I have a question about guns

[PJMcK]

Personally, I'm not into guns. I know some people who have them and some people who don't. I'm agnostic on the issue because I don't want a weapon but I don't see any meaningful changes in our gun regulation laws. This is the society that we live in.

Anyway, my question is this: Do most people have guns or are most guns owned by a small subset of people? I live in New York City and the regulations and laws are very restrictive so most people I come into contact with do not have weapons.

Thanks for any thoughts.

[NutmegYankee]

1. Depends on location.

Gun ownership is much higher in rural areas, and far lower in urban areas.

[PJMcK]

10. That makes a lot of sense (n/t)

[Eliot Rosewater]

2. Good question, here is a really good and informative answer.

Just three percent of adults own half of America’s guns

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/09/19/just-three-percent-of-adults-own-half-of-americas-guns/?utm_term=.698b787ee03d


https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484

[PJMcK]

11. Wow!

Those are profound statistics. Thanks for that, Mr. Rosewater.

The dominant subset of our society that own most of the guns are heavily armed.

As I wrote in the OP, this is the society we live in.

[Blue_true]

41. Good post. Does the article break the gun owners into rural versus non rural?

It would be interesting to find out how many in that crowd at the music festival had guns on them. The issue with having a gun on you is using it when a shooter has the high ground and people are panicking and running all around you.

[pangaia]

43. Holy shit !!!!!!!!!!!

[syringis]

51. I remember I have read...

...somewhere that the total amount of guns was far more higher than the entire US population. I don't remember the number but it was appalling.

It makes the graphic above, worse than it is already...

[GeoWilliam750]

52. Although possibly still somewhat misleading

They should probably do households rather than persons, because often only one person in the household owns firearms. The Washington Post shows this in a little video that goes with the article.

About a third of households own guns.

[MrScorpio]

3. Overall, gun ownership is declining...

However, those that are already gun nuts are buying more guns.

[PJMcK]

12. Your second graph is fascinating!

The comparison of Republican vs. Democratic gun ownership is very interesting. In the timeline covered, Republicans who own guns have dipped only a couple of notches. Meanwhile, gun ownership by Democrats and Independents has plummeted. It pretty much defines the widening chasm between our political parties.

Thanks for the charts, MrScorpio!

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

4. I live in the South

Everyone I know owns guns although 99 percent not arsenals. I have a revolver and a shotgun feel no desire to invest in more than that.

[PJMcK]

13. May I respectfully ask a question?

What do you use your guns for?

Thank you.

[Blue_true]

44. When I grew up, we lived in a rural area.

My dad had a revolver, a rifle, a 303 rifle that was freaking scary, and two shotguns. My dad was somewhat of a gun nut. But none of us own guns now.

[PJMcK]

45. My neighbors recommended a similar armament

They suggested a revolver (wouldn't jam), a two-barrel shotgun (side-by-side) and a semi-automatic rifle. They also suggested that stainless steel weapons would be better even though they would cost about 50% more.

If I bought any of them, my fiancee would kick me out!

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

54. Shotgun for one day of deer and doves

Revolver home protection I live in an area where law enforcement would take time to get to.

[SoCalMusicLover]

26. So Only 1% Own Arsenals

That makes me feel much better.

[MichMary]

5. It depends

Obviously, rural culture is so much different from urban.

My b-i-l is a serious hunter and has many guns. Probably everyone he knows (except us) has multiple guns.

One of my friends has seen bears in her yard. There are cougars in the area. I hear coyotes nearly every night. People here have guns to protect themselves (and their pets) from critters.

I don't know if you could say "most" people overall have guns, but many of the people who do think gun-ownership is necessary to their way of life. (And--a Constitutional right.)

[PJMcK]

14. Please see Eliot Rosewater's Post #2 above

50% of the guns are owned by 3% of our population.

Regarding your parenthetical comment about the Second Amendment, while I don't agree with the Supreme Court's interpretation of that Amendment, my opinion is irrelevant and their decision is the law of our country. That's why I'm agnostic with respect to guns. I just don't want one.

