U.S. Gun Ownership
Despite the unconscionable liberalization of U.S. gun laws, gun ownership rates have gone down. Why?
May 29, 2014
![](https://www.theglobalist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/american-flag-gun-170.jpg)
1. The household gun ownership rate in the United States was 50% in the 1970s. This fell to 43% in the 1990s.
2. In the 2000s, gun ownership rates saw their biggest drop — to 35%.
3. The rate of gun ownership among women has remained relatively constant over the years at about 10%.
4. Much of the decline in U.S. gun ownership rates may be due to demographic changes.
5. Hispanics, a rapidly growing population in the United States, are far less likely than other demographic groups to own guns.
6. In the survey results since 2000, about 14% of Hispanics reported having a gun in their home.
From Share of Homes With Guns Shows 4-Decade Decline by Sabrina Tavernise (NY Times and the General Social Survey)
Takeaways
A big factor in declining US gun ownership rates may be the demographic rise of Latinos, fewer of whom own guns.