In the United States in 2023, ** percent of Republicans reported that they owned at least one gun, and ** percent said that they lived in a household with a gun. In comparison, only ** percent of Democrats owned at least one gun, and ** percent lived in a gun household. Who are gun owners? In 2022, significantly more Democrats were in favor of limiting gun ownership in comparison to Republicans. On the other hand, more Republicans were in favor of protecting the right to own guns in comparison to Democrats. When examined by education level, respondents who said they only had some college, but no degree were the most likely to have said that there is at least one gun in their household. However, nearly a ******* of Americans over 18 years old said that they rarely carry a gun on their person. Republicans vs Democrats Debate The gun control debate in the United States has been a highly contested one. In light of frequent mass shootings, gun control laws have become the center of policy discussions. Democratic politicians tend to put significant emphasis on their gun control policies and are overall more in favor of stricter gun control laws and want more background checks for those who want to purchase a gun. However, Republicans tend to work in favor of gun rights.

According to a survey conducted in June 2024, U.S. adults were divided on whether it was more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns or if it was more important to limit gun ownership. 48 percent of respondents said that it was more important to limit gun ownership, while 51 percent felt it was more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns. However, views differed drastically by party, with Democrats much more likely to support limiting gun ownership compared to Republicans. Demographics of gun ownership Gun ownership varies among many demographics such as age, political party affiliation, and educational attainment. A majority of Republican respondents in 2022 said that they either owned a gun or lived in a gun household, while less than a third of Democrats said they owned a gun or lived in a gun household. Furthermore, it was those with some college, but no degree, and those between the ages of 35 and 54 years old who were more likely to own a gun compared to other education levels and ages. Politics of gun ownership Gun ownership is a highly partisan issue in the United States, with Democrats typically in favor of strong gun control laws, while Republicans are in favor of looser laws. The Second Amendment of the Constitution states that citizens have the right to bear arms, however, the interpretation of that has been highly contested across the country, largely in part due to the number of mass shootings that happen yearly. Those in favor of stricter gun control laws claim that fewer mass shootings would happen, while those opposed to these laws claim that the violence would just happen in another manner, anyway. Despite the high number of shootings, Congress has been unable to come up with federal bipartisan legislation to stop mass shootings.

This statistic shows the percentage of Americans who personally own a gun in 2011 sorted by their preferred political view. In 2011, 41 percent of respondents who defined themselves as Republicans or leaned towards the Republican point of view stated they personally own a gun.

There was a large spike in gun purchases and gun violence during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. We used an online U.S. national survey (N = 1036) to examine the characteristics of people who purchased a gun between March 2020 and October 2021 (n = 103) and compared them to non-gun owners (n = 763) and people who own a gun but did not purchase a gun during the COVID-19 pandemic (n = 170). Compared to non-gun owners, pandemic gun buyers were younger and more likely to be male, White race, and to affiliate with the Republican party. Compared to non-gun owners and pre-pandemic gun owners, pandemic gun buyers exhibited extreme elevations on a constellation of political (QAnon beliefs, pro-gun attitudes, Christian Nationalism, approval of former President Donald Trump, anti-vax beliefs, COVID-19 skepticism; mean Cohen’s d = 1.15), behavioral (intimate partner violence, antisocial behavior; mean d = 1.38), mental health (suicidality, depression, anxiety, substance use; mean d = 1.21), and personality (desire for power, belief in a dangerous world, low agreeableness, low conscientiousness; mean d = 0.95) characteristics. In contrast, pre-pandemic gun owners only endorsed more pro-gun attitudes (d = 0.67), lower approval of President Joe Biden (d = -0.41) and were more likely to be male and affiliate with the Republican party relative to non-gun owners. Pandemic gun buyers represent an extreme group in terms of political and psychological characteristics including several risk-factors for violence and self-harm.

