The share of American households owning at least one firearm has remained relatively steady since 1972, hovering between ** percent and ** percent. In 2024, about ** percent of U.S. households had at least one gun in their possession. Additional information on firearms in the United States Firearms command a higher degree of cultural significance in the United States than any other country in the world. Since the inclusion of the right to bear arms in the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, firearms have held symbolic power beyond their already obvious material power. Despite many Americans being proud gun-owners, a large movement exists within the country in opposition to the freedom afforded to those in possession of these potentially deadly weapons. Those opposed to current gun regulation have sourced their anger from the large number of deaths due to firearms in the country, as well as the high frequency of gun violence apparent in comparison to other developed countries. Furthermore, the United States has fallen victim to a number of mass shootings in the last two decades, most of which have raised questions over the ease at which a person can obtain a firearm. Although this movement holds a significant position in the public political discourse of the United States, meaningful change regarding the legislation dictating the ownership of firearms has not occurred. Critics have pointed to the influence possessed by the National Rifle Association through their lobbying of public officials. The National Rifle Association also lobbies for the interests of firearm manufacturing in the United States, which has continued to rise since a fall in the early 2000s.

In the United States, gun laws vary from one state to the next; whether residents need a permit or a background check to purchase a firearm, whether residents must undergo firearm training before making this purchase, and whether residents can openly carry their guns in public is dependent upon state legislation. As of January 15, 2025, ** U.S. states required background checks and/or permits for the purchase of a handgun. A further ** states had regulations on openly carrying firearms in public; however, only California, Connecticut, Florida, and Illinois had completely prohibited open carry for all firearms. In comparison, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York prohibited open carry for handguns but either did not have regulations in place or required a permit for other types of guns. A constitutional right The Second Amendment of the Constitution, which states that citizens have the right to bear arms, has made it difficult for any gun control legislation to be passed on a national level in the United States. As a result, gun control laws in the U.S. are state-based, and often differ based on political perspectives. States with strong gun laws in place, such as Massachusetts, generally experience less gun violence, however, some states with strong gun laws, such as Maryland, continue to face high rates of gun violence, which has largely been attributed to gun trafficking activity found throughout the nation. A culture of gun owners In comparison to other high-income countries with stricter gun control laws, the United States has the highest gun homicide rate at **** gun homicides per 100,000 residents. However, despite increasing evidence that easy access to firearms, whether legal or illegal, encourages higher rates of gun violence, the United States continues to foster an environment in which owning a firearm is seen as personal freedom. Almost **** of U.S. households have reported owning at least one firearm and ** percent of registered voters in the U.S. were found to believe that it was more important to protect the right of Americans to own guns, compared to ** percent who said it was more important to limit gun ownership.

The data on mass shootings is from https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/ . This dataset on mass shootings for the period 2014-2023 was provided on Feb 19, 2024 by the Data Manager (Ms. Sharon Williams) at the Gun Violence Archive (https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/) on a data request. Minimal curation was done on this data – the date variable was split into year, month and day. See the codebook for full details.A mass shooting is defined as four or more people injured or killed, because of firearms, excluding the shooter.The curated datasets are included here along with a research question and guiding questions.For information of how this data is collected, go to: https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/explainerDefinition for mass shooting and mass murder from the above website is given verbatim below:Mass Shooting Methodology and Reasoning: Mass Shootings are, for the most part an American phenomenon. While they are generally grouped together as one type of incident they are several different types including public shootings, bar/club incidents, family annihilations, drive-by, workplace and those which defy description but with the established foundation definition being that they have a minimum of four victims shot, either injured or killed, not including any shooter who may also have been killed or injured in the incident. GVA also presents the count of Mass Murder which, like the FBI's definition is four or more victims, killed, not including the shooter. Mass Murder by gun is a subset of the Mass Shooting count.

The global automatic weapons market, valued at $9.47 billion in 2025, is projected to experience robust growth, driven by escalating geopolitical instability, increasing defense budgets across major global powers, and the continuous modernization of armed forces worldwide. The market's Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7.50% from 2025 to 2033 signifies a significant expansion, fueled by demand for advanced automatic rifles, machine guns, and automatic launchers. Technological advancements, such as the integration of smart technologies and improved accuracy, are key trends shaping the industry, while factors like stringent export regulations and ethical concerns regarding the proliferation of lethal weaponry act as restraints. The market is segmented by weapon type (automatic rifles, machine guns, automatic launchers, automatic cannons, and Gatling guns) and platform (land, airborne, and naval), reflecting diverse operational needs across various military branches and applications. North America and Europe currently hold significant market shares due to high defense spending and established manufacturing bases, but the Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to demonstrate strong growth in the coming years, driven by increasing military expenditure and modernization efforts within several nations. Key players like Heckler & Koch, General Dynamics, and Rheinmetall are at the forefront of innovation, constantly striving to meet evolving military requirements and emerging market demands. The competitive landscape is characterized by intense rivalry among established players and emerging manufacturers. Companies are focusing on research and development to enhance the capabilities of automatic weapons, incorporating features such as improved ergonomics, reduced recoil, and increased accuracy. The integration of advanced materials and technologies is further driving innovation within the sector. Growth strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, and technological advancements, are being adopted by market leaders to expand their market share and maintain a competitive edge. The demand for lighter, more portable, and technologically advanced weapons is also driving innovation. Regional variations in market dynamics will continue to exist, based on specific geopolitical factors and governmental defense priorities. The projected growth trajectory indicates a significant market opportunity for manufacturers in the coming decade, albeit one subject to the complex interplay of global political and economic factors. This report provides a detailed analysis of the global automatic weapons industry, covering the period 2019-2033, with a focus on market size, growth drivers, challenges, and key players. It leverages a robust dataset, incorporating historical data (2019-2024), a base year of 2025, and forecasts extending to 2033. The report is crucial for stakeholders seeking to understand the dynamics of this complex and regulated sector. High-search-volume keywords like "automatic weapons market," "machine gun market," "military weapons market," "automatic rifle market," and "defense industry analysis" are strategically integrated to maximize online visibility. Recent developments include: March 2023: the Estonian Defense Investment Centre awarded an order to Israel's IWI for the supply of 1,000 NG7 "Negev" light machine weapon systems to the Estonian Army. The "Negevv" machine guns, which are expected to be delivered towards the end of 2023, will take over from MG3 and KSP-58 machines that are already in use. NEGEV 7.62 LMG is a NATO 7.62x51mm Light machine gun, which is used by many countries worldwide., February 2022: The US Army awarded FN America with a USD 49 million contract to supply M240L medium machine guns and titanium receivers. The M240L, which is roughly 18% lighter than the M240B, was adopted in 2010 after a joint effort by FN and the US Army. It is to reduce overall weight while maintaining the performance and durability of the machine gun.. Notable trends are: Land Segment to Witness Highest Growth During the Forecast Period.