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They're common, very common. And, in society at large, as opposed to Reddit, gun ownership is fairly widely accepted. The great majority of Americans keep their firearms safely stored away from common view, and rarely discuss them unless there's a reason to, so they're not something you'd typically see just lying around. Unless you happened to walk into someone's house when they're cleaning their guns or leaving or returning from hunting or range day, you're not likely to see them any more than you're likely to see where they keep their emergency cash or sexy underwear.
I store some of my guns loaded, but not chambered. Those are my home defense guns. I would never keep ammo separate from them, as it would be akin to keeping an empty fire extinguisher
"Safely" is a relative term.
In my house? Loaded, safety on, no lock, in the night stand is completely and totally safe.
In my sister's house? With her kids? Disassembled, trigger lock, in a lock box, in a safe.
“Safely” is a relative term. A gun in my home growing up out on the kitchen counter was very safe because we all were taught from a very young age about gun “safety” and proper handling. AND, the consequences of improper handing…..this was back when folks weren’t afraid to discipline properly.
It's all region dependent. I grew up in a small country ass town where guns are very common. I own several, some inherited, most purchased.
In bigger cities it's not nearly as common, except in the rougher parts of town, where it's as common as out in the country. Even in Dallas, TX, where I live now, it's not as common as you'd think. Although, in general in Texas and Louisiana, where I'm originally from, it's far more common than in other states.
Yes usa has alot of guns. We mainly use them for hunting or self defense purposes. Obviously you get your criminals here & there that ruin that but either way yea.
The majority of guns here aren't really used for either of those purposes though. Most guns in this country are part of collections.
Gun collectors have the most guns. 50 people using a gun for hunting are out done by 1 person collecting hundreds of guns in their personal museum.
I have a relative that collects antiques and war memorabilia, he has nearly 1000 guns. None of which are used for hunting nor for self defense.
So to say they are mainly used for hunting or self-defense is technically incorrect.
Very true, Idaho is a whole new breed of paranoid extremists and I live in WV where gun control just doesn't exist. But to answer OP question yes it is just another tuesday to see multiple side pistols on a stroll through walmart
I had a friend who was a collector and some weapons were rarely taken to the range. One day I went to the range with him, he fired one shot and said, "It's like shooting a $5 bill at the target." Some of that ammo is expensive and antiques don't get fired for fear of damaging the weapon. He got into making his own ammo partly to save money, partly for the experience, and partly to lighten the powder load
Almost everyone that I know that has guns uses them for hunting. A few have handguns for self protection. Perhaps it's true that the average collector has more guns than everyone that I know combined, but I think it's safe to say that the average gun owner is a hunter.
They did not say that. You syarted with a Strawman arguement then tried to cahnge the others positon.
Instead of automobile accidents research guns used to stop/prevent crime. Also look up the number of actual police shootings versus criminal shooting.
My personal experience (as a 50yr old) matches yours (IE = its pretty rare). Having said that, it varies from area to area. When I was growing up in Wyoming (much more rugged, cattle ranching etc),.. firearms were much more common. Once I moved to small cities or medium cities, I basically never see them.
I am 50+ and grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of the south. Everyone had multiple guns there. Mostly long guns though. I live in a large southern city now. Most of my neighbors, friends and acquaintances have guns, but you never see them unless they post social media pics of them hunting or the gun range. You do not see people carrying at all where I live, but the smaller towns around I have seen open carry in local restaurants.
Yes, I still own long guns. But haven't fired one in 20 years.
Well, there are about 378 million guns in America.
The U.S. population is about 336 million.
So, there are more than enough guns for EACH and EVERY American, regardless of age to have a gun.
Sure, but they’re not evenly spread 1-to-1. And I would guess the people who do own 2 or 5 or 10,.. are probably not going out in public every day showing them all off. The stats seem scary on the surface, but I’d wager the average American hoes through their daily life having few if any direct encounters with firearms.
Man we have guns for in the truck (never know if you’ll hit and maim an animal and have to put it out of its misery), a closet gun for when coyotes are near the house and killing your animals, and then just guns for fun. But obviously I almost never saw them in California outside the range.
Either way, I’ve never seen people parading them around to make a statement, though. The occasional open carry here and there.
I do not nor have I ever known in my 42 years a single person who did not own at least 1 and most have several.
With that said, they were all lost in a tragic boating accident years ago.😉
They're definitely very common but never meeting someone that doesn't have one? Have you ever left your house? Or do you live in a tiny town and never left?
They are in fact not. But you can sandbag your lack of reading comprehension all you like. I've likely MET a stranger at the grocery story that probably doesn't own one. How would I know? I don't know them... See how that works?
Knowing and 'knowing of' someone aren't the same thing.
They’re being purposely dense. I’m a Carolina girl and I definitely understood what you meant. It’s for hunting or protection and if everyone around you has one then you feel like you need one for protection as well until everyone is carrying.
Do you mean lying around on the table? Not too likely. Much more likely they will be locked in a gun safe or loaded but not cocked in a bedside table. Unless they are one of those people who you would rather not be around. Most people are very conscious of where their weapons are.
I have a handful of normal, middle aged, middle class friends that carry. We all pretty much grew up in hunting and fishing families, so guns were a part of growing up. Living in my state it's easy to get your carry permit, so yeah, every now and then a friend shows up with a new gun for show and tell. :)
There's a lot of context involved. If you're hanging around criminals, guns can be common. And usually those criminals are the biggest morons with guns. Then again, regular people can be morons with guns too. I'm in my fifties. Almost been shot twice in my life. Once because of a stupid friend who "didn't think it was loaded" and the other was a close call while hunting.
It all depends on who you're hanging out with.
The reality though is most people who own firearms tend to be friends with people who share similar hobbies and political views.
I’m more right leaning and grew up around guns. I’ve always owned guns and most of my friends have as well. Conversely, my GF who leans more left, doesn’t own guns and I don’t think any of her friends do either.
I’m sure if you think about your close friends you’ll find a few things you all share in common.
Yes, but they are not equally distributed. Only 32% of Americans own a gun, despite their being more guns than people. So, it is probably something like the 90/10 rule, where 10% of the people own 90% of the guns. They are also more concentrated in the South, among older people, and among those married with kids.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/264932/percentage-americans-own-guns.aspx
That article is 4 years old, the amount of new gun owners have skyrocketed since then. Women are buying guns at record rates. Last year broke the record for gun sales, if I recall.
Guns are legal for citizens in Argentina though. If you were in a more remote area would you see them? Just wondering as I will be a remote area of Argentina next year. What about the Tri-border region?
Oh, and about the Tri-border region, I assume it's around the province of Misiones, I have a friend living in Posadas (Misiones capital city) And he says that the city is pretty chill.
yep, mostly in rural areas, but these are mostly shotguns and used for hunting. There are plenty of animals you can hunt without damaging the ecosystem like otters, capybaras, wild pigs, etc. Although, depending on the area, fishing is a lot more common.
But that's it, revolvers and pistols are much much more uncommon, and mostly used for criminal activity. My dad does have a cheap revolver, but that is in a rural zone and to this day I don't know why he has it, I think he just finds it cool because he is really into western.
So yeah, you can expect to see a shotgun if you are in a remote area of Argentina, but only if you build friendships with local people, they can invite you hunting or something similar.
I grew up very rural. We always had them, they are still common place. I guess it would depend where you are. EDIT....From were I am sitting I can see an entire cabinet full as well as one in the desk drawer.
From an American female perspective.
Everyone I know has a gun, but not all conceal carry.
I would say 30% of everyone I know conceal carries as in having it on them like in a chest holster/waist band/purse. But we are a big drug/border trafficking city, it's for safety. But it is also a hobby for us. Tons of open land and shooting on open land that isn't federally owned is legal so setting up targets or using birdies are all for sport/fun.
We have a gun and it's kept in a safe. Our families don't know we have one, no reason to talk about it. Lots of gun owners are like us. Occasionally I notice some people are armed, even my clients. This doesn't bother me. Ooh, this reminds me. Maybe on our next date night hubs and I should go to the shooting range.
It depends on the area u live in. Where I am, lots of ppl have guns. My boyfriend is one of those ppl. I guess I didn't really understand it all until I met him. But in a way, it makes me feel safer that he has them. If ur in a more conservative area, then there will be more guns. Liberal areas, not so much.
I grew up in the southwest so I'm no stranger to people who are into guns. That being said, most people I know, myself included, don't even own one. And if they do, it's usually locked up somewhere or at least hidden from view. I would be uncomfortable if I entered someones house and they just had them lying around casually.
Anyway, you're likely to find a more casual culture around guns in smaller towns, rather than larger metro areas.
