When the British marched on the Colonies’ weapon holds in Lexington and Concord, the Colonists knew it was their last chance to retain any semblance of freedom. Today, American gun ownership reflects a similar philosophy.
An armed civilian populace will always be a deterrent to tyranny. With millions of gun owners in America, the Constitutional rights of all cannot be infringed. Unfortunately, many Americans would sacrifice those rights for a little temporary safety, and it’s time to start truly understanding the rights our founders secured for us.
Report Highlights:
- In 2024, approximately 112 million Americans own guns.
- Support for gun control has dropped from 78% in 1990 to 54%.
- 72% of U.S. gun owners cite personal protection as their primary reason for owning a gun.
- Between 60,000 and 3,000,000 Americans use guns to deter threats annually.
- The Second Amendment is a limitation of the government, not a permission provided by it.
- Ammunition and firearms are integral to American culture.
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American Gun Ownership: A Way of Life
The United States has millions of guns and millions of gun owners. Examining gun ownership, the reasons for it, and the effects of it is critical to understanding it.
Gun ownership is as American as apple pie and football. There are many reasons Americans own guns, whether it’s brevity, stubbornness, or a can-do attitude. Nearly half of the country has at least one firearm in their homes. Even James Madison stated that gun ownership gives us advantages over other countries, and Ben Franklin warned us never to give them up.
Of course, just like apple pie and football, the topic of gun ownership is hotly debated. Is our way of life the wrong way? The data says no.
Armed civilians are more likely to defend themselves and their communities with firearms than the police. On average, 1,608 armed civilians kill a violent attacker with a firearm, while 1,188 suspects are killed by police annually. 3, 4, 5, 6
A 1992 study showed that more criminals are injured by gunfire from armed civilians than the police. 1
Despite calls for more gun control, support for more legislative restrictions has fallen drastically in the past thirty years from 78% to 56%. Support for relaxing gun control is now up from 2% to 11%. 7
Approximately 112 million (one-third of 336 million citizens) own at least one firearm, and 81% believe it makes them safer. 9
7 Reasons to Own a Gun in America
There are an estimated 500 million firearms and 279 million adults in America today, resulting in approximately 1.98 firearms per adult. On average, each gun owner possesses at least two guns. Additionally, about half of the nation’s population has access to at least one firearm in their home.
People around the world have various reasons for owning a gun. In the United States, this topic is particularly contentious.
While American gun owners do not need to justify exercising their rights, several arguments support firearm ownership that benefit both individuals and society. These include personal protection, recreational activities like hunting and sport shooting, and the deterrence of crime. Additionally, many believe that gun ownership is a fundamental right that ensures personal freedom and security.
Continure reading American Gun Ownership: The Positive Impacts of Law-Abiding Citizens Owning Firearms on Ammo.com
