As the political climate heats up surrounding gun control and legislation, more Americans are buying firearms today than six years ago. In the past twenty years, gun ownership has risen slightly among women and Hispanics while it has decreased among men.

Report Highlights:

• Gun ownership in America increased 28% from 1994 to 2023.
• Based on NICS background data and manufacturing records, it is estimated that there are 393 million civilian-owned firearms in the U.S.
• Only 6.06 million firearms are registered in America (NFA registrations and states with permits to purchase)
• Estimates show that 82,880,000 people own at least one firearm in 2023.
• 43% of households have at least one firearm in 2023.
• Women's firearm ownership has increased by 177.8% since 1993.
• Hispanics are the fastest-growing demographic of gun owners, with a 33% increase in ownership between 2017 and 2023.
• Gun ownership declined by 22% in the 18-29 age group between 2017 and 2023.
• 1 out of 20 adults in the U.S. purchased a firearm for the first time during the pandemic.

You can see a comprehensive list of our sources here.

How Many Americans Own Guns?

In 2023, 32% of Americans own at least one firearm. There are approximately 259,000,000 adults, which equates to 82,880,000 people who own a firearm in the U.S.

Firearm ownership increased by 6.7% in the U.S. (all demographics) between 2017 and 2023. During that same time period, women increased ownership by 13.6%, and Hispanics increased ownership by 33.3%.



Not only is gun ownership on the rise, but some demographics are purchasing guns at higher rates today than ever before.

Furthermore, 7.5 million adults (2.9% of adults in the U.S.) became first-time gun owners between 2019 and 2021. Of those, 5.4 million did not have a firearm in the household before purchasing.

Gun Sale Trends in America 2010-2023

While firearm ownership historically remains between 40% and 47% of the adult population, purchase trends vary widely. More Americans bought firearms in 2020 than any year since 2010.



Continue reading How Many Gun Owners Are in America? (2024 Statistics) on Ammo.com

This is the first time the Govt has been even remotely honest about guns in America, that there are more guns, than there are people in the US. I have hammered on this point for decades, that people never throw away quality weapons, they hand them down like precious heirlooms, so each successive generation doubles their collection every handful of decades.

I inherited a good amount, I tripled that over my lifetime, and I'm willing to bet, every person reading this did the same.
I'd bet the actual number of weapons in the US is closer to a billion. Every man/household owned a weapon when the Nation was created, or you starved, it was a given.
They handed them off to their brethren who upgraded, but never discarded what they already had.
WWI, everyone brought their weapons home. WWII, my dad left the Philippines by ship, everyone stuffed their M-1 in their duffel bag and left the ship.
Many with souvenir weapons of the enemy, all still in working order most likely. No one turned in their weapons.

QuoteBased on NICS background data and manufacturing records, it is estimated that there are 393 million civilian-owned firearms in the U.S.

The United States had an official estimated resident population of 334,914,895 on July 1, 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Quote from: Solar on April 08, 2024, 03:26:52 AMMany with souvenir weapons of the enemy, all still in working order most likely. No one turned in their weapons.

One day (hopefully far off) I'll inherit my grandpa's souvenier Walther. He said he got it from a German officer who "didn't need it anymore."

Quote from: ammodotcom on April 08, 2024, 05:15:41 PMOne day (hopefully far off) I'll inherit my grandpa's souvenier Walther. He said he got it from a German officer who "didn't need it anymore."

     

I've been in the process of trying to figure out who gets mine.
So far, no one in my immediate family deserves shit! My wife doesn't want them and her kids can't appreciate their actual worth, so the search continues.

Quote from: Solar on April 09, 2024, 05:26:33 AMI've been in the process of trying to figure out who gets mine.
So far, no one in my immediate family deserves shit! My wife doesn't want them and her kids can't appreciate their actual worth, so the search continues.

Gosh, that's a pickle. Hopefully you have a Gran Turino moment like Clint Eastwood.

Quote from: ammodotcom on April 09, 2024, 11:22:49 PMGosh, that's a pickle. Hopefully you have a Gran Turino moment like Clint Eastwood.

Good point. That gives me options.