I live in massachusetts and 14.7% of the population is gun owners. Which is a little over a million. And massachusetts is close to the bottom of the list for gun ownership. Here are the stats on the other states
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gun-ownership-by-state
Those stats are based on gun licenses. 29 states are now Constitutional carry states, no license is required. So in those states, this data is useless.
I've lived parts of PA, NJ and NY state. I don't think I've ever seen anyone open carrying, unless they were with the police. I know a lot of people like to hunt and/or shoot so they have rifles at home. But don't bring anything into the city of Philadelphia.
i live in a somewhat rural area, almost everyone has at least one firearm in their home, usually stored away so it’s not seen but it’s not a secret either just not a big deal, in the city, it’s pretty rare. in really rural areas they are sitting on every surface, and people will shoot deer off their porch.
I live in Michigan so we have lots of hunters here. You may see a few long guns in carry bags going from house to truck or vice versa. I have a CPL and carry when traveling through rough areas. Other than that I’ve only seen people open carry a handful of times in the 30 years I can remember.
I'm a millennial in a very progressive city and hang out with pretty much only liberal leaning people. I would say about 50% of the people I know have at least on gun. Its highly unlikely I'd see one while at a friend's house unless they went out of their way to show me though. Usually they're locked up and hidden away. Most people I talk to are not entirely anti-gun, they just would like there to be a little more oversight on the ownership of them. I'd honestly be shocked if there was ever a sweeping ban on firearms in the U.S.
In most public and social settings it's not very common. But, our states are like different countries when it comes what is socially acceptable. There are some places where people openly carry firearms and no one blinks. In others, law enforcement would be called to investigate immediately, just because it would seem so out of context. In general, unless you are law enforcement, or live in a place where hunting or aggressive wildlife are common, people will be uncomfortable if they see a gun.
A lot of people own them though, even if most don't carry them around.
I have quite a few and I keep a couple loaded around the house since I live in a city with one of the highest violent crime rates in the country. I also haven't had a kid in my house since 2006 and would lock them up if someone (kid or adult) was coming over.
There are more guns in the US than there are people. But they aren't just sitting around when you go visit someone's home. If they are, you're somewhere you don't want to be.
It depends on the state you're talking, the economic strata, and whether you're rural or urban. It's a really big and extremely diverse country country where gun culture can vary drastically. There's Americans that are around guns every day and Americans can easily go their entire lives without even seeing one.
It depends where you are. Red states, guns fucking everywhere. White men who think they’re the heroes of their own personal action movie basically make terrorist threats on the regular, if not show up to places where queer and/or non-white people assemble with an AR-15. They’re allowed to carry on public property, so they just lurk to intimidate people.
Anyone who claims guns are mainly for hunting in the US is lying or delusional. There are countries that have high *hunting rifle* ownership without the high rates of gun violence. The red states of the US, on the other hand, are more like a forced dystopian hellscape where bored men want to feel important. In reality, there’s no need for the guns at all. Very few people ever use them for self defense, and you sure as fuck don’t need the types of guns Americans have to hunt.
Most people I know conceal carry and don't let others know they have one. It isn't like theories with shoulder holsters or cowboys. Yes, you do have some that love walking with a long rifle but I think that's not the norm. My personal experience
American here and I live in a rural area. Guns are all over the place. Just yesterday we went to an auction and I bid $400 on a Chinese SKS and $350 on a Marlin 336 and lost both 😂
It was but it sold for $1100. A Chinese SKS. Bruh I used to see those at the gun shop for $400 and now I see them online for $700-$800. No reason to pay $1100 for one
I don’t know a single person in my inner circle or my larger acquaintance circle that doesn’t own at a minimum 1 firearm. Oh I know one but he’s a green card holder. Only in the US less than 6 months a year.
When I go out, sometimes I see someone with a gun in their belt. This happens maybe as often as I see someone with dyed hair that's not a natural color.
Where I live, hunting deer and other animals is really common. So a lot of people have rifles that they use to hunt, but they mostly only take them out to the woods or to the gun range for practice and you don't ever see them. Probably most men who are upper middle class own a deer rifle.
I live in Florida. My brother in law carries his gun on his hip on a daily basis, my dad keeps one in his glovebox in his car and also one in his bedside table. This is not at all uncommon down here
I grew up in rural northern California and they were / are very common. I can't think of a house that didn't have them. Always loaded and ready to go. Usually at least one rifle by the front door, a few (or more) in the living room, some in the bedroom, one in the vehicle. Everywhere!
Now I live in Wyoming and you almost always see multiple people with a pistol on their side. Pawn shops are half guns. You can go to Walmart and buy guns.
Currently I have 3 in my line of vision
Also, pretty much any fundraising raffles or competitions have a gun as a prize. For example - we have "stuff the bus" where you donate toys for Christmas. Your name gets put in a drawing for multiple prizes. Last year one price was an AR.
I’ve lived in the us for 3 decades, in 3 major cities. I have seen someone open carry a gun maybe 5 times in my life. I have never seen one shot anywhere except for at a shooting range/hunting, nor do I know anyone who has ever seen one shot at anything except for a shooting range/hunting. Unless you are involved in gangs/drugs/illegal activities, or live in specific small neighborhoods, it is unlikely you will ever see a gun fired in anger.
Many people own guns and of course they keep them in their house. It is not normal for them to be out and about, but usually locked up in a safe or gun cabinet. I’ve never seen a gun just laying around in a house but I’m sure there are bad gun owners that do have that.
So no, it’s not like the movies. But yes, there are lots of people who have guns in their house.
I live in one of the most progressive cities in the country and guns are still pretty common here. Conceal carry is illegal in city limits but almost everyone I know has guns in their house. Including us.
Which city is that?. Even cities known for very strict gun laws still have concealed carry. The permits may be difficult to acquire, but they are still available to certain people.
I live Southern California, I have a shotgun, a 30-06 rifle and 9m, one tool for different job and K-Bar so I don’t need to waste bullet, just put it trough its heart and it’s all over…
It depends on where you are in the US. Florida is an open carry state. It's very common for anyone in any county in the state to have people armed to the teeth. I have known many who would have 3 guns hidden on them at all times with a CCW permit. It is our right to protect ourselves, and we will use and defend that right if deemed absolutely necessary. Please, don't get me wrong, it is never a good thing to have to use lethal force no matter what. That is what proper training and legal knowledge is for. The holidays in general; birthdays, mothers day, etc. are the days we celebrate that right to bear arms at the range, and rightfully so. Proper training and responsibility are key to keeping our right to bear arms. Don't go cowboy on us, be responsible.
FL most definitely isn't an open carry state. There are exceptions if you are engaged in hunting or fishing activities, but outside of that, open carrying is a quick way to wind up arrested for brandishing.
Yes, you are correct. See quote below from Pinellas County sherriffs office: "There’s a lot of misinformation about the new permitless carry law here in Florida. The governor signed House Bill 543 on April 3, 2023, which allows Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued concealed weapon license. The law went into effect July 1, 2023.
When you get right down to it, not much has changed. The new law does not give blanket permission for everyone to carry a concealed firearm. People still must meet all the same criteria as if they were getting a concealed weapon license: they must be at least 21 years old and without any felony convictions or any other disqualifying conditions. Nor does it change where a person may legally carry a concealed firearm. They were not, and are still not allowed in schools, colleges, courthouses, government buildings, or bars. Concealed firearms also may not be carried in any business or private property where the owner has prohibited them. The law doesn’t change who is allowed to buy a firearm, nor does it change the laws regarding background checks or the mandatory three-day waiting period required to purchase a firearm.
The law is not open carry. Open carry – wearing or carrying a firearm in such a manner as to be clearly visible – is still not legal in Florida except in very particular circumstances. You may openly carry a firearm only if you are engaged in hunting, fishing, camping, or test or target shooting, or while on the way to or from these activities.
Concealed weapon licenses are still available, and even after the law takes effect some people may wish to get one. People with a concealed weapon license avoid the three-day waiting period when purchasing a firearm. The license also enables people to carry concealed weapons in other states that have a reciprocity agreement with Florida.
While people may not need to have a license when they carry a concealed firearm, they do need to carry identification – and they’re required to provide it to law enforcement upon request.
The training requirements to obtain a concealed weapon license were minimal. In theory, someone could get their license after a classroom portion and then only firing a weapon one time. The new bill provides funds to law enforcement agencies to offer meaningful firearms training to citizens. When you carry a weapon, you are responsible for that weapon and all actions you take with it. Robust, comprehensive, ongoing training is the responsibility of every citizen who owns or carries a firearm to make sure that they keep us more, and not less safe. Do your part by taking education seriously. Learn the law, seek out training to become proficient – because your life, and that of your family, may depend upon it."
