One-in-six gun owners have used a gun to defend themselves

Home Research Topics Politics & Policy Political Issues Gun Policy

June 20, 2017

2. Guns and daily life: Identity, experiences, activities and involvement

One-in-six gun owners have used a gun to defend themselves

Download

One-in-six gun owners have used a gun to defend themselves

Attachment Info

2. Guns and daily life: Identity, experiences, activities and involvement
Most Republican handgun owners carry outside their home at least sometimes
About one-in-ten handgun owners say they carry all of the time
Majority of gun owners who grew up hunting currently hunt at least sometimes
Experiences with being shot, or knowing someone who has been, differ along key demographic fault lines
Roughly four-in-ten Americans say they know someone who has been shot
Gun owners with five or more guns highly engaged in gun-oriented media, gun shows
Among gun owners, men consume more gun-oriented media than women
About one-in-four non-gun owners say they watch gun-oriented TV programs and videos owners
Americans are divided between those who say the NRA has too much and the right amount of influence
Among gun owners, men and women equally likely to belong to NRA
About a third of U.S. gun owners hunt often or sometimes
Demographic differences emerge in the shares of gun owners who say all or most of their friends also own guns
Gun ownership more closely linked to overall identity for GOP gun owners
Party and ideology strongly linked to views on importance of right to own guns
Gun owners who grew up in a gun-owning household most likely to view gun ownership as an essential right
For many gun owners, their experiences with guns extend beyond shooting and hunting
About four-in-ten U.S. adults say they live in a gun-owning household

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
USA
(+1) 202-419-4300 | Main
(+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax
(+1) 202-419-4372 | Media Inquiries

Research Topics

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.

About

Terms & Conditions

Cookie Settings

Reprints, Permissions & Use Policy

Feedback

Careers