[BeyondGeography]

6. High-volume users drink all the beer and buy all the guns

Really, most discretionary consumption runs off the 80/20 rule, and it's often closer to 90/10.

[PJMcK]

15. There's a great book about the advertising business in the 1960s

It was written by Jerry Della Femina who had been an ad executive on Madison Avenue in New York City. In the opening scene, he makes a pitch for a new ad campaign for a Japanese electronics company with the slogan, "From Those Wonderful Folks Who Gave You Pearl Harbor." In the next paragraph, he indicated that following that meeting, he moved on to another firm.

Here's the blurb from Amazon.com:

Vividly reminiscent of the goings-on at Sterling Cooper—the late nights, the three-martini lunches, the sex on couches, and, of course, the actual work of plugging products—this is the story of what Madison Avenue was really like in the ’60s. A worldwide bestseller when first published in 1970, this frank, irreverent, and hilarious memoir is a one-of-a-kind cult classic.

While it's a bit dated, it's quite funny and smart. Specifically, he makes your point that 90% of the beer that's consumed is drunk by 10% of the people who drink beer. His story about one brewer's ad campaign is hysterical! In brief, the beer company claimed that the head on their beer would last ten minutes yet a real beer drinker would be on his third beer in that time!

Trust me, the way Mr. Della Femina tells his stories is much better than I have.

[BeyondGeography]

50. Oh, I'm going to read that

I remember Jerry. Smart and sassy New Yorkers of a certain era...can't get enough. Thanks.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. I don't have numbers, but I remember hearing that the minority of people have the majority of guns

I don't know anyone personally who owns a gun. In my youth, I was on a couple of rifle teams, one at summer camp and another at school. In today's climate, I don't believe either of them exist anymore. And we shot at targets at a range. I can't see how anyone, anywhere, would need an automatic weapon.

[PJMcK]

16. Take a look at Eliot Rosewater's Post #2 above

His charts illustrate some fascinating statistics.

Regarding your last sentence, I respectfully disagree. There are professionals in law enforcement and in the military who absolutely should have automatic weapons. Their responsibilities require powerful force in order to match their adversaries.

As I wrote in my OP, I'm agnostic on guns. I don't want any. And I don't know why the civilian public should have military hardware.

And yet, this is the society that we live in.

[Hoyt]

8. There are people with one or two guns for hunting, home defense, etc. Then, there are people

who have a closet or several gun safes full of guns. Some have a gun for just about every purpose. Here's a quick list of the types of weapon gun-strokers covet --
--shooting varmits on farm;
--guns for feeding the family;
--shooting people fleeing a storm as discussed in a thread on the DU gun-fancier forum;
--shooting brown people walking across your yard as one infamous gun store video recommended;
--guns for wearing on your ankle as a backup to your main toter if you are really paranoid;
--guns in shape of a wallet;
--arms when practicing to shoot people at 200 years;
--weapons for home invasions;
--Guns like those used in mass shootings;
--weapons for every imaginable paranoid delusion;
--weapons for shooting people crossing the border;
--weapons to impress your white wing gun buddies;
--weapons for young children as an introduction into the gun culture;
--guns for racist and nazi rallies;
--multiple examples of the same gun;
--weapons for sexual pleasure;
--gun for grabbing before stalking, intimidating, murdering unarmed Black kid;
-- and a lot more. . . . . . . .


Christ, it's really kind of disgusting when you think about these folks.

[PJMcK]

17. That's quite a list!

One spell-check that amused me is this:

arms when practicing to shoot people at 200 years

I'm certain you meant to type "yards." Or has the MIC developed a temporal weapon?!

Hoyt, I suspect you and I see pretty much eye-to-eye on this subject.

[Throck]

53. What's a varmit?

Gotta love auto spell correct.