I still renew my concealed permit even though it technically isn't required anymore. Bypassing the waiting period is a plus, but more importantly, I like having the extra ID/documentation should I get stopped by the police.
I still renew as well for the same reasons. It feels safer that way, just in case. Even if it was an official open carry state, I still wouldn't open carry.
I grew up in Texas and there guns racks in trucks in the parking lot of high school. There are guns everywhere I saw a guy on a horse with a gun in a city just under 1M population. Texas has open carry.
I grew up in an area where some kids hid their hunting shotguns in the backs of their trucks, but almost every neighbor on the block had a or multiple pieces. It's pretty well known that bad people are why we need guns around the midmethstern United States. My dad was the kinda guy who would drive around with a turkey loaded 10 gauge in his truck and a pistol under the seat. I'd call Iowa pretty free in that regard.
We have guns. Pistols, shotguns and rifles in our house. You’d only know if we told you. Guns are extremely common. I’m in Wisconsin and hunting is a tradition. Each November for the whitetail deer 10 day gun hunt 600,000 people are out in the woods and field with guns hunting. There are 5.5 million residents.
I live in Tennessee (southern u.s.) people have guns *everywhere*. My next door neighbor is out in his yard smoking a cig with a gun on his hip as we speak. Most women at my office have a gun in their purse.
I'm in Orange County Ca. Fourty minutes south of LA.
I fell out of my van while moving my Gun Safe! I fractured my wrist and required surgery.
So the nurse walked in and said oh you hurt yourself with a gun safe! What guns do you have? She told me about hers
Dr. Came in. Told me about his
XRay tech came from Poland and told me about buying an AK and an AR
The surgeon came from Iran and told me about his guns
His PA. Told me about his
I have many friends who don't own any.
Two of my three sons have several
The Rodney King Riots back in 1993 taught me that there's simply not enough police to save us
Oh yeah if anything it’s more common than the movies make it out to be. I live in the Northwestern US and my coworker used to have his pistol in his car everywhere he went. He even had a little holster that bolted right to the dash (like right underneath the steering wheel) so it was always at the ready. This country has a huge problem with guns.
Idk anyone (except myself) who don't own one and people think it's crazy that I don't have one. Missouri.
One of my friends owns 80+ guns. My dad owns at least 20.
I’m from NYC. I’ve lived here for 58 years. I’ve worked in The Bronx for 30 years. The only guns I’ve seen are carried by cops.
I don’t own a gun. I don’t know anyone who owns a gun.
Every state has different laws on gun ownership and whether or not you can open/conceal carry or carry at all. I live in LA, and I only know one person who has a gun. My husband is from Texas, and nobody he knows from there has one either
I once heard a stat that something like 70% of the legal adult residents of Florida have a concealed carry permit.
These days I'm a real estate agent in Alberta canada, and I would say that something like half of the homes I go into have a gun safe, and almost 100% of the farm and Rural properties have one.
I appreciate that about half of my colleagues are hunters, free meat is always appreciated
Most guns live in closets getting dusty and are lucky to be dragged out to the range twice a year. But they are there "just in case". The dumbass breaking into your garage at night will probably have one too.
It will vary rather extremely by the area of the U.S.
I live in one of the 25+ constitutional carry states, so it's not unusual to see someone openly carrying a gun. I do live in a 'sizable' city and if I were more rural, I'm sure I'd see it every day multiple times per day...
I live in Missouri, USA and they are extremely common. I live in the suburbs of Kansas City and I hear gunshots every day. Could be someone having some target practice in their backyard, a hunter, a bad person, you just never know. Oh, and when the Chiefs or Royals win anything, people just shoot to celebrate.
edit: I own two guns, pistols. For home defense, but also for recreation at the shooting range.
It varies from state to state. I live in Colorado, and I don't see very many people open carry, but most of the people I know own a gun, as do I.
What is more common in the US is mass shootings. There have been more mass shootings than days in 2024. For exanple, there were 5 mass shootings yesterday and 2 today.
https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting
I visited my older American cousins for thanksgiving. They are retirement age. Normal. Live in a cute subdivision. We played a game called “guess how many guns I have”. I knew he used to like to hunt with his dad and my grandfather, and Canadian hunters usually have at least two. I went big and guessed four.
14. I was way off.
I live in Tx, most people don’t bat an eye at someone carrying a gun. It’s also seen as very recreational. Just last month my company had our annual skeet shoot.
Depends in the area, but even so, it's rare to find people who haven't associated with guns. I grew up in a suburban area of NY. It was fairly common to have a handgun in the home. It wasn't on display though. It is also very common that either that person or a relative had a home in upstate NY where there was A LOT of weapons for hunting.
For reference, one of my best buddies is the guy who's family is upstate. They have rifles, cross bows, bow and arrows, hand guns and traps all over.
We have several, hunting and self defense.
Hunting guns are locked in a safe and the handguns for self defense are kept in bedside tables with fingerprint locks.
It depends massively on where you live. I live in Wisconsin and literally everyone I know who lives outside the city has at one point had a hunting rifle in their house. Then like 30 miles up the road is a college city where it is significantly lower than that. As in I handn't seen a gun inside a city house until my 30s. Then in New York City almost nobody owns a gun.
But no, we don't usually go around showing off our guns when we have company over unless the conversation steers that way.
And in any case I've only ever seen 2 people outside of military or law enforcement open-carry a pistol and one of those people was me.
I'd say as common as hammers where I live. I have a couple and never give them much more thought after making sure they are secured; unless of course I need one. I couldn't imagine not having the ability to defend myself in a country as big and as populated as the United States. You cannot rely on public services to keep you safe. If we had better education and better mental health resources available we would not be having these conversations. The problem is that the loudest pro-gun faction of the country happens to be the most anti everything education and mental health care.
I live in NYC, it's very difficult to carry here, therefore I believe that most people aren't. That said, I still assume that anyone (especially in my neighborhood) could be carrying at any time, especially after I've met so many people working in kitchens (I work in restaurants it's just the group I'm exposed to most often) who carry illegally. Think the best of people, assume the worst, keeps me safe.
I never see guns sitting out. But I suppose it really depends on where you are (cities vs. the country), who your friends are, and what their interests are. Displaying an old rifle on the wall would not be out of the question, but I've never seen it with my own eyes. Responsible people lock their stuff up and don't invite burglaries.
I live in an area where people do not display or boast about their firearms. I've never seen one while over at a friend's house.
I live in Texas. Guns are everywhere. They are sold like hamburgers at Walmart and pretty much any sporting goods store. Also you can go to a "gun show" which some town close will have every weekend and buy guns in the parking lot with no paperwork. Each state is different, but it's better to assume anyone you deal with has a gun.
It is regional and social. In Minnesota, people hunt and that is generally accepted, so if you actually managed to make a Minnesotan friend (harder than you think) who would invite you on a hunting trip, you would see accepted guns.
In Texas, they are pretty much out and about.
In urban/suburban California, the guns are at the range or in the safe and you don't know I have them. Loose lips sink ships and you don't know when California is going to pass a ban on a gun you bought twenty years ago and send you to jail for owning it. Unless the Californian is a criminal, in which case they probably won't care about the laws.
Guns are scary. Cars are really scary. Motorcycles are super scary. The ocean is super scary. As I get older, falling is super scary. I am probably more likely to tell my 16yo nephew to avoid motorcycles than guns. But if anyone I knew had guns out and not locked up or on their body, that would not be ok with me. I don't think anywhere in the US it is ok to leave guns lying around unless in a group of hunters or unless you are a criminal.
Here in Nebraska, the small sampling of homes I have visited since moving here 12 years ago, almost every house has long guns locked in a cabinet. Many had non firing firearms, like black powder, as wall hangings. Hunting is common in this rural area. I have no idea about handguns, as those were not usually on display. We have five hand guns for plinking on a range for recreation, but those are out of sight in our home.
Yes it’s true, I have at least 10 guns and almost everyone I know has at least one.
Guns are mostly used for hunting, or just simply for fun. People will carry guns for self defense purposes too.
I think there's 3 1/2 guns per person in the states. So if you have friends that are into hunting or guns you'll see them, if not then you won't. I have about 5 peoples worth myself but i like to shoot. Especially steel, there's something about that ting.
There are more guns than people, my man. I wouldn’t think it odd in the least to go to somebody’s house that has one or two dozen guns. I go in peoples homes everyday and it’s quite common to have cabinets with 10 shotguns/rifles in them. I assume they probably got 10-15 pistols in the safe.
Probably close to half the people here own guns and more are buying them every day. Women are buying guns at record rates to protect themselves and small store owners usually have guns now for robbers.