This poll, conducted April 13-16, 2005, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency and issues such as the economy and the campaign against terrorism. Respondents were asked how well the United States Congress and their own representatives were doing their jobs, and gave their opinions of the Republican and Democratic parties, House Majority Leader Tom Delay, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, and the late Pope John Paul II. Respondents voiced their concerns about the most important problem facing the country, whether the United States did the right thing by taking military action against Iraq, and how well the United States was doing to restore stability in Iraq. A set of questions addressed the recent death of Pope John Paul II, the Catholic church and priesthood, the church's handling of the sexual abuse of children by priests, and the position the next Pope should take on issues such as birth control and the ordainment of women. Additional topics focused on abortion, Social Security, the Patriot Act, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, the use of stun guns, gasoline prices, and laws regarding life and death. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, religious affiliation, frequency of religious service attendance, political party affiliation, political philosophy, education level, marital status, household income, voter registration and participation history, gun ownership, and whether there were children in the household.

This statistic shows the share of votes by gun ownership and party in the 2018 midterm elections in the United States on November 6, 2018. According to the exit polls, about ** percent of voters who had a gun in their household voted for Democratic candidates, compared to ** percent of gun owners who voted for Republican candidates.

Gun ownership group comparisons on political attitudes, violence, mental health, and personality.

According to a survey conducted in January 2023, about 17 percent of all registered voters identifying as Republican strongly supported stricter firearm legislation in the United States. This proportion was much higher among Democratic voters, 73 percent of whom strongly supported stricter gun control laws.

Firearms Market Size

The Global Firearms Market is experiencing steady growth, driven by rising defense expenditures, increasing civilian ownership, and advancements in weapon technology. Valued at USD 41.4 Billion in 2023, the market is projected to reach nearly USD 76.3 Billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 6.30% from 2024 to 2033. The demand is supported by military modernization programs, growing concerns over personal safety, and the popularity of shooting sports, making firearms a critical component across both defense and civilian sectors.

The firearms market refers to the industry involved in the manufacturing, distribution, and sales of firearms for various uses including defense, personal safety, law enforcement, and recreational activities. This market encompasses different types of weapons such as handguns, rifles, and automatic weapons, serving civilian, military, and government clientele. It is influenced heavily by societal needs, technological innovation, and regulatory policies shaping demand and supply characteristics.

Top driving factors for the firearms market include the increasing concern for personal safety and self-defense amid rising crime rates and urban threats. Many individuals purchase firearms to protect themselves and their property. Additionally, the defense sector's growing budgets and modernization efforts strongly push demand for advanced weapons. Recreational activities such as hunting and shooting sports further stimulate interest in this market. Together, these elements create a stable base for firearms' steady and diverse use.

According to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, firearm ownership in the United States remains widespread, with about 32% of adults personally owning a gun and another 10% living in households where someone else does. This means roughly 46% of U.S. households have at least one firearm, though ownership rates vary significantly by state, ranging from 64% in Montana to only 8% in New Jersey.

Findings from a June 2023 Pew Research Center survey highlight notable demographic differences. Gun ownership is reported by 40% of men compared to 25% of women. Geographic factors are also influential, with ownership at 47% among rural residents, 30% in suburban areas, and 20% in urban communities. These figures illustrate how lifestyle and location strongly shape firearm prevalence.

Political affiliation and ethnicity further affect ownership patterns. About 45% of Republicans and GOP-leaning independents report owning guns, compared to just 20% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. By race, ownership stands at 38% among White Americans, followed by 24% of Black Americans, 20% of Hispanic Americans, and 10% of Asian Americans, underscoring the cultural and social dimensions of firearm possession in the U.S.

According to a survey conducted in February 2023, 53 percent of all registered voters in the United States strongly supported banning assault-style weapons. Opinions were divided based on political party, with 73 percent of Democrats saying they strongly support an assault weapon ban and 29 percent of Republicans strongly opposing such a ban.

