Press Image of Gun Owner Not Far Off, Except for All Those Women

[Columbia]

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000745373

Press Image of Gun Owner Not Far Off, Except for All Those Women

By E&P Staff

Published: January 04, 2005 10:00 AM ET

NEW YORK A Gallup Poll released this morning reveals that the average American owns 1.7 guns, with the average gun owner possessing 4.4 of them. The press is quick to promote stereotypes of the average gun owner as a white male, most likely Republican, living in a rural area or the South. But how well does reality match the image? The new Gallup Poll shows that the stereotype is not that far off, but with several twists.

For one thing, one out of three American women say they own a gun. That's not much below the overall mark of 40% for all American adults.

As for other elements of the stereotype: More than half (53%) of Republicans own guns, compared with 36% of political independents and 31% of Democrats. Whites are more likely than nonwhites to own (44% and 24%, respectively), according to Gallup.

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[alwynsw]

1. See the cool stuff you're finding now

that you're temporarily a man of leisure. Good job!

Just proves that there are no stereotypical gun owners. We cross all boundaries.

[benEzra]

2. Another stereotype that isn't true...

One other common stereotype that isn't true is that most gun owners are hunters. Actually, only about one in five gun owners is a hunter; the #1 reason gun owners give for owning guns is for defensive purposes, followed by #2 recreational target shooting and #3 hunting.

[jody]

3. This is a dupe, see DU link below.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1120480

[Jack_DeLeon]

4. I am working to change the stereotype...

I'd like to think I've helped make a few more Democratic Hispanics gunowners.

However in a few years we wont be minorities anymore. :P