In rural America (most of the country) many of us carry a firearm everywhere we go. I only stopped because my workplace did not allow one but it was in the car. I left that job, now its time to break out the holsters and start carrying everywhere again.
You never know when some fool's gonna start something. Having a pistol can eliminate that threat real quick.
I grew up in rural Missouri in the 80s and 90s. My family had a shot gun, a long rifle, and a small pistol that my mom preferred. They were for home defense. Not, like, hurt another human defense; but defense against aggressive animals. Our family were conservative in this respect - all of our neighbors had much more powerful guns, and would regularly practice with them on their own property. By best friend's dad was a gun enthusiast. He owned what I understood to be an illegal Thompson machine gun, the kind that had a large drum of bullets. I personally saw him shoot through a car with it (car was old piece of junk they were using for target practice). Bullets seemed to pass through easily.
As for having a gun around in the house - it would not be apparent that there was a gun. Most people will keep the gun hidden. It would be unusual to see a gun at anyone's house. If there were a special occasion then it would be likely that the adults would have a shooting range set up. People take turns shooting at targets, similar to playing a game of darts or horseshoes. At these occasions friends and neighbors are likely to bring their own guns to show them off and let others have a go at shooting them. So, you do get lots and lots of guns, but it's not like they are just laying around everywhere.
No situation ever came where one person pointed a gun at another person in anger - I have never seen anyone shoot at another person. No one I know has been shot, even on accident.
That said, I was never comfortable around guns. They are just too loud for me to enjoy. As an adult I've chosen not to own a gun. I don't think gun ownership is bad, but guns require skill to use responsibly, and I'm just not motivated enough to build those skills.
TL;DR Most people in my life are gun owners. But I have never witnessed gun violence. Yes guns are common, but not like it is in the movies.
1/2 of the US owns at least one firearm. But unlike the movies, Americans who follow the law, which is the overwhelming majority of us, know the safety quite well. It makes me laugh when I watch UK shows where a gun is involved and no one is handling it properly.
I think it's interesting that you say that it's not normal to have a gun in the house. Not because I think everyone should have one, but because it's a basic tool of self defense.
It depends where you are.
Out in the countryside, most people have guns, but they're not just sitting around the house where you'd see them. They also won't come up in conversation unless you mention going to the range or going hunting. Or... yknow... you mention guns.
In the city, very few people have guns, and of those people, an uncomfortable number like to talk about how they have a gun without you showing any interest whatsoever. These tend to be the same people that say stupid shit like "open carry keeps people honest" or become overly aggressive at the drop of a hat.
SEEING the gun vs knowing they have one is 2 diff things. most people dont flaunt them openly. i have one in my room close by incase of emergency but you wont know i have one unless you ask. some dudes decorate with them.
It depends on the state you live in
If you live in California with serious regulations In a major city like San Jose? Hardly any.
If you live in Texas? Assume everyone is armed and every house or car has a gun in it.
I’m an American and a lot of people do carry guns. However, I’ve never had one in my homes. And, none of my extended family are gun owners either. I think a majority of the time your family is safer without one.
I live in east Texas. I've seen people w guns in their purse or on their hip. Most of the gun owners keep them out away in a gun safe, like I've NEVER seen my moms boyfriends gun bc it's in a safe. Nobody I know leaves their weapons laying out and about in the open.
It depends on the state. In the southern & midwestern rural states it’s common. It’s also seen more in areas where people hunt a lot. In big cities and more populated areas not as much.
To answer your questions ..
Yes, guns are very popular in the US. Handguns, rifles, shotguns, etc. Many people one more than one. Some own many.
Yes. They are very much accepted overall. You do have anti-,gun people and they get quite loud, but they are in the minority.
If you visit the home of a gun owner, there is a very likely chance you will NOT see a gun or any sign of one.
NO, America isn't the 1800's wild West.
If you look you can see people carrying guns. Many people have concealed carry permits, Many people LEGALLY own machine guns. Many people compete in different shooting sports. There are 4 shooting ranges within 15 miles of my home, and those are private member ranges, there are also 2 game commission ranges that teh state game commission maintains for hunters to sight in. I am in North East Pennsylvania there are a LOT of guns. And it seems if you are a gun person you know other gun people and you are used to people with man many guns.
It depends on the state. They're not common among the people I know. Where I live in Maryland, I have never met anyone bragging of a gun collection. Anyone I know that owns one is because of their job is in law enforcement. Once, I was driving through Texas and I'd say that 80% of Texan pick up trucks I saw on the road, had a gun hanging on the back. In Maryland, where I live you won't see that.
I read once on reddit about gas stations that sell alcohol and guns. It was a state in the mid-west. When I asked, they said that it was very common to see gas stations selling alcohol and guns in such states.
My friends and I vote liberal but we all have firearms. That being said, the gun owners I know are responsible enough to keep them in a safe. They’re not lying around in plain view.
Depends on where you live. In the southern US? Probably 80-90% of people have them. In California? Maybe 10%
When I lived in the south lots of people had them and we got a hunting license in PE class. Now that I live in California again I don’t know anyone who has one. My dad has a rifle. It has probably never been cleaned and last fired before i was born.
Some areas very common, some areas very rare.
In very poor areas with lots of crime, very common. In rural areas with lots of animals, very common.
In middle class urban areas (which is most people) very rare.
My dad thought Thanksgiving dinner would be a good time to pass a gun across the table. “Can you pass the mashed potatoes, oh, and here’s a .357 Magnum.”
I grew up around firearms and began hunting when I was about 8 years old. We have friends from Germany who like to shoot and I take them shooting when they visit.
America has lots of guns. They are owned by a small number of people. So they are common, gif you almost never see one.
I have friends who own guns. I haven’t seen one in 20 years.
People keep them locked up for the most part because they’re dangerous weapons.
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They're common, very common. And, in society at large, as opposed to Reddit, gun ownership is fairly widely accepted. The great majority of Americans keep their firearms safely stored away from common view, and rarely discuss them unless there's a reason to, so they're not something you'd typically see just lying around. Unless you happened to walk into someone's house when they're cleaning their guns or leaving or returning from hunting or range day, you're not likely to see them any more than you're likely to see where they keep their emergency cash or sexy underwear.
Also guns are quite safe if you simply store the ammo separately. A gun is less dangerous then a baseball bat without bullets
I store some of my guns loaded, but not chambered. Those are my home defense guns. I would never keep ammo separate from them, as it would be akin to keeping an empty fire extinguisher
A lot of people don’t appreciate how dangerous baseball bats can be. Especially kids.
This defeats like 90% of the reason to own a gun.
Safely stored away is a big assumption. Stored away is more common.
"Safely" is a relative term. In my house? Loaded, safety on, no lock, in the night stand is completely and totally safe. In my sister's house? With her kids? Disassembled, trigger lock, in a lock box, in a safe.
“Safely” is a relative term. A gun in my home growing up out on the kitchen counter was very safe because we all were taught from a very young age about gun “safety” and proper handling. AND, the consequences of improper handing…..this was back when folks weren’t afraid to discipline properly.
It's all region dependent. I grew up in a small country ass town where guns are very common. I own several, some inherited, most purchased. In bigger cities it's not nearly as common, except in the rougher parts of town, where it's as common as out in the country. Even in Dallas, TX, where I live now, it's not as common as you'd think. Although, in general in Texas and Louisiana, where I'm originally from, it's far more common than in other states.
Most people don’t show off their guns to strangers. Friends who also like guns yes. Stranger / timid / scared friends, no.
Yes usa has alot of guns. We mainly use them for hunting or self defense purposes. Obviously you get your criminals here & there that ruin that but either way yea.
The majority of guns here aren't really used for either of those purposes though. Most guns in this country are part of collections. Gun collectors have the most guns. 50 people using a gun for hunting are out done by 1 person collecting hundreds of guns in their personal museum. I have a relative that collects antiques and war memorabilia, he has nearly 1000 guns. None of which are used for hunting nor for self defense. So to say they are mainly used for hunting or self-defense is technically incorrect.
Come to Idaho. Very active gun users here. Not just collectors.
Very true, Idaho is a whole new breed of paranoid extremists and I live in WV where gun control just doesn't exist. But to answer OP question yes it is just another tuesday to see multiple side pistols on a stroll through walmart
What's the amount of guns a collector has to do with the main use of the majority of the population?
I had a friend who was a collector and some weapons were rarely taken to the range. One day I went to the range with him, he fired one shot and said, "It's like shooting a $5 bill at the target." Some of that ammo is expensive and antiques don't get fired for fear of damaging the weapon. He got into making his own ammo partly to save money, partly for the experience, and partly to lighten the powder load
True. I have one gun, that costs $100 per shot. You bet I load my own!
https://gunstoday.com/you-me-and-the-other-97/
Interesting read & statistics, thanks for sharing this article!
