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U.S. Gun Ownership

Despite the unconscionable liberalization of U.S. gun laws, gun ownership rates have gone down. Why?

May 29, 2014

Credit: a katz - Shutterstock.com

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.