Number of Americans who Own Guns and the Number of Guns owned by Americans

The NRA posted a meme on Facebook yesterday that stated that there are 400 million guns owned by Americans. This was some sort of new milestone. Got me thinking bit so figured I'd check on the numbers.

Not sure how anyone comes up with either number.

Answers says this: Number of guns and gun owners in USA. Most estimates range between 39% and 50% of US households having at least one gun (that's about 43-55 million households). The estimates for the number of privately owned guns range from 190 million to 300 million. Removed those that skew the stats for their own purposes the best estimates are about 45% or 52 million of American households owning 260 million guns).

Which seems to indicate the NRA's numbers are way high.

NPR estimates about 300 million guns or one gun per every man, woman and child in the United states whichever is higher?

One website claimed only about 21% of households owned guns with 50% of them owning one or two and the other 50% owning three or more. 3% were considered super owners and this group owned over 50% of all firearms in the country.

Somehow, I don't think any of these numbers are right although as being a gun owner, my perspective may be skewed. I also would be considered a super owner as I suspect many here in these forums would be.

The thing is, nearly every person I know that owns a firearm owns more than three. If I had to average it out, I'd say the average would be between six and ten per household and that's discounting so called super owners.

Granted I live in a suburban/rural area and hang with people of my own hobbies but just can't see these numbers being accurate.

If only 1 in 3 own guns and there are more guns than people, each of those 3 people has to own 3 guns and there is zero accountability for those that own over 100.

Or am I overthinking this?

Well,

I don't know if this helps you any but I'll give you a little rundown of the people in my life:

1. Me: My collection is specifically US military and is relatively complete. I own less than the "super owner" but not by much.
2. Coworker: Not a gun guy at all (he deer hunts with "one with a lever") but pretty avid hunter and has more guns than I could count on the couple times I've been to his place. Probably a "3X Super Owner."
3. ULTRA violently liberal best friend: Doesn't shoot, doesn't carry, owns a Mossberg 500 and a little break action 32. Ol' boy is pretty good at breaking clays whenever I get him out there though!

I suppose my point is this: I'm not really a gun guy (I like them but it's more about the history - you won't see any NRA or Molon Labe stickers anywhere near me), my coworker isn't a gun guy, and my friend is DEFINITELY not a gun guy...but on average, we own something like 12-15 guns each.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Or am I overthinking this?

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I think so. I tend to believe the NRA - Bob

I would guess the number to be close as there's no reason to not believe the number. When Obama and his ilk threatened gun ownership US citizen bought countless. I remember reading one dealer sold 30,000 AR's in 7 days. Hats off to all you that bought one or more.

Here in Canada we have far more than our gov't ever admitted and when the registry was introduced they kept reducing their estimates in an attempt to show compliance. The problem being their original numbers were anything but accurate.

I saw a report by the anti-gun forces in New Jersey that stated only Hawaii had less guns per capita than New Jersey , and that they intended to take the number one place. Another source stated they used gun registrations for the data.. be advised the only registration, by law, in NJ is a voluntary one, and does not reflect the actual number of guns owned.

I'm pretty sure that the NRA number is low.

From my own experience of dealing with people...in "Khanadeh", at the height of registration, we had roughly 10% (3 million) of the population licenced as gun owners, and 6 million guns in the system.

surprisingly?
estimates based on imports suggest 30+ million firearms imported to Canada in the last 40 years, but only 6 million were ever registered.

Talking to the "average" khanadian, most of them deny owning guns, and do not consider themselves to be gun owners.

However when you actually speak with them, more often than not, they own a 2-3 guns (minimum) .22 rifle, 12 gauge shotgun and a large bore rifle.
And they never registered them either...


What is really surprising is how many have grandpa's handgun, or uncle john's luger....sure it was registered to grandpa...(who sadly passed in 1970...)

I don’t think I made my point clear but Lee Enfield really hit on it.
If someone asked me if I was a gun owner (especially someone with a clipboard) I would say no.
So I suppose I’m saying that I would guess most estimates to be very much on the low side.

Some places are trying to get people to admit to their doctors that they have guns. I've always told everyone in my family to say no or if not comfortable with that just say it's none of their business as it has nothing to do with the case of the flu I'm there for today. I also don't broadcast that I have guns. Try to get them in and out of the house quickly and without drawing attention to them. I do talk about them here but to be frank, if a background check wasn't done on the purchase, even you guys aren't hearing about it unless it's something really out of the ordinary. I know there has to be a finite number of guns and they are countable. But some of these studies take into account wear and tear and breakage and put figures as high as 10% when I think most of us here understand that a firearm is pretty hard to take out of commission completely due to breakage.

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Or am I overthinking this?

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Probably.
But it is an interesting exercise and your logic seems sound. I am just glad accurate numbers do not exist because if they did the number could diminish rapidly.
Glad the second amendment is still standing.

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Originally Posted by rcathey

. . . . I suppose my point is this: I'm not really a gun guy (I like them but it's more about the history - you won't see any NRA or Molon Labe stickers anywhere near me), my coworker isn't a gun guy, and my friend is DEFINITELY not a gun guy...but on average, we own something like 12-15 guns each.