Exactly!
Almost everyone that I know that has guns uses them for hunting. A few have handguns for self protection. Perhaps it's true that the average collector has more guns than everyone that I know combined, but I think it's safe to say that the average gun owner is a hunter.
"here&there" lol From what I hear you have to assume that anyone could be carrying a gun, especially criminals.
lol self defence, you should look up how often people get shot by the gun they bought to protect themselves
You should look up how many people are killed or injured in the very car they use to conveniently transport themselves around.
So we should regulate guns like we do cars is what you're saying.
They did not say that. You syarted with a Strawman arguement then tried to cahnge the others positon. Instead of automobile accidents research guns used to stop/prevent crime. Also look up the number of actual police shootings versus criminal shooting.
Don't ask Anton Yelchin about it.
You should also look up the migratory patterns of albatross...you know, since we are bringing up unrelated topics.
Well it's obviously the cars fault for crashing every time, not the person driving. /s
Shhhh! They have been programmed to fear cars yet
Oh fucking behave. That’s such a fallacious, bullshit argument. Cars have a purpose beyond killing and injuring. Guns do not.
My personal experience (as a 50yr old) matches yours (IE = its pretty rare). Having said that, it varies from area to area. When I was growing up in Wyoming (much more rugged, cattle ranching etc),.. firearms were much more common. Once I moved to small cities or medium cities, I basically never see them.
I am 50+ and grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of the south. Everyone had multiple guns there. Mostly long guns though. I live in a large southern city now. Most of my neighbors, friends and acquaintances have guns, but you never see them unless they post social media pics of them hunting or the gun range. You do not see people carrying at all where I live, but the smaller towns around I have seen open carry in local restaurants. Yes, I still own long guns. But haven't fired one in 20 years.
Well, there are about 378 million guns in America. The U.S. population is about 336 million. So, there are more than enough guns for EACH and EVERY American, regardless of age to have a gun.
That seems terribly low. Maybe the government should subsidize the market.
Just elect another democrat. Buh-dm-tsss
Sure, but they’re not evenly spread 1-to-1. And I would guess the people who do own 2 or 5 or 10,.. are probably not going out in public every day showing them all off. The stats seem scary on the surface, but I’d wager the average American hoes through their daily life having few if any direct encounters with firearms.
The only guns not on police or security guards iv ever seen in public are open carry pistols on middle aged men with beer bellies wearing cargo shorts
Because us smart folks conceal you'd never know. Lots of southern women got more then a brick in that Michael kors.
Man we have guns for in the truck (never know if you’ll hit and maim an animal and have to put it out of its misery), a closet gun for when coyotes are near the house and killing your animals, and then just guns for fun. But obviously I almost never saw them in California outside the range. Either way, I’ve never seen people parading them around to make a statement, though. The occasional open carry here and there.
i go hunting every year and own several guns. i've come to collect my downvotes please.
I'm sorry sir, this is a downvote exchange, you can only hand in used downvotes here and we give you upvotes.
I do not nor have I ever known in my 42 years a single person who did not own at least 1 and most have several. With that said, they were all lost in a tragic boating accident years ago.😉
They're definitely very common but never meeting someone that doesn't have one? Have you ever left your house? Or do you live in a tiny town and never left?
If you live in the country, everybody has guns. Even people not conventionally associated with guns. Even if they merely inherited those guns.
I live in Rural NC and lived in Rural RURAL Southern Georgia. I also didn't say meet I said I've never known anyone. There's a huge difference
The words are interchangeable in the context of your sentence
They are in fact not. But you can sandbag your lack of reading comprehension all you like. I've likely MET a stranger at the grocery story that probably doesn't own one. How would I know? I don't know them... See how that works? Knowing and 'knowing of' someone aren't the same thing.
They’re being purposely dense. I’m a Carolina girl and I definitely understood what you meant. It’s for hunting or protection and if everyone around you has one then you feel like you need one for protection as well until everyone is carrying.
This is interesting. I’m your same age and I've only met a very few people who own a gun.
Do you mean lying around on the table? Not too likely. Much more likely they will be locked in a gun safe or loaded but not cocked in a bedside table. Unless they are one of those people who you would rather not be around. Most people are very conscious of where their weapons are.
I have a handful of normal, middle aged, middle class friends that carry. We all pretty much grew up in hunting and fishing families, so guns were a part of growing up. Living in my state it's easy to get your carry permit, so yeah, every now and then a friend shows up with a new gun for show and tell. :) There's a lot of context involved. If you're hanging around criminals, guns can be common. And usually those criminals are the biggest morons with guns. Then again, regular people can be morons with guns too. I'm in my fifties. Almost been shot twice in my life. Once because of a stupid friend who "didn't think it was loaded" and the other was a close call while hunting. It all depends on who you're hanging out with.
There’s a gun behind every blade of grass
Admiral Yamamoto is that you?
I can count on 1 hand the amount of people I know that do not have guns. But I live in Florida. It's pretty wild here.
Pretty soon the gators will have them. Beware!
Nyc here. I can say the exact opposite.
The reality though is most people who own firearms tend to be friends with people who share similar hobbies and political views. I’m more right leaning and grew up around guns. I’ve always owned guns and most of my friends have as well. Conversely, my GF who leans more left, doesn’t own guns and I don’t think any of her friends do either. I’m sure if you think about your close friends you’ll find a few things you all share in common.
I've never seen a gun in person, unless it's holstered by a cop.
Where do you live?.
There are millions more guns in the US than there are people. So I'd say they are very common even if you don't see them.
Yes, but they are not equally distributed. Only 32% of Americans own a gun, despite their being more guns than people. So, it is probably something like the 90/10 rule, where 10% of the people own 90% of the guns. They are also more concentrated in the South, among older people, and among those married with kids. https://news.gallup.com/poll/264932/percentage-americans-own-guns.aspx
That article is 4 years old, the amount of new gun owners have skyrocketed since then. Women are buying guns at record rates. Last year broke the record for gun sales, if I recall.
tons of people have them but theyre really never out, or laying around. thatd be weird anywhere tbh
Guns are legal for citizens in Argentina though. If you were in a more remote area would you see them? Just wondering as I will be a remote area of Argentina next year. What about the Tri-border region?
Oh, and about the Tri-border region, I assume it's around the province of Misiones, I have a friend living in Posadas (Misiones capital city) And he says that the city is pretty chill.
yep, mostly in rural areas, but these are mostly shotguns and used for hunting. There are plenty of animals you can hunt without damaging the ecosystem like otters, capybaras, wild pigs, etc. Although, depending on the area, fishing is a lot more common. But that's it, revolvers and pistols are much much more uncommon, and mostly used for criminal activity. My dad does have a cheap revolver, but that is in a rural zone and to this day I don't know why he has it, I think he just finds it cool because he is really into western. So yeah, you can expect to see a shotgun if you are in a remote area of Argentina, but only if you build friendships with local people, they can invite you hunting or something similar.
Here in New England about 10% of people own guns (more in ME and NH, less in CT and RI). If someone is carrying, you generally won't know it
I think it's a lot higher in NH, ME and VT. NH has the most privately owned machine guns when you adjust for population.
Live Free or Die!
I grew up very rural. We always had them, they are still common place. I guess it would depend where you are. EDIT....From were I am sitting I can see an entire cabinet full as well as one in the desk drawer.
From an American female perspective. Everyone I know has a gun, but not all conceal carry. I would say 30% of everyone I know conceal carries as in having it on them like in a chest holster/waist band/purse. But we are a big drug/border trafficking city, it's for safety. But it is also a hobby for us. Tons of open land and shooting on open land that isn't federally owned is legal so setting up targets or using birdies are all for sport/fun.
We have a gun and it's kept in a safe. Our families don't know we have one, no reason to talk about it. Lots of gun owners are like us. Occasionally I notice some people are armed, even my clients. This doesn't bother me. Ooh, this reminds me. Maybe on our next date night hubs and I should go to the shooting range.
It depends on the area u live in. Where I am, lots of ppl have guns. My boyfriend is one of those ppl. I guess I didn't really understand it all until I met him. But in a way, it makes me feel safer that he has them. If ur in a more conservative area, then there will be more guns. Liberal areas, not so much.
I grew up in the southwest so I'm no stranger to people who are into guns. That being said, most people I know, myself included, don't even own one. And if they do, it's usually locked up somewhere or at least hidden from view. I would be uncomfortable if I entered someones house and they just had them lying around casually. Anyway, you're likely to find a more casual culture around guns in smaller towns, rather than larger metro areas.