Gun laws by state

As the Second Amendment of the Constitution allows for citizens to own firearms, many citizens take advantage of that. Gun ownership rates across the country have fluctuated slightly over the past 30 years, with Texas being home to the highest number of registered guns in the country. However, gun ownership laws vary by state, as some states are stricter than others. The federal government does not have many laws that control gun sales, so it is up to the states to create their own legislation. States such as New York, New Jersey, and California have banned military-style weapons, while many other states such as Florida and Texas still allow them.

Political opinions

Gun ownership is a highly contentious topic between the two major parties in the United States. 78 percent of registered voters identifying themselves as Democrats strongly supported stricter gun control laws, while only 22 percent of Republican voters strongly supported stricter firearm legislation.

This poll, fielded August 15, 1999, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and the United States Congress. They were also asked to recall the April 1999 high school shooting in Colorado, as well as the recent office shootings in Georgia and Alabama, and the previous week's shooting at a Los Angeles, California, community center and day camp. Their views were sought on the reasons behind those shootings and whether the incidents could have been prevented. A series of questions addressed the issue of gun ownership and gun control in the United States, including the depth of the Second Amendment. On the topic of gun control, respondents were asked whether they believed that regulations should be stricter, including requiring gun manufacturers to put trigger locks/safety devices on guns, extending the waiting period for background checks, requiring a three-day waiting period between when a gun is bought and when it is sold, and requiring gun owners to register each firearm with the government. Those queried were asked whether stricter laws would reduce violent crime. Additional questions addressed respondents' views regarding bans on assault weapons and all handguns, permitting individuals to carry concealed weapons, the National Rifle Association (NRA), and whether Congress would enact stricter gun control laws during 1999. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, education, religion, voter registration and participation history, political party, political orientation, Hispanic descent, marital status, gun ownership, computer access, stock market investments, age of children in household, and family income.

Although much attention has been paid to the question of whether violent video games increase aggressive behaviour, little attention has been paid to how such games might encourage antecedents of gun violence. In this study, we examined how product placement, the attractive in-game presentation of certain real-world firearm brands, might encourage gun ownership, a necessary antecedent of gun violence. We sought to study how the virtual portrayal of a real-world firearm (the Bushmaster AR-15) could influence players' attitudes towards the AR-15 in specific and gun ownership in general. College undergraduates (N = 176) played one of four modified video games in a 2 (gun: AR-15 or science-fiction control) ×2 (gun power: strong or weak) between-subjects design. Despite collecting many outcomes and examining many potential covariates and moderators, experimental assignment did little to influence outcomes of product evaluations or purchasing intentions with regard to the AR-15. Attitudes towards public policy and estimation of gun safety were also not influenced by experimental condition, although these might have been better tested by comparison against a no-violence control condition. By contrast, gender and political party had dramatic associations with all outcomes. We conclude that, if product placement shapes attitudes towards firearms, such effects will need to be studied with stronger manipulations or more sensitive measures.

This poll, second of three fielded March 2013, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicits public opinion on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked how Barack Obama was handling the presidency, the economy, federal budget deficit, taxes, and foreign policy. Opinions were also collected on Obama's relationship with Israel, respondents' attention to the violence in Syria, and whether North Korea and Iran were threats to the United States. Further questions asked whether respondents approve of the way Congress and the Supreme Court were handling their jobs, and whether they had favorable opinions of the Republican and Democratic parties. Respondents were also asked their opinions on gun control laws, the health care law enacted in 2010, and same-sex marriage/relationships. A variety of questions addressed the condition of the national economy, the budget sequestration, the job market, the stock market, and the federal budget deficit. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, gun ownership, voter registration status, marital status, number of children in the household, education level, household income, religious preference, type of residential area (e.g., urban or rural), political party affiliation, political philosophy, and whether respondents thought of themselves as born-again Christians.

