Nearly a third of U.S. adults say they personally own a gun

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August 15, 2023

For Most U.S. Gun Owners, Protection Is the Main Reason They Own a Gun

Nearly a third of U.S. adults say they personally own a gun

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Nearly a third of U.S. adults say they personally own a gun

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For Most U.S. Gun Owners, Protection Is the Main Reason They Own a Gun
Nearly three-quarters of U.S. gun owners cite protection as a major reason they own a gun
Most gun owners say they feel safer owning a gun
Non-gun owners are divided on whether they could see themselves owning a gun in the future
About 6 in 10 Americans say it is too easy to legally obtain a gun in this country
Differences in feelings about guns between gun owners and non-owners in gun households
Democratic gun owners less likely than Republican owners to say guns make them feel safer, give them enjoyment

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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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