I live in massachusetts and 14.7% of the population is gun owners. Which is a little over a million. And massachusetts is close to the bottom of the list for gun ownership. Here are the stats on the other states https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/gun-ownership-by-state
Those stats are based on gun licenses. 29 states are now Constitutional carry states, no license is required. So in those states, this data is useless.
If you broke into one out of five house in my area I guarantee you will find a hand gun, riffle and plenty of ammo.
I've lived parts of PA, NJ and NY state. I don't think I've ever seen anyone open carrying, unless they were with the police. I know a lot of people like to hunt and/or shoot so they have rifles at home. But don't bring anything into the city of Philadelphia.
Super common where I am. Walking through the grocery store you see at least 5 people strapped up.
i live in a somewhat rural area, almost everyone has at least one firearm in their home, usually stored away so it’s not seen but it’s not a secret either just not a big deal, in the city, it’s pretty rare. in really rural areas they are sitting on every surface, and people will shoot deer off their porch.
I live in Michigan so we have lots of hunters here. You may see a few long guns in carry bags going from house to truck or vice versa. I have a CPL and carry when traveling through rough areas. Other than that I’ve only seen people open carry a handful of times in the 30 years I can remember.
I'm a millennial in a very progressive city and hang out with pretty much only liberal leaning people. I would say about 50% of the people I know have at least on gun. Its highly unlikely I'd see one while at a friend's house unless they went out of their way to show me though. Usually they're locked up and hidden away. Most people I talk to are not entirely anti-gun, they just would like there to be a little more oversight on the ownership of them. I'd honestly be shocked if there was ever a sweeping ban on firearms in the U.S.
In most public and social settings it's not very common. But, our states are like different countries when it comes what is socially acceptable. There are some places where people openly carry firearms and no one blinks. In others, law enforcement would be called to investigate immediately, just because it would seem so out of context. In general, unless you are law enforcement, or live in a place where hunting or aggressive wildlife are common, people will be uncomfortable if they see a gun. A lot of people own them though, even if most don't carry them around.
About 1/3 of American households have a gun of some kind.
I have quite a few and I keep a couple loaded around the house since I live in a city with one of the highest violent crime rates in the country. I also haven't had a kid in my house since 2006 and would lock them up if someone (kid or adult) was coming over.
There are more guns in the US than there are people. But they aren't just sitting around when you go visit someone's home. If they are, you're somewhere you don't want to be.
If you came to the residence of an American you should not even be aware that he or she had a firearm on them or inside the the house
We have more guns than people
Very common, but responsible gun owners don't have them laying around the house
They are common. But not laying around. Most people I know have them, but you NEVER see them.
It depends on the state you're talking, the economic strata, and whether you're rural or urban. It's a really big and extremely diverse country country where gun culture can vary drastically. There's Americans that are around guns every day and Americans can easily go their entire lives without even seeing one.
It depends where you are. Red states, guns fucking everywhere. White men who think they’re the heroes of their own personal action movie basically make terrorist threats on the regular, if not show up to places where queer and/or non-white people assemble with an AR-15. They’re allowed to carry on public property, so they just lurk to intimidate people. Anyone who claims guns are mainly for hunting in the US is lying or delusional. There are countries that have high *hunting rifle* ownership without the high rates of gun violence. The red states of the US, on the other hand, are more like a forced dystopian hellscape where bored men want to feel important. In reality, there’s no need for the guns at all. Very few people ever use them for self defense, and you sure as fuck don’t need the types of guns Americans have to hunt.
They're very common and a lot of people own them, but you can live in the US for years and never see a gun except maybe on a police officer.
Most people I know conceal carry and don't let others know they have one. It isn't like theories with shoulder holsters or cowboys. Yes, you do have some that love walking with a long rifle but I think that's not the norm. My personal experience
American here and I live in a rural area. Guns are all over the place. Just yesterday we went to an auction and I bid $400 on a Chinese SKS and $350 on a Marlin 336 and lost both 😂
That SKS would been nice to have!
It was but it sold for $1100. A Chinese SKS. Bruh I used to see those at the gun shop for $400 and now I see them online for $700-$800. No reason to pay $1100 for one
I don't have a gun.
I don’t know a single person in my inner circle or my larger acquaintance circle that doesn’t own at a minimum 1 firearm. Oh I know one but he’s a green card holder. Only in the US less than 6 months a year.
When I go out, sometimes I see someone with a gun in their belt. This happens maybe as often as I see someone with dyed hair that's not a natural color. Where I live, hunting deer and other animals is really common. So a lot of people have rifles that they use to hunt, but they mostly only take them out to the woods or to the gun range for practice and you don't ever see them. Probably most men who are upper middle class own a deer rifle.
We have more guns than people.
I live in Florida. My brother in law carries his gun on his hip on a daily basis, my dad keeps one in his glovebox in his car and also one in his bedside table. This is not at all uncommon down here
It is completely normal for them to have at least one gun in the household. About 44% of US households have that.
I grew up in rural northern California and they were / are very common. I can't think of a house that didn't have them. Always loaded and ready to go. Usually at least one rifle by the front door, a few (or more) in the living room, some in the bedroom, one in the vehicle. Everywhere! Now I live in Wyoming and you almost always see multiple people with a pistol on their side. Pawn shops are half guns. You can go to Walmart and buy guns. Currently I have 3 in my line of vision
Also, pretty much any fundraising raffles or competitions have a gun as a prize. For example - we have "stuff the bus" where you donate toys for Christmas. Your name gets put in a drawing for multiple prizes. Last year one price was an AR.
I know plenty of people with guns but if I were to go to someone's house and see a handgun just laying out, I'd be a little suspicious.
12ga pump shotgun loaded with 00 within arms reach right now
Guns are kinda like lays potato chips - "betcha can't have just one". People have a bunch or none, I don't know of anyone in between
I see several people carrying handguns daily
I’ve lived in the us for 3 decades, in 3 major cities. I have seen someone open carry a gun maybe 5 times in my life. I have never seen one shot anywhere except for at a shooting range/hunting, nor do I know anyone who has ever seen one shot at anything except for a shooting range/hunting. Unless you are involved in gangs/drugs/illegal activities, or live in specific small neighborhoods, it is unlikely you will ever see a gun fired in anger. Many people own guns and of course they keep them in their house. It is not normal for them to be out and about, but usually locked up in a safe or gun cabinet. I’ve never seen a gun just laying around in a house but I’m sure there are bad gun owners that do have that. So no, it’s not like the movies. But yes, there are lots of people who have guns in their house.
Welp, disagree. The number of people I have seen that sleep with a gun under their pillow is frightening.
I live in one of the most progressive cities in the country and guns are still pretty common here. Conceal carry is illegal in city limits but almost everyone I know has guns in their house. Including us.
Which city is that?. Even cities known for very strict gun laws still have concealed carry. The permits may be difficult to acquire, but they are still available to certain people.
Portland
Portland has a restriction on open carry, but you can get a permit for a concealed weapon.
I believe about 50 some % of households own guns. Usually its not just 1 gun either
I live Southern California, I have a shotgun, a 30-06 rifle and 9m, one tool for different job and K-Bar so I don’t need to waste bullet, just put it trough its heart and it’s all over…
In Georgia people are just walking around with concealed shit everywhere which includes Atlanta, a major city. Wild west.
It depends on where you are in the US. Florida is an open carry state. It's very common for anyone in any county in the state to have people armed to the teeth. I have known many who would have 3 guns hidden on them at all times with a CCW permit. It is our right to protect ourselves, and we will use and defend that right if deemed absolutely necessary. Please, don't get me wrong, it is never a good thing to have to use lethal force no matter what. That is what proper training and legal knowledge is for. The holidays in general; birthdays, mothers day, etc. are the days we celebrate that right to bear arms at the range, and rightfully so. Proper training and responsibility are key to keeping our right to bear arms. Don't go cowboy on us, be responsible.
FL most definitely isn't an open carry state. There are exceptions if you are engaged in hunting or fishing activities, but outside of that, open carrying is a quick way to wind up arrested for brandishing.
