

According to this survey, 25.3 million Americans have defended themselves or their property through the discharge, display or mention of a firearm. This figure suggests that at least 1.67 million defensive uses of firearms take place each year (this excludes service members, law enforcement or security guards). In most instances of defensive gun use (81.9 percent), the firearm is not discharged. The mere presence of it is enough to deter a criminal. Approximately a quarter (25.2 percent) of defensive incidents occurred in a gun owner’s home, while roughly half (53.9 percent) took place outside of it. Responsibly armed Americans rely on their?guns to protect themselves, not to commit crime as anti-gun advocates would lead you to believe. The stats back it up.

Dr. English estimates that more than 81.4 million Americans aged 18 and over own firearms. Of this number, approximately 20.7 million gun owners carry a handgun in public under what he refers to as a “‘concealed carry’ regime.” While millions of Americans do carry concealed, nearly 35 percent of gun owners report that there have been instances in which they wanted to carry a handgun but couldn’t because local rules prohibit it.

Stricter Gun Laws Less Popular

This 2021?Gallup study?asked individuals if they felt the laws covering the sale of firearms should be made more strict, less strict or kept as they are now. Seventy-eight percent of Americans supported stricter laws for gun sales in 1990, but this figure has continued to drop ever since. The most recent survey revealed that Americans’ support for stricter gun control has fallen five percentage (to 52 percent), the lowest since 2014.

Americans’ support for stricter gun laws has historically spiked in the aftermath of high-profile mass shootings. But this number always plunges after. For instance, shortly after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting, support for increased gun control rose to 67 percent, the highest since 1993. But emotions and tensions run high immediately after an attack. And gun-control advocacy groups?take advantage?of the tragedy to swing public opinion and legislatures toward tighter gun restrictions. We need to let the dust settle before we attempt to propose bills or pass legislation that can’t easily be reversed.

And, while you might assume all Republicans are?against?stricter gun laws, this isn’t necessarily the case. Fortunately, there was a 14-point drop among Republicans supporting stricter gun control in 2021. This, coupled with a 15-point decrease among independents, contributed to the lowest number in seven years. On the contrary, Democrats’ desire for more restrictive gun laws increased to 91 percent.

The majority of Americans don’t favor a law banning the possession of handguns. The support for a ban hit an all-time low at 19 percent. This is the lowest in 60 years. It has remained under 49 percent since the mid-1960s. Since 2008, it has been under 30 percent.

More Guns, Fewer Restrictions

Millions of Americans choose to arm themselves and are using guns for defense each year (many times more than once). Without that protection, they could become victims of crime. That’s why we need to allow every American who desires a gun to be able to own one for protection. Regrettably, some people who want to carry concealed can’t because local laws prohibit it.

While public opinion for stricter gun laws spike after a mass shooting because emotions and tensions run high, it decreases in the aftermath. Few people feel that stricter gun laws are necessary, and more than half of Americans don’t favor a law banning the possession of handguns. This is the lowest percentage in 60 years.

As a responsibly armed American, it is important to review the most recent firearms studies. It not only allows you to be a better-educated gun owner but also permits you to be an effective advocate for gun rights. There’s nothing the opposition fears more than a gun owner armed with knowledge.

About The Author:?USCCA

The USCCA (United States Concealed Carry Association) is a membership organization of more than 625,000 responsibly armed members. The U.S. Concealed Carry Association exists to help responsible gun owners like you avoid danger, save lives & keep your family safe. Since its inception in 2003, and together with its flagship publication Concealed Carry Magazine, the USCCA has proudly supported a community of hundreds of thousands of patriots...