The evolving demographics of gun ownership may well reshape the national conversation on this vital issue for years to come.
There has been a self-defense awakening in America over the last several years. As a result, the national conversation surrounding gun ownership has also undergone a significant transformation. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans have exercised their Second Amendment rights at unprecedented rates, marking a notable shift in the nation’s relationship with firearms.
In the last few years, gun ownership has surged dramatically across the United States, with millions of citizens deciding to purchase a firearm for the first time. This trend is noteworthy for both its scale and diversity. Gun owners are not a narrow demographic, but now reflect a broader spectrum of identities, backgrounds, and beliefs.
New data reveals that Americans from all walks of life – spanning various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and political backgrounds – are increasingly choosing to be their family’s first line of defense. Perhaps the most striking shift occurring is in traditionally anti-gun voting groups including registered Democrats and left-leaning individuals. According to the findings, nearly a third of Democrats or those leaning Democratic reported having a gun at home in 2022, a significant jump from the four-decade low of 22% recorded in 2010. Even more telling, researchers analyzing the data found that since 2020, more than half of Democratic gun owners were first-time purchasers, compared to less than a quarter of Republicans.
By Katie Pointer Baney