This poll, fielded August 30-September 2, 1999, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked for their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency. Their opinions were also sought on Vice President Al Gore, the United States Congress, former Red Cross president and Republican presidential hopeful Elizabeth Dole, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Texas Governor George W. Bush, former New Jersey governor and Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Bradley, former Vice President Dan Quayle, Arizona Senator John McCain, multimillionaire publisher Steve Forbes, conservative commentator Pat Buchanan, conservative talk show host Alan Keyes, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, and Family Research Council President Gary Bauer. Respondents were asked a series of questions regarding the upcoming 2000 elections, including for whom the respondent intended to vote for president, and the importance of the following issues: gun control, campaign finance reform, tax reduction, Social Security/Medicare, crime, the economy, foreign affairs, education, helping the middle class, environmental protection, budget management, and upholding the dignity of the office of the president. Additional questions addressed which political party would best represent the American people on those issues. Respondents were asked to compare Gore and Bradley in the following areas: honesty and ethics, leadership, innovation, experience, personality, and capability of bringing change to Washington. A series of questions focused on gun control, including Congress's handling of the issue, proposed stricter gun laws, and the influence of the National Rifle Association (NRA) over gun control. Additional topics covered how Clinton will be remembered in history, who was to blame for his impeachment, how the Clinton scandal would affect Gore's presidential campaign, the Republican call for an $800 billion tax cut over the next ten years, how the federal budget surplus should be used, abortion, and whether Bush should answer questions regarding prior cocaine use. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, political party, political orientation, education, religion, voter registration and participation history, gun ownership, size of city of residence, labor union membership, Hispanic descent, and family income.

This special topic poll is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and a range of other political and social issues. The study was conducted in part to assess respondents' interest in and opinions about the 2002 elections in New Jersey. Residents of that state were asked to give their opinions of President George W. Bush and his handling of the presidency, as well as their views of United States Senators Jon Corzine and Robert Torricelli, New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey, and former United States Senator Frank Lautenberg. Those queried were asked whether they intended to vote in the November 5, 2002, elections, and for whom they would vote if the election for United States Senator were held that day, given a choice between Lautenberg (Democratic Party) and Douglas Forrester (Republican Party). Respondents were also asked if Lautenberg and Forrester had spent more time during the campaign attacking each other or explaining what they would do if elected, whether they found the Senate race interesting or dull, what they considered to be the most important issue in deciding how to vote, and whether they considered their vote as a vote for or against Bush. Those polled answered sets of questions comparing Lautenberg and Forrester as Senate candidates in terms of their experience, honesty, integrity, age, political orientation, position on Iraq, and their potential decisions on United States Supreme Court nominees. A series of questions addressed the withdrawal of Torricelli from the Senate race and Lautenberg's replacement of him: whether Torricelli did the right thing by withdrawing, whether it was fair that the Democrats replaced him on the ballot, whether the New Jersey Supreme Court made the right decision by allowing his replacement, and whether that decision had made a difference in how the respondent intended to vote. Respondents' views were sought on the use of tax dollars to pay for abortions for indigent women, increased restrictions on the sale of handguns, whether the sentence for a murder conviction should be the death penalty or life in prison without parole, whether companies responsible for major pollution problems should be held accountable for the clean-up costs, and whether the government should cover losses incurred by individuals who chose to invest their Social Security taxes in the stock market. Additional questions probed respondents' views on corruption in New Jersey politics, the importance of which political party controls the United States Congress, the influence of Lautenberg and Forrester campaign advertisements, and whether the respondent would vote for musician Bruce Springsteen if he were a candidate for United States Senator from New Jersey. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, political party, political orientation, voter registration and participation history, handgun ownership, education, religion, marital status, Hispanic descent, race, years in community, and household income.

This poll, fielded May 10-13, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, the United States Congress, Vice President Al Gore, Texas Governor George W. Bush, former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley, Arizona Senator John McCain, and conservative commentator Pat Buchanan. Respondents were also asked for their opinions on the effectiveness of the Clinton Administration and the United States Congress, as well as the effectiveness of government in general and the election process in particular. Those queried were asked whether there were any differences between the two major candidates for president, if the candidates were typical representatives of their respective parties, and how relevant character issues were in the campaign. Views were also sought about the role of the Religious Right, the best way to manage Social Security/Medicare, defense spending, and the status of the public school system. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, education, religion, voter registration and participation history, political party, political orientation, Hispanic descent, marital status, gun ownership, computer access, stock market investments, age of children in household, and family income.

