U.S. Gun Ownership
Despite the unconscionable liberalization of U.S. gun laws, gun ownership rates have gone down. Why?
May 29, 2014
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.