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I would agree that there are a lot of households that are occupied by folks who are NOT "gun people" that still have 2 or 3 or 4 guns in them. In a lot of cases it's granddads old shotgun that was handed down and the odd assortment of deer rifles that have not been used in decades.

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Originally Posted by Faulkner

In a lot of cases it's granddads old shotgun that was handed down and the odd assortment of deer rifles that have not been used in decades.

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I hope my collection is still around, and in one piece, to be gathering dust one day :)

Maybe that 300 million number is legally registered guns. And the NRA number is adding what they think are hand me down items?

What's count is considered a super owner??? Two of my three safes.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo..._zpsr41v-1.jpg

http://www.milsurps.com/images/impor..._zpsm8oy-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...2f140c96-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...353c064f-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

Some places are trying to get people to admit to their doctors that they have guns

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This happens every time I take my son to the doctor's office. The question is "Do you have any firearms in your house?" my answer is, why does it matter? thiers response "The state has us ask." mine response, do NERF guns count?

---------- Post added at 10:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:05 AM ----------

I've considered putting up a stand next to a trailer with a sign that reads "Gun Buy Back Program" LOL

According to the Guardian, a super gun owner owns between 8 and 140 firearms. They make up 14% of gun owners and 3% of American citizens. Oddly enough, these super gun owners are not who the anti-gun crowd is worried about. Not sure what you are if you own over 140 firearms. Perhaps the studies never found anyone who was willing to admit to having over 140 firearms. Seemed to indicate that. I strongly suspect there are many with over 140 which is why I question these numbers. I think they are way out of whack.

[QUOTE=usabaker;434096]This happens every time I take my son to the doctor's office. The question is "Do you have any firearms in your house?" my answer is, why does it matter? thiers response "The state has us ask." mine response, do NERF guns count?[COLOR="black"]


Any mention of Depression or a Anger issue coming from a known gun owner to a Doctor will cause a red flag.
Good friend who is one of my Dr's put it like this.... roughly:

FIREARM VIOLENCE IS AN IMPORTANT HEALTH PROBLEM, AND MOST PHYSICIANS AGREE THAT THEY SHOULD HELP PREVENT THAT VIOLENCE.

When asked I reply,
My gun is my prescription to prevent homicide.

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Originally Posted by usabaker

I've considered putting up a stand next to a trailer with a sign that reads "Gun Buy Back Program" LOL

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I wonder if that would work? You'd get a sh*tload of junk but there would be the occasional pearl...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I wonder if that would work? You'd get a sh*tload of junk but there would be the occasional pearl...

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Very questionable legalities to that, especially considering handguns and depending on the state you're in. I think I recall someone attempted to pre-screen guns at a buyback offering more for certain ones and they got in trouble for it. In my state, I would be able to buy long guns on the corner but not handguns. But the catch is, I have to believe the firearm is legally possessed which creates a large grey area.

If collections are around in the future gathering dust, the NRA will be mainly who we have to thank. They are one of the oldest civil rights organizations in the USA and if you know their history starting in 1871 you'll see why. They are the prime target for the left and gun hating progressives and the Kool aid they feed folks via the media is 180 degrees from the truth.

Whatever the total is, isn't enough.
The proof for that is that gun stores are still open and selling.

Old Story...... Called a Gun Bazaar

Police set up a gun buy back and have to deal with others who set up their own Gun buy back, offering more $$ than the police.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1024x768-1.jpg

The story covers the competition buyers but also takes a twist toward how the guns police sell to upgrade can end up involved in crimes.
It is interesting some of the types of weapons were that the police sold off... like Uzi, Full Auto HK33's.... etc.
Detroit Police sold over 14 tons of weapons over a 7 year period.
Police in Irving, Texas, sold military-style grenade launchers.

Police guns are turning up in crimes, but ATF can’t talk about it | Reveal

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Originally Posted by JimF4M1s

Maybe that 300 million number is legally registered guns. ...

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:confused: Legally registered? I live in Virginia and not a single one of my many firearms is "legally registered" and, to my knowledge, neither are the firearms of any other Virginian ... and Virginia is not alone, thank goodness, as much as the "Antis" would like it otherwise.

You must be referring to something else. :)

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Originally Posted by Youngblood

I live in Virginia and not a single one of my many firearms is "legally registered" and, to my knowledge, neither are the firearms of any other Virginian.

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They may actually be if you filled out ATF Form 4473 when you purchased any of them. Just say'in. :wave: - Bob

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Originally Posted by Youngblood

:confused: Legally registered? I live in Virginia and not a single one of my many firearms is "legally registered" and, to my knowledge, neither are the firearms of any other Virginian ... and Virginia is not alone, thank goodness, as much as the "Antis" would like it otherwise.

You must be referring to something else. :)

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Yeah, you never know about these things. These forms are supposed to be destroyed after a period of time but many agencies have been found to not be destroying them. It's not a formal registration but it may still be happening without our knowledge. I more or less assume that anything I purchase through an FFL is on record somewhere.