This statistic shows the opinion of American adults on how the number of mass shootings would be affected by making it more difficult to legally purchase firearms in the United States, as of 2017, by political affiliation. As of 2017, ** percent of Democrats or those who lean Democrat thought inhibiting the purchase of legal firearms would reduce the number of mass shootings in the United States.

This poll, conducted after President George Bush's 1992 State of the Union address, asked respondents to rate the way things were going in the United States, indicate whether the future for the next generation of Americans would be better, give their approval rating of George Bush with respect to his handling of the presidency, foreign policy, and the economy, and give their approval rating of Congress. The survey posed questions pertaining to the 1992 presidential campaign, the national economy, tax cuts, improving education, making health care affordable, reducing the federal budget deficit, ending the recession, protecting family values, defense spending, the Persian Gulf War, priorities in federal spending, and the financial situation of respondents compared to four years ago. Respondents were also asked whether Bush or a Democratic president would do a better job dealing with issues such as trade with Japan, abortion, the needs of the middle class, race relations, and gaining respect for the United States from other countries. Additional questions covered topics including federal loans to college students, national health insurance, Bill Clinton, job discrimination against women and Blacks, the impact of the collapse of the Soviet Union and continued threats from Iran and Iraq on defense spending, welfare, the assassination of John Kennedy, Social Security, marital infidelity among presidential candidates, handguns, assault weapons, the National Rifle Association, the Super Bowl, and whether the respondent had seen the film "JFK." Background information on respondents includes sex, age, race, marital status, parental status, employment, education, religious preference, family income, political orientation, party preference, 1988 presidential vote choice, and gun ownership.

This survey was conducted among residents of the South (another sample of Non Southern states is also included) on many topics including homosexual marriage, religious beliefs, gun ownership, time spent at home, Y2K preparations, inter-race and inter-faith marriages, and presidential nominees. Demographic data include education, religious affiliation, marital status, employment status, income, race, household composition, party affiliation, political ideology,

This poll, fielded July 13-14, 1999, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, the United States Congress, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, Texas governor George W. Bush, and former New Jersey senator Bill Bradley. Those queried were asked whether they were concerned about potential Y2K computer problems and whether they had acted on those concerns by stocking water, food, and money, and/or copying personal medical and financial records. A series of questions addressed the United States' health care system, with items on which political party was best suited to improve the system, the effect that health maintenance organizations (HMO) had on physician decision-making and out-of-pocket expenses by patients, the current trend toward more managed care, and respondents' experiences with the medical system over the last year. Additional questions focused on proposed federal legislation that would allow patients to appeal to medical experts if denied treatment by their health insurance plans, allow patients to sue HMOs if they were harmed due to a denial of coverage, and change the Medicare system to cover prescription costs. Those queried were also asked a series of questions regarding gun ownership and gun control, including whether the Second Amendment guaranteed all Americans the right to own a gun, whether gun manufacturers should include trigger locks/safety devices with guns, whether gun buyers should have to pass a safety course and be licensed prior to purchase, whether gun owners should be required to register their guns with the government, and whether individuals should be permitted to carry concealed weapons. Additional topics covered the proposed flat tax on income, decreasing the capital gains tax, keeping Internet transactions free from state sales tax, offering child-care tax credits to families with a stay-at-home parent, giving federal money to faith-based institutions for local programming, campaign finance reform including public financing and soft money contributions, and the amount of attention paid to the 2000 election campaigns. Background information on respondents includes age, sex, race, education, religion, marital status, political party, political orientation, Hispanic descent, age of children in household, household income, computer access, stock market investments, and intention to vote in 2000.