Report Highlights: Texas gun ownership has declined in recent years, but the number of firearms purchased has increased since 2020.
- Texas is home to over 32 million firearms.
- Although Texas has the highest numbers of guns and gun owners in the U.S., it ranks 14th in gun ownership percentage as it is the second most populous state.
- Approximately 36% of Texans report owning at least one firearm.
- In the past 24 years, Texans have purchased 24 million firearms.
- On average, there are 1.08 firearms per person in Texas.
- The firearm-related death rate in Texas is 15.3 per 100,000 people; slightly above the national average.
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Methodology
Only a small percentage of firearms in the United States are registered, leaving millions in circulation without precise records. This lack of comprehensive sales data or universal registration makes it impossible to determine the exact number of guns in the country or any given state.
We utilized a combination of state and national data sources to estimate the number of firearms in Texas. These included self-reported surveys, the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) data, and population statistics. By analyzing Census Bureau data to understand population trends and correlating them with NICS background checks, we estimated the number of firearms purchased annually. Surveys were then used to gauge the percentage of gun ownership in Texas.
Finally, national firearm data (which are often considered more reliable) were cross-referenced to ensure our estimates are as accurate as possible and account for potential under- or overestimations. This methodology provides an educated approximation of gun ownership in Texas, though it remains subject to limitations inherent in self-reporting and incomplete data sources.
How Many Guns Are in Texas?
There are an estimated 32.9 million to 54.9 million firearms in Texas.
Among these, over 1 million are registered. Surveys indicate that 36% of Texas’ 30.5 million residents own at least one firearm, equating to approximately 10.98 million firearm owners. 1, 4
Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealers have sold 24 million firearms in Texas since 2000. This suggests that many gun owners possess more than one firearm, which aligns with national trends of multiple firearm ownership.
What’s the Gun-to-Person Ratio in Texas?
There are at least 1.08 firearms per person in Texas, with estimates as high as 1.8 firearms per individual.
Between 2000 and 2023, more than 24 million firearms 1, 4, 6 were sold in the state through licensed dealers. Surveys indicate that 36% of Texans 1 – about 10.98 million people – own at least one firearm. This figure does not account for private sales or privately manufactured firearms, which likely contribute to the overall total.
On a national scale, there are an estimated 500 million firearms in the United States, equating to approximately 1.5 firearms per person.
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