[Kaleva]

9. Here in Upper Michigan, guns are common.

4% of the entire population of the western part of Upper Michigan has a concealed pistol license. My guess is that means the percentage of the adult population in the same area that has such a license is well into the double digits.

[PJMcK]

18. Respectfully, may I ask if you own a gun?

If so, would you please explain its use?

Thank you.

[Kaleva]

19. Yes, I own a revolver

I enjoy target shooting and if need be, it can be used for home defense.

[PJMcK]

20. Thanks for your response, Kaleva

We have a mountain house on the Delaware River and our neighbors keep counseling us to buy a shotgun for defense against some of the wildlife.

I just don't see it in my life. I think I've made it clear that I don't care whether others choose to own weapons.

[ornotna]

21. I own a single 380 pistol

That I've had for 20+ years. I have no desire to own any more. It's long past the time that we have sensible gun laws.

[PJMcK]

22. Do you ever practice with it?

If you don't mind my asking!

Why do you keep it?

Thank you.

[ornotna]

25. I do practice with it

Generally about 50 rounds of FMJ a month. And I keep it because I can. I don't show it to people and don't usually talk about it. The world is a crazy place unfortunately.

[Marengo]

23. I live in one of the most heavily armed counties in the USA, and the population density may...

Surprise you. With a few exceptions, nearly every household I'm aware has one or more firearms and no one thinks much of it.

[PJMcK]

24. Okay, I'll bite

Which county?

My bet is Los Angeles.

[Marengo]

48. I'd rather not say, but not LA. The Southwest is as much info as I care to reveal.

[Hoyt]

28. Maybe they should think about it, or maybe you just know gun-fanciers.

[Marengo]

47. Not "fanciers" by your own definition as most only own a couple, and mostly for hunting and home...

Protection. But, I'll be happy to pass your concerns on. I'm sure they will be most eager to consider the advice of an anonymous internet persona.

[muriel_volestrangler]

55. Are hunters really that common in the US southwest?

For instance, this, from 2011, says (Table 50) a total of 259,000 Arizonans hunted (or hunted and fished), out of 5,084,000 - 5%. For New Mexico 68,000 out of 1,551,000 - 4%.

[Marengo]

57. Depends on the concentration within a specific locality. I don't wish to divulge too much personal..

Information, but the percentage among the population of the area I reside in is quite high.

[Johnny2X2X]

27. People who hunt different game

Many hunters hunt all kinds of game and have guns for each type. So they might have a deer rifle or two, a few shotguns for various fowl, and maybe a small caliber rifle for small game. Maybe they also have a .22 for target practice, and a pistol for carrying in predator area. I Can totally see where a couple dozen guns for hunting is reasonable.

This guys 42 guns are probably almost all not for hunting. They are for killing people.

[PJMcK]

30. Your points make sense to me

In fact, you've explained why I am agnostic about guns. They can be tools with useful purposes.

We have an accord on your last sentence, Johnny2X2X.

[Hoyt]

31. Roughly 6% of population went hunting in past 12 months. Guns for hunters is largely a myth,

or deception.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/227422/number-of-hunters-usa/

I suspect a bunch of those hunters just go to drink, talk crap, profess support for Trump, etc. Folks who actually hunt to feed their family, don't have a crapload of guns.

[pangaia]

46. I suspect you are right.

[OriginalGeek]

29. I have 2

One is my grandfather's WWII .45. He never even loaded it. It's never been fired unless it was tested before being issued to him. He was a CWO in the Air Force and an airplane mechanic and just never needed it. The other is a S&W 9mm my son gave me for safe-keeping when he quit working as armed security. He didn't want it any more.

I have a concealed carry permit but I've never carried anything anywhere. I might some day. Just to see what it's like. My wife's cousin is a gunsmith and I have fun target shooting on his property but I have no desire to hunt. Or face down shooters spraying bullets from a hotel room.

We did inherit some rifles from my FIL but they haven't even seen the light of day in decades. They were rusty and old when we got them.