Congress has prohibited the ATF from keeping a database of guns and who owns them. In practice, things my be a bit ambiguous. The FFL's keep 4473s in their personal files until the ATF come looking for a specific serial number firearm. When that FFL turns in his FFL or goes out of business he has a limited time to turn in all his records to the ATF or face prosecution for failing to do so. An army of GS-3 clerks in Martinsburg is kept busy scanning in these records. Do these scanned documents constitute a database? A succession of ATF director's say not. Common sense and the increasing capability of computers gives lie to that claim.

I believe it's been decided that non-searchable PDFs are OK to use and do not violate the "no database" law.
If a request comes in or a trace, human beings literally read through the documents one-by-one to find a hit.
Firearms traces are decidedly not like what one would see on TV haha.

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Originally Posted by USGI

They may actually be if you filled out ATF Form 4473 when you purchased any of them. Just say'in. - Bob

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In which case they would be il-legally registered. ;)

... but, just in case, ... thank goodness that the lion's share of mine I acquired sans 4473.

Picture pulled from this link:
Police guns are turning up in crimes, but ATF can’t talk about it | Reveal

Neil Troppman of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives opens a shipping container filled with documents from out-of-business gun stores. He says that that if law enforcement agencies wanted to find out if any of their former weapons showed up in crimes, he isn’t sure his agency could tell them.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...1024x768-1.jpg

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Originally Posted by painter777

Police guns

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Stuff from the seized and turned in gun lock up. Just like anything else, money talks loud...and those guys aren't any better than anyone else. Just that they think they're golden. Some, not all...just a few rotten apples.

The police guns they are talking about are those that are surplused out, not seized guns. Although I expect some departments also sell those. Used to do them at auctions but a lot of people complained. A lot of departments are cutting them up now.

Interesting article on the subject.

ATF eTrace: Backdoor National Firearms Registration Scheme - The Truth About Guns

I had a few nice Police trade-ins before the boating accident, the fire, Hurricane Sandy, and my ex-wife. Some Smith revolvers, AR-15 and a couple Rem 870's, I don't care for Glocks or SIGS or I'd have had those too. They're a good value for the law abiding American public and it helps the taxpayers of the department by lowering the cost of new weapons.

Did you read how many TONS OF GUNS Detroit sold/traded in over a 6 or 7 year (IIRC) period ?
WOW !!

But they sell to Joe Legit Public to help collect funds to upgrade their arms. I don't see a problem with that... Good Idea.
What the Press misses is, that if one of these guns shows up in or being used in a crime.
How about the story being about the Hood who STOLE it from Joe Legit Public ??
Fake News Sells Papers, or attracts viewers on TV.

Period !

We know they're full of it. Let's hope they don't find out about the tons and tons of REAL weapons of War the DCM/CMP has sold. Full semiautomatic too!!! :eek:

I'd be willing to bet surplused Police cars are involved in more crimes then the firearms. They're popular with the street slag around these parts......

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Originally Posted by Aragorn243

The police guns they are talking about are those that are surplused out, not seized guns.

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Yes, I had a model 10 S&W like that for a while. Have a Beretta 96 DAO presently... Canada too largely destroys all surplus police firearms now.

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Originally Posted by painter777

Fake News Sells Papers, or attracts viewers on TV.
Period !

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And influences folks when anti gun measures come up to voters.

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Originally Posted by WarPig1976

I had a few nice Police trade-ins before the boating accident, the fire, Hurricane Sandy, and my ex-wife. Some Smith revolvers, AR-15 and a couple Rem 870's, I don't care for Glocks or SIGS or I'd have had those too. They're a good value for the law abiding American public and it helps the taxpayers of the department by lowering the cost of new weapons.

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WOW you have had the same bad luck as Brad in Canmore AB. He should never venture out in his canoe as from posts all over sites I frequent have tales of him having another incident and losing countless firearms. He from all reports is somewhat inept having canoe accidents numerous times!

Oh yes, horrible luck!! I had a nice Romanian PSL until lightening struck the barrel and vaporized the thing in my hands. Thank goodness I was not harmed whatsoever, all I have now are the memories.
Hopefully Brad knows the only thing we can do when tragedy strikes is to keep our heads high and carry on.

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Originally Posted by WarPig1976

until lightening struck the barrel and vaporized the thing in my hands

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Seriously ??

G0d Damn..................

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Originally Posted by painter777

Seriously ??

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As far as Uncle and the State of Pennsylvania are concerned,,,,,Yup. ;)

No one I know here in Maine that owns guns owns just one and most of the people I know own guns. The average I would say is about 3-4. My father who absolutely hated guns we found after he died owned 2.

I recently had to place my Mother in a long term facility .. Advanced Dementia
Been trying to clear the house and found a SxS 16guage...... sawed off barrels and stock. Box of shells with it, gun was loaded.
Got tickled about it afterward, her being 5' 1" tall
Picturing her swinging that around.
Never a mention from her that she had it.
Long time (70's) divorced from my Father.

Like seeing the little old Church Lady packing...... :lol:

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Originally Posted by painter777

…Been trying to clear the house and found a SxS 16guage...... sawed off barrels and stock. Box of shells with it, gun was loaded…

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Sounds like the perfect choice for a 5’1” lady.