How Many Guns Are Owned In The United States of America

 The Proliferation of Firearms in the United States Over the Years A comprehensive examination of firearm ownership trends in the United Sta...

 The Proliferation of Firearms in the United States Over the Years

A comprehensive examination of firearm ownership trends in the United States reveals significant growth in the civilian gun stock over the past few decades. Here's a breakdown of the data:

In 1994, a national survey conducted by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) found that approximately 35% of households, totaling 44 million people, possessed a staggering 192 million firearms. Among these, 65 million were handguns, and a striking 74% of individuals reported owning more than one firearm.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), by the close of 1996, the number of firearms available for sale or held by civilians in the U.S. had risen to an estimated 242 million. This included about 72 million handguns (primarily pistols, revolvers, and derringers), 76 million rifles, and 64 million shotguns.

By the turn of the millennium in 2000, the number of firearms had surged further to around 259 million. This tally encompassed 92 million handguns, 92 million rifles, and 75 million shotguns.

Fast forward to 2007, and the firearm count had grown to an approximate 294 million. The composition included 106 million handguns, 105 million rifles, and 83 million shotguns.

By 2009, it was estimated that there were approximately 310 million firearms accessible to civilians in the United States. This expansive figure consisted of 114 million handguns, 110 million rifles, and 86 million shotguns. In per capita terms, the civilian gun stock had effectively doubled since 1968, evolving from one firearm for every two persons to a situation where there was, on average, one firearm for every individual.

How many guns are in   the United States?

These statistics underscore the remarkable expansion of firearm ownership in the United States over the years, revealing a complex and evolving landscape of firearms within the nation.

Source:

Jens Ludwig and Phillip J. Cook, "Guns in America: National Survey on Private Ownership and Use of Firearms," NCJ 165476, May 1999.

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, "Commerce in Firearms in the United States," February 2000.

U.S. Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, "Firearms Commerce in the United States 2001/2002," ATF P 9000.4, April 2002.

U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), "Annual Firearm Manufacturing and Export Reports for 2002 through 2007," along with firearms import data provided by the ATF Firearms and Explosives Import Branch.

U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, "Firearms Commerce in the United States 2011," August 2011.