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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Replication data for "The Political Weaponization of Gun Owners: The NRA's Cultivation, Dissemination, and Use of a Group Social Identity" by Matthew Lacombe. The "ReplicationInstructions" text file serves as a guide.

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.

This special topic poll, fielded May 16, 1999, sought respondents' views on the conflict in Kosovo as well as their attitudes toward gun ownership and control laws in the United States. Those queried were asked for their opinions on President Bill Clinton's handling of the situation in Kosovo, the possible use of ground troops, the air strikes being waged against Serbia by the United States and its European allies, and the roles of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the United States, and the European allies in the peace negotiation process. Respondents were asked for their views on the NATO allies' conditions for ending the conflict, including requiring Serbia to remove its soldiers and special police force from Kosovo, allowing a NATO-led peacekeeping force into Kosovo, permitting the return of all refugees to Kosovo, and granting Kosovo limited self-rule as a province of Serbia. Additional questions elicited views on the NATO allies' bombing of the Chinese consulate in the Serbian capital of Belgrade, which side was winning the conflict, and whether the United States should have become involved. The topic of gun control was also addressed, with items on stricter gun laws, which political party was best suited to handle the issue of gun control, background checks at gun shows, trigger locks, bans on the sale of assault weapons and the sale of guns through the mail and the Internet, and impressions of the National Rifle Association (NRA). Background information on respondents includes age, race, sex, education, political party, and gun ownership.

This special topic poll, fielded April 22, 2007, is a part of continuing series of monthly polls that solicit public opinion on various political and social issues. This poll focused on respondents' views on gun control and laws. Respondents were asked whether they favored stricter gun laws, whether they would support laws requiring a nationwide ban on semiautomatic handguns, a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons, a nationwide ban on people carrying a concealed weapon, and a law requiring a nationwide ban on the sale of handguns, except to law enforcement officers. Respondents were also asked whether they thought stricter gun control laws would reduce the amount of violent crime, whether the best way of reducing gun violence was either by passing stricter gun control laws or by stricter enforcement of existing laws, if the respondent or anyone in their home owned a gun, and whether they thought states should or should not be required to report mentally ill people to a federal database in order to prevent them from buying guns. Views were sought concerning the Virginia Tech shooting and university policies. Specifically, respondents were asked whether they thought school officials did or did not do enough to investigate concerns that the student who committed these shootings was mentally unstable, whether news organizations did the right thing or the wrong thing by airing photos and videos of the Virginia Tech gunman, whether they supported a law requiring universities to provide stricter screening and counseling for students who are suspected of being mentally unstable and possibly dangerous to themselves or others, and whether they supported changing confidentiality laws so that when a college student is suspected of being mentally disturbed, the school would be required to notify their parents. Views were also sought on the primary cause of gun violence in America and whether shootings like the one at Virginia Tech could happen in the respondent's community. Respondents were queried on whether they supported legislation giving Washington, D.C., a full voting member in the United States House of Representatives and whether they approved of the proposed law that would give Democratic D.C. a full voting member in the House, while also giving the Republican state of Utah another congressional seat. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, education, political party affiliation, and political philosophy.

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 data collection is a nationwide survey of issues surrounding assault weapons. Topics covered include legislation regulating the importation, sale, and manufacture of assault weapons, the sale and use of handguns, and the National Rifle Association. Respondents also were asked to rate the performance of George Bush as president and to specify what they thought was the most important problem facing the country. Background information on respondents includes political party affiliation, sex, age, education, firearm ownership, and race.

This special topic poll, fielded June 21-29, 2000, queried residents of New York State on a range of political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton, New York State Governor George Pataki, Republican Senate candidate Rick Lazio, First Lady/Democratic Senate candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, and former State Senator Al D'Amato. Respondents were asked a series of questions regarding the current race for the United States Senate in New York and the presidential election. Issues addressed included respondents' feelings about abortion, whether vouchers should be issued to pay for private schooling, how best to deal with the budget surplus, and whether all guns should be registered with the state. Additionally, respondents were asked for their views on the nature of the Senate campaign, the importance of candidates' political experience, the relevance of a candidate being a naturalized New York citizen, and whether the current Senate campaign tactics were overly divisive. 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.

As of July 2024, Democrats were more in favor of making gun laws more strict than Republicans. There was also wide support for stricter gun laws from Independents.This survey was conducted shortly after former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally, during which a bullet grazed his ear. While Trump was unharmed, one spectator was killed by the gunman, and others injured.

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 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.