The United States has a deep-rooted connection with firearms, as evidenced by the Second Amendment's guarantee of the right to bear arms and the fact that approximately one-third of American adults report personally owning a gun. However, the nation's relationship with firearms is multifaceted, as demonstrated by the findings of a Pew Research Center survey conducted in June 2023.
The survey reveals that gun ownership rates vary based on several factors. Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are more than twice as likely as Democrats and Democratic leaners to report personally owning a gun (45% vs. 20%). Additionally, men (40%) are more likely than women (25%) to own a firearm, and rural residents (47%) have higher ownership rates compared to those living in suburbs (30%) or urban areas (20%). The survey also highlights racial differences in gun ownership, with 38% of White Americans owning a gun, compared to smaller shares of Black (24%), Hispanic (20%), and Asian (10%) Americans.
When asked about their reasons for owning a firearm, protection emerges as the primary motivation. Nearly three-quarters (72%) of gun owners cite protection as a major reason for owning a gun, while considerably smaller shares mention hunting (32%), sport shooting (30%), gun collecting (15%), or job requirements (7%). These findings are consistent with the Center's 2017 survey on attitudes toward gun ownership and policies.
The survey also uncovers differences in feelings about having a gun in the household between gun owners and non-owners who live with them. Gun owners are more likely to report enjoying owning a gun (71%) and feeling safer with a firearm in the home (81%) compared to non-owners in gun-owning households (31% and 57%, respectively). Moreover, non-owners are more likely to worry about having a gun in the home (27%) than owners (12%).
Americans are evenly divided on whether gun ownership does more to increase or decrease safety in the country. While 49% believe that gun ownership increases safety by allowing law-abiding citizens to protect themselves, an equal share argues that it reduces safety by providing too many people with access to firearms and increasing the likelihood of misuse. This divide is particularly stark along party lines, with 79% of Republicans saying that gun ownership increases safety and 78% of Democrats stating that it reduces safety.
The perception of gun violence as a major problem in the United States has grown, with 60% of adults now describing it as a very big problem, a 9 percentage point increase from spring 2022. Looking to the future, 62% of Americans expect the level of gun violence to increase over the next five years, while only 7% anticipate a decrease.
When it comes to obtaining firearms, a majority of Americans (61%) believe that it is too easy to legally obtain a gun in the country. This sentiment is more prevalent among non-gun owners (73%) compared to gun owners (38%). Partisan and demographic differences also exist on this issue, with Democrats (86%) and urban residents (72%) being more likely to say that it is too easy to legally obtain a gun compared to Republicans (34%) and rural residents (47%).
The survey also gauges support for various gun policy proposals, revealing both areas of bipartisan agreement and significant partisan divides. Majorities in both parties favor preventing those with mental illnesses from purchasing guns (88% of Republicans, 89% of Democrats) and increasing the minimum age for buying guns to 21 years old (69% of Republicans, 90% of Democrats). However, Democrats are more likely to support banning assault-style weapons (85%) and high-capacity ammunition magazines (85%), while Republicans are more inclined to favor allowing teachers and school officials to carry guns in K-12 schools (74%) and permitting concealed carry in more places (71%).