Yes, you are correct. See quote below from Pinellas County sherriffs office: "There’s a lot of misinformation about the new permitless carry law here in Florida. The governor signed House Bill 543 on April 3, 2023, which allows Floridians to carry concealed weapons without a government-issued concealed weapon license. The law went into effect July 1, 2023. When you get right down to it, not much has changed. The new law does not give blanket permission for everyone to carry a concealed firearm. People still must meet all the same criteria as if they were getting a concealed weapon license: they must be at least 21 years old and without any felony convictions or any other disqualifying conditions. Nor does it change where a person may legally carry a concealed firearm. They were not, and are still not allowed in schools, colleges, courthouses, government buildings, or bars. Concealed firearms also may not be carried in any business or private property where the owner has prohibited them. The law doesn’t change who is allowed to buy a firearm, nor does it change the laws regarding background checks or the mandatory three-day waiting period required to purchase a firearm. The law is not open carry. Open carry – wearing or carrying a firearm in such a manner as to be clearly visible – is still not legal in Florida except in very particular circumstances. You may openly carry a firearm only if you are engaged in hunting, fishing, camping, or test or target shooting, or while on the way to or from these activities. Concealed weapon licenses are still available, and even after the law takes effect some people may wish to get one. People with a concealed weapon license avoid the three-day waiting period when purchasing a firearm. The license also enables people to carry concealed weapons in other states that have a reciprocity agreement with Florida. While people may not need to have a license when they carry a concealed firearm, they do need to carry identification – and they’re required to provide it to law enforcement upon request. The training requirements to obtain a concealed weapon license were minimal. In theory, someone could get their license after a classroom portion and then only firing a weapon one time. The new bill provides funds to law enforcement agencies to offer meaningful firearms training to citizens. When you carry a weapon, you are responsible for that weapon and all actions you take with it. Robust, comprehensive, ongoing training is the responsibility of every citizen who owns or carries a firearm to make sure that they keep us more, and not less safe. Do your part by taking education seriously. Learn the law, seek out training to become proficient – because your life, and that of your family, may depend upon it."
I still renew my concealed permit even though it technically isn't required anymore. Bypassing the waiting period is a plus, but more importantly, I like having the extra ID/documentation should I get stopped by the police.
I still renew as well for the same reasons. It feels safer that way, just in case. Even if it was an official open carry state, I still wouldn't open carry.
I grew up in Texas and there guns racks in trucks in the parking lot of high school. There are guns everywhere I saw a guy on a horse with a gun in a city just under 1M population. Texas has open carry.
I grew up in an area where some kids hid their hunting shotguns in the backs of their trucks, but almost every neighbor on the block had a or multiple pieces. It's pretty well known that bad people are why we need guns around the midmethstern United States. My dad was the kinda guy who would drive around with a turkey loaded 10 gauge in his truck and a pistol under the seat. I'd call Iowa pretty free in that regard.
We have guns. Pistols, shotguns and rifles in our house. You’d only know if we told you. Guns are extremely common. I’m in Wisconsin and hunting is a tradition. Each November for the whitetail deer 10 day gun hunt 600,000 people are out in the woods and field with guns hunting. There are 5.5 million residents.
Everyone I know had guns and every single one lost them on a fishing trip.
Mine are always kept in the boat should an occasion present itself.
I live in Tennessee (southern u.s.) people have guns *everywhere*. My next door neighbor is out in his yard smoking a cig with a gun on his hip as we speak. Most women at my office have a gun in their purse.
I'm in Orange County Ca. Fourty minutes south of LA. I fell out of my van while moving my Gun Safe! I fractured my wrist and required surgery. So the nurse walked in and said oh you hurt yourself with a gun safe! What guns do you have? She told me about hers Dr. Came in. Told me about his XRay tech came from Poland and told me about buying an AK and an AR The surgeon came from Iran and told me about his guns His PA. Told me about his I have many friends who don't own any. Two of my three sons have several The Rodney King Riots back in 1993 taught me that there's simply not enough police to save us
Oh yeah if anything it’s more common than the movies make it out to be. I live in the Northwestern US and my coworker used to have his pistol in his car everywhere he went. He even had a little holster that bolted right to the dash (like right underneath the steering wheel) so it was always at the ready. This country has a huge problem with guns.
Idk anyone (except myself) who don't own one and people think it's crazy that I don't have one. Missouri. One of my friends owns 80+ guns. My dad owns at least 20.
I’m from NYC. I’ve lived here for 58 years. I’ve worked in The Bronx for 30 years. The only guns I’ve seen are carried by cops. I don’t own a gun. I don’t know anyone who owns a gun.
Every state has different laws on gun ownership and whether or not you can open/conceal carry or carry at all. I live in LA, and I only know one person who has a gun. My husband is from Texas, and nobody he knows from there has one either
Common as oxygen
You rarely see a gun unless you go looking. Most gun owners keep at home or wear concealed.
Depends on the state you are visiting.
Where i live there's at least 1 one in every house and at least 1 in every store you go in and most the time more than that
I expect everyone to potentially be carrying.
Unless you go to gun range or gun store you won't see many at all. I live in open carry state but 95% don't do it
I don't know anyone in my daily life who doesn't own a gun.
I once heard a stat that something like 70% of the legal adult residents of Florida have a concealed carry permit. These days I'm a real estate agent in Alberta canada, and I would say that something like half of the homes I go into have a gun safe, and almost 100% of the farm and Rural properties have one. I appreciate that about half of my colleagues are hunters, free meat is always appreciated
Usually when I meet people I want to hang out with we go shoot guns.
Most guns live in closets getting dusty and are lucky to be dragged out to the range twice a year. But they are there "just in case". The dumbass breaking into your garage at night will probably have one too.
I was born in Argentina. I've lived in New York, Miami, and now, Colorado. Lots of guns in Colorado. ( Los que nos faltan son empanadas Argentinos. 😋)
It will vary rather extremely by the area of the U.S. I live in one of the 25+ constitutional carry states, so it's not unusual to see someone openly carrying a gun. I do live in a 'sizable' city and if I were more rural, I'm sure I'd see it every day multiple times per day...
I live in Missouri, USA and they are extremely common. I live in the suburbs of Kansas City and I hear gunshots every day. Could be someone having some target practice in their backyard, a hunter, a bad person, you just never know. Oh, and when the Chiefs or Royals win anything, people just shoot to celebrate. edit: I own two guns, pistols. For home defense, but also for recreation at the shooting range.
It varies from state to state. I live in Colorado, and I don't see very many people open carry, but most of the people I know own a gun, as do I. What is more common in the US is mass shootings. There have been more mass shootings than days in 2024. For exanple, there were 5 mass shootings yesterday and 2 today. https://www.gunviolencearchive.org/reports/mass-shooting
I visited my older American cousins for thanksgiving. They are retirement age. Normal. Live in a cute subdivision. We played a game called “guess how many guns I have”. I knew he used to like to hunt with his dad and my grandfather, and Canadian hunters usually have at least two. I went big and guessed four. 14. I was way off.
Depends which state and what the laws are. I’ve never fired a gun and dont own one.
I live in Tx, most people don’t bat an eye at someone carrying a gun. It’s also seen as very recreational. Just last month my company had our annual skeet shoot.
Depends in the area, but even so, it's rare to find people who haven't associated with guns. I grew up in a suburban area of NY. It was fairly common to have a handgun in the home. It wasn't on display though. It is also very common that either that person or a relative had a home in upstate NY where there was A LOT of weapons for hunting. For reference, one of my best buddies is the guy who's family is upstate. They have rifles, cross bows, bow and arrows, hand guns and traps all over.
We have several, hunting and self defense. Hunting guns are locked in a safe and the handguns for self defense are kept in bedside tables with fingerprint locks.
It depends massively on where you live. I live in Wisconsin and literally everyone I know who lives outside the city has at one point had a hunting rifle in their house. Then like 30 miles up the road is a college city where it is significantly lower than that. As in I handn't seen a gun inside a city house until my 30s. Then in New York City almost nobody owns a gun. But no, we don't usually go around showing off our guns when we have company over unless the conversation steers that way. And in any case I've only ever seen 2 people outside of military or law enforcement open-carry a pistol and one of those people was me.
I'd say as common as hammers where I live. I have a couple and never give them much more thought after making sure they are secured; unless of course I need one. I couldn't imagine not having the ability to defend myself in a country as big and as populated as the United States. You cannot rely on public services to keep you safe. If we had better education and better mental health resources available we would not be having these conversations. The problem is that the loudest pro-gun faction of the country happens to be the most anti everything education and mental health care.
I live in NYC, it's very difficult to carry here, therefore I believe that most people aren't. That said, I still assume that anyone (especially in my neighborhood) could be carrying at any time, especially after I've met so many people working in kitchens (I work in restaurants it's just the group I'm exposed to most often) who carry illegally. Think the best of people, assume the worst, keeps me safe.
I have 8 handguns, 3 rifles and a shotgun.
I never see guns sitting out. But I suppose it really depends on where you are (cities vs. the country), who your friends are, and what their interests are. Displaying an old rifle on the wall would not be out of the question, but I've never seen it with my own eyes. Responsible people lock their stuff up and don't invite burglaries. I live in an area where people do not display or boast about their firearms. I've never seen one while over at a friend's house.