[PJMcK]

32. Great stories!

The .45 must be a beautiful gun. Could you frame it and hang it for display? The Smith & Wesson sounds lie a LEO gun and not very interesting except as a specific weapon with a purpose.

If you ever do utilize your concealed carry permit, I hope nothing happens for you!

Thanks for your post.

[OriginalGeek]

39. Grandpa passed in June at the age of 96

It was not unexpected but still hard for me. I've posted here about him some because he has always been my hero. He and grandma were the main reasons I am a liberal Democrat.


I do intend to frame the gun along with his medals and the flag and shells from his military honors service. My son is making us a nice display case for it all.

[PJMcK]

40. I'm sorry for your loss

The world we live in changes when we lose family or friends.

Thanks for your posts, OriginalGeek.

[DVRacer]

33. I live in Oklahoma

Most everyone I know have at least one. I’m retired military the son of a retired military father who is the son of a retired military Dad. I grew up around firearms and was taught at a young age how to handle them properly and more importantly the level of respect they warrant. I qualified expert in both rifle and pistol while serving.

I have seen bullet wounds up close on both living and deceased and understand what firearms are capable of. I am not a “gun nut” but own more than one. I joke that the only gun control I want is me to have control of it, because I trust myself others not so much.

I have no simple answers for the violence that I see on TV wish I did. Something has changed in the hearts and minds of this country for anyone to think shooting someone is ok.

I would like to see a study overlaying toxicology with mass shooters is there a correlation with the amount of prescribed medications. A report I heard from a Dr. was 70% of Americans take a prescription daily and 50% two or more. That is not inline with most other nations.

Access to and design of firearms has not changed in 60 years something else has.

[PJMcK]

35. Your respect for weapons is respectable

Thanks for your response, DVRacer. Your experience is interesting to me since I have none.

Your second paragraph is powerful. This s why I don't understand the proliferation of guns in our country. The damage that a single bullet can do to human tissue is profound.

You wrote, "Something has changed in the hearts and minds of this country..."

The United States has a broken axle. If it isn't fixed, who knows what could happen.

[Doreen]

34. If hunting was the only way I could have meat

I would have both a 30-06 and a .22 rifle. That is the only reason I would ever buy a gun.

[PJMcK]

36. That makes sense

The problem for me is that I live in New York's City. The only meat I can hunt for here are rats, dogs, cats and pigeons. Not especially tasty or socially appropriate meals.

On the other hand, I once had a delicious squab...

[Doreen]

37. You just need the right sauce.

[PJMcK]

38. What would you recommend?

(wink)

[Doreen]

42. You would have to talk to Andrew Zimmern and Anthony Bourdain.

I have seen them eat some really questionable stuff and say it is good.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

49. I have a question too. Has it been proven that there are less killings in states

with more restrictive gun control laws?

I am now (sadly) in the heart of red country...and in the office today...the discussion was about (1) how people are unbelievably blaming the GOP and Trump for what happened in Vegas and (2) how restrictions don't help and (3) how the guy bought illegal - we can not stop that.

[Lurks Often]

56. Be careful about what "numbers" you choose to believe

Surveys and polls rely on people to answer honestly and not too many gun owners are going to tell some random stranger on the phone that they own a gun, much less how many guns they do own.

It's hard to find a source that is indisputable, but the following probably comes as close as possible without hours and hours of research:

GAO 2012 report: States’ Laws and Requirements for Concealed Carry Permits Vary across the Nation
http://www.gao.gov/assets/600/592552.pdf

Starting at page 75 it lists the number of CCW permits and the % of permits relative to the population age 20 and up. These numbers can be considered the lowest possible % of gun owners in a state as not all states issue a CCW permit and not all states require a CCW permit to buy a gun. Some states: CT 6.2%, GA 11.5%, IA 10.9%, MA 5.1 %, UT 19.3 %, so even in the very blue states of CT & MA over 5% of eligible people have a CCW permit.

The numbers in the above study are certainly higher now.

In general, legal ownership of firearms goes up the farther the way you get from the urban area.