Protection tops the list of reasons for owning a gun

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June 20, 2017

1. The demographics of gun ownership

Protection tops the list of reasons for owning a gun

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Protection tops the list of reasons for owning a gun

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1. The demographics of gun ownership
About six-in-ten Americans say people in their community have a positive view of most gun owners
About seven-in-ten Americans say they have fired a gun
Men, on average, become gun owners at an earlier age than women
Among those who grew up with guns, men are far more likely than women to have participated in certain gun-related activities when they were young
About half of U.S. adults say they grew up in a gun-owning household
For those with a single gun, handguns are by far the most common type
Most gun owners own multiple guns
About half of non-gun owners could see themselves owning a gun in the future
Gun ownership is far more common among Republicans than Democrats
Three-in-ten adults say they own a gun
Many adults who don’t currently own a gun could see themselves owning one in the future
For those with a single gun, handguns are by far the most common type

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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