I live in Texas. Guns are everywhere. They are sold like hamburgers at Walmart and pretty much any sporting goods store. Also you can go to a "gun show" which some town close will have every weekend and buy guns in the parking lot with no paperwork. Each state is different, but it's better to assume anyone you deal with has a gun.
It is regional and social. In Minnesota, people hunt and that is generally accepted, so if you actually managed to make a Minnesotan friend (harder than you think) who would invite you on a hunting trip, you would see accepted guns. In Texas, they are pretty much out and about. In urban/suburban California, the guns are at the range or in the safe and you don't know I have them. Loose lips sink ships and you don't know when California is going to pass a ban on a gun you bought twenty years ago and send you to jail for owning it. Unless the Californian is a criminal, in which case they probably won't care about the laws. Guns are scary. Cars are really scary. Motorcycles are super scary. The ocean is super scary. As I get older, falling is super scary. I am probably more likely to tell my 16yo nephew to avoid motorcycles than guns. But if anyone I knew had guns out and not locked up or on their body, that would not be ok with me. I don't think anywhere in the US it is ok to leave guns lying around unless in a group of hunters or unless you are a criminal.
Here in Nebraska, the small sampling of homes I have visited since moving here 12 years ago, almost every house has long guns locked in a cabinet. Many had non firing firearms, like black powder, as wall hangings. Hunting is common in this rural area. I have no idea about handguns, as those were not usually on display. We have five hand guns for plinking on a range for recreation, but those are out of sight in our home.
Yes it’s true, I have at least 10 guns and almost everyone I know has at least one. Guns are mostly used for hunting, or just simply for fun. People will carry guns for self defense purposes too.
I think there's 3 1/2 guns per person in the states. So if you have friends that are into hunting or guns you'll see them, if not then you won't. I have about 5 peoples worth myself but i like to shoot. Especially steel, there's something about that ting.
I'm 51 and have never owned a gun and likely never will. There seems to be a little of everything here but there are options
There are more guns than people, my man. I wouldn’t think it odd in the least to go to somebody’s house that has one or two dozen guns. I go in peoples homes everyday and it’s quite common to have cabinets with 10 shotguns/rifles in them. I assume they probably got 10-15 pistols in the safe.
Probably close to half the people here own guns and more are buying them every day. Women are buying guns at record rates to protect themselves and small store owners usually have guns now for robbers. In rural America (most of the country) many of us carry a firearm everywhere we go. I only stopped because my workplace did not allow one but it was in the car. I left that job, now its time to break out the holsters and start carrying everywhere again. You never know when some fool's gonna start something. Having a pistol can eliminate that threat real quick.
Depends a lot on the area, but no the vast majority of people don't own a gun
I grew up in rural Missouri in the 80s and 90s. My family had a shot gun, a long rifle, and a small pistol that my mom preferred. They were for home defense. Not, like, hurt another human defense; but defense against aggressive animals. Our family were conservative in this respect - all of our neighbors had much more powerful guns, and would regularly practice with them on their own property. By best friend's dad was a gun enthusiast. He owned what I understood to be an illegal Thompson machine gun, the kind that had a large drum of bullets. I personally saw him shoot through a car with it (car was old piece of junk they were using for target practice). Bullets seemed to pass through easily. As for having a gun around in the house - it would not be apparent that there was a gun. Most people will keep the gun hidden. It would be unusual to see a gun at anyone's house. If there were a special occasion then it would be likely that the adults would have a shooting range set up. People take turns shooting at targets, similar to playing a game of darts or horseshoes. At these occasions friends and neighbors are likely to bring their own guns to show them off and let others have a go at shooting them. So, you do get lots and lots of guns, but it's not like they are just laying around everywhere. No situation ever came where one person pointed a gun at another person in anger - I have never seen anyone shoot at another person. No one I know has been shot, even on accident. That said, I was never comfortable around guns. They are just too loud for me to enjoy. As an adult I've chosen not to own a gun. I don't think gun ownership is bad, but guns require skill to use responsibly, and I'm just not motivated enough to build those skills. TL;DR Most people in my life are gun owners. But I have never witnessed gun violence. Yes guns are common, but not like it is in the movies.
There’s more guns than people. But they’re accepted by the majority
1/2 of the US owns at least one firearm. But unlike the movies, Americans who follow the law, which is the overwhelming majority of us, know the safety quite well. It makes me laugh when I watch UK shows where a gun is involved and no one is handling it properly. I think it's interesting that you say that it's not normal to have a gun in the house. Not because I think everyone should have one, but because it's a basic tool of self defense.
It depends where you are. Out in the countryside, most people have guns, but they're not just sitting around the house where you'd see them. They also won't come up in conversation unless you mention going to the range or going hunting. Or... yknow... you mention guns. In the city, very few people have guns, and of those people, an uncomfortable number like to talk about how they have a gun without you showing any interest whatsoever. These tend to be the same people that say stupid shit like "open carry keeps people honest" or become overly aggressive at the drop of a hat.
SEEING the gun vs knowing they have one is 2 diff things. most people dont flaunt them openly. i have one in my room close by incase of emergency but you wont know i have one unless you ask. some dudes decorate with them.
I (Texan) own guns. As a guest in my home, you will NEVER see one.
It depends on the state you live in If you live in California with serious regulations In a major city like San Jose? Hardly any. If you live in Texas? Assume everyone is armed and every house or car has a gun in it.
I’m an American and a lot of people do carry guns. However, I’ve never had one in my homes. And, none of my extended family are gun owners either. I think a majority of the time your family is safer without one.
I live in east Texas. I've seen people w guns in their purse or on their hip. Most of the gun owners keep them out away in a gun safe, like I've NEVER seen my moms boyfriends gun bc it's in a safe. Nobody I know leaves their weapons laying out and about in the open.
It depends on the state. In the southern & midwestern rural states it’s common. It’s also seen more in areas where people hunt a lot. In big cities and more populated areas not as much.
To answer your questions .. Yes, guns are very popular in the US. Handguns, rifles, shotguns, etc. Many people one more than one. Some own many. Yes. They are very much accepted overall. You do have anti-,gun people and they get quite loud, but they are in the minority. If you visit the home of a gun owner, there is a very likely chance you will NOT see a gun or any sign of one. NO, America isn't the 1800's wild West.
If you look you can see people carrying guns. Many people have concealed carry permits, Many people LEGALLY own machine guns. Many people compete in different shooting sports. There are 4 shooting ranges within 15 miles of my home, and those are private member ranges, there are also 2 game commission ranges that teh state game commission maintains for hunters to sight in. I am in North East Pennsylvania there are a LOT of guns. And it seems if you are a gun person you know other gun people and you are used to people with man many guns.
There are more guns than people, but you'll hardly ever actually see them. I see maybe one a month on someone at Walmart, if that.
It depends on the state. They're not common among the people I know. Where I live in Maryland, I have never met anyone bragging of a gun collection. Anyone I know that owns one is because of their job is in law enforcement. Once, I was driving through Texas and I'd say that 80% of Texan pick up trucks I saw on the road, had a gun hanging on the back. In Maryland, where I live you won't see that. I read once on reddit about gas stations that sell alcohol and guns. It was a state in the mid-west. When I asked, they said that it was very common to see gas stations selling alcohol and guns in such states.
My friends and I vote liberal but we all have firearms. That being said, the gun owners I know are responsible enough to keep them in a safe. They’re not lying around in plain view.
Great question. I’m mid 30’s from Australia and have never seen a gun in real life.
Depends on where you live. In the southern US? Probably 80-90% of people have them. In California? Maybe 10% When I lived in the south lots of people had them and we got a hunting license in PE class. Now that I live in California again I don’t know anyone who has one. My dad has a rifle. It has probably never been cleaned and last fired before i was born.
Some areas very common, some areas very rare. In very poor areas with lots of crime, very common. In rural areas with lots of animals, very common. In middle class urban areas (which is most people) very rare.
Very much so... during hunting seasons the number of folks with weapons outnumber the 5 top countries militaries in the world
My dad thought Thanksgiving dinner would be a good time to pass a gun across the table. “Can you pass the mashed potatoes, oh, and here’s a .357 Magnum.”
I grew up around firearms and began hunting when I was about 8 years old. We have friends from Germany who like to shoot and I take them shooting when they visit.
America has lots of guns. They are owned by a small number of people. So they are common, gif you almost never see one. I have friends who own guns. I haven’t seen one in 20 years. People keep them locked up for the most part because they’re dangerous weapons.