American Gun Ownership: The Positive Impacts of Law-Abiding Citizens Owning Firearms

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When the British marched on the Colonies' weapon holds in Lexington and Concord, the Colonists knew it was their last chance to retain any semblance of freedom. Today, American gun ownership reflects a similar philosophy.

An armed civilian populace will always be a deterrent to tyranny. With millions of gun owners in America, the Constitutional rights of all cannot be infringed. Unfortunately, many Americans would sacrifice those rights for a little temporary safety, and it’s time to start truly understanding the rights our founders secured for us.

Report Highlights:

In 2024, approximately 112 million Americans own guns.
Support for gun control has dropped from 78% in 1990 to 54%.
72% of U.S. gun owners cite personal protection as their primary reason for owning a gun.
Between 60,000 and 3,000,000 Americans use guns to deter threats annually.
The Second Amendment is a limitation of the government, not a permission provided by it.
Ammunition and firearms are integral to American culture.

Ammo.com strives to provide evidence-based information rooted in facts. You can review our sources here.

American Gun Ownership: A Way of Life

The United States has millions of guns and millions of gun owners. Examining gun ownership, the reasons for it, and the effects of it is critical to understanding it.

Gun ownership is as American as apple pie and football. There are many reasons Americans own guns, whether it’s brevity, stubbornness, or a can-do attitude. Nearly half of the country has at least one firearm in their homes. Even James Madison stated that gun ownership gives us advantages over other countries, and Ben Franklin warned us never to give them up.

Of course, just like apple pie and football, the topic of gun ownership is hotly debated. Is our way of life the wrong way? The data says no.

Armed civilians are more likely to defend themselves and their communities with firearms than the police. On average, 1,608 armed civilians kill a violent attacker with a firearm, while 1,188 suspects are killed by police annually. ^{3, 4, 5, 6}

A 1992 study showed that more criminals are injured by gunfire from armed civilians than the police. ¹

Despite calls for more gun control, support for more legislative restrictions has fallen drastically in the past thirty years from 78% to 56%. Support for relaxing gun control is now up from 2% to 11%. ⁷

Approximately 112 million (one-third of 336 million citizens) own at least one firearm, and 81% believe it makes them safer. ⁹

7 Reasons to Own a Gun in America

There are an estimated 500 million firearms and 279 million adults in America today, resulting in approximately 1.98 firearms per adult. On average, each gun owner possesses at least two guns. Additionally, about half of the nation's population has access to at least one firearm in their home.

People around the world have various reasons for owning a gun. In the United States, this topic is particularly contentious.

While American gun owners do not need to justify exercising their rights, several arguments support firearm ownership that benefit both individuals and society. These include personal protection, recreational activities like hunting and sport shooting, and the deterrence of crime. Additionally, many believe that gun ownership is a fundamental right that ensures personal freedom and security.

Gun Owners Value the Right to Keep and Bear Arms

The father of the Constitution, James Madison, made clear that Americans not only had an inalienable right to keep and bear arms but that this right gave us an advantage over every other nation in the world.

Many gun owners fully understand the right and duty to protect themselves, their home, their family, and their country. Therefore, gun ownership is a necessary duty to society as a right not exercised is a right lost.

Feelings of Confidence, Safety, and Security

72% of American gun owners cite personal protection as a reason for owning firearms.⁹ 38% of Americans report keeping a gun loaded and ready to fire in the event of an emergency or life-threatening situation.¹⁰

While the vast majority (60%) of Americans think that gun violence is a problem, most gun owners believe that having a gun increases their personal safety, security, and well-being.⁹ Incidentally, even 75% of inner-city youth own firearms for personal safety.¹¹

Many Americans also keep and bear arms for reasons other than personal safety and security. Hunting, collecting, shooting sports, and profession are all alternative reasons to own a gun.

On the other hand, recent studies also show that gun owners are not compensating for personal inadequacies despite the theories of anti-gun activists. Many non-gun owners believe that male gun owners are attracted to firearms as phallic symbols or that they’re representative of masculine strength, which the gun owner is otherwise lacking.

On the contrary, there is no correlation between feelings of sexual inadequacy and firearm ownership¹². Those who are more confident in their size own guns at higher rates than those who are self-conscious¹³, and women are the fastest-growing demographic of gun owners in the U.S.⁸

Ultimately, the facts support gun ownership as a means to protect oneself and others from harm.

Protection of Family and Loved Ones

Protection of family and loved ones is a common reason for owning and carrying a firearm. In a 2020 study, 72% of youth respondents who carry a gun cite their family’s safety as a reason for carrying. ¹¹81% of American gun owners believe that having a gun in the home makes the home safer, even in homes where children reside.⁹

As crime rates increase and police become handicapped by red tape, underfunding, and failed crime policy, those who want to ensure their family’s safety are picking up firearms at much higher rates than before 2020.

Personal Protection

In the 2005 Supreme Court ruling Castle Rock vs. Gonzalez, the Supreme Court ruled that police officers have no duty to protect citizens. ¹⁴In 2022, there were 380 violent crimes for every 100,000 people ¹⁶ and 7.5 homicides for every 100,000 people.⁴

Despite having lower crime rates and homicide rates than many other countries, Americans tend to take personal protection more seriously than most other cultures around the globe.

The Most Efficient Tool for Personal Defense

It’s an indisputable fact for most logical people that firearms are an excellent equalizer. Physical limitations are largely inconsequential when a defender is proficient with a firearm, and many Americans seem to agree.

As crime rates skyrocketed during the pandemic, so too did traceable firearm sales. It is estimated that Americans purchased more than 60 million firearms between 2020 and 2022. ¹⁸

As violent individuals continue to threaten and harm unsuspecting and defenseless civilians, more people look to empower themselves. Firearms are an excellent equalizer. A person’s size, ability, weight, height, and strength are inconsequential to a fight if the intended victim is armed.

The Most Efficient Tool for Personal Defense

Criminologists have long theorized that criminals take advantage of opportunities. Unsuspecting and defenseless victims are often easy prey for some of the most violent people in our communities.

The United States does not track every incident where a criminal is deterred from committing a crime thanks to an armed citizen. However, we can look to gun-free zones, permitless carry, and crime for insight into armed citizens as a deterrent.

More armed citizens in states with permitless carry have reduced violent crime rates. In fact, 84% of states have lower violent crime rates after passing permitless carry legislation.

Guns Are Tools of Empowerment

Just over a decade ago, only 13% of women owned firearms. ⁹ In 2023, that number increased to 25% ⁸, or thirty-three million females empowered to keep and bear arms.

Unfortunately, crime in America is up while policing and incarceration rates are down. Guns are tools of empowerment, helping joggers feel more secure on their routes or homeowners feel more secure in their residences.

Some theories exist that state having a gun makes people more anxious. However, one recent study cites “hypervigilance” as anxiety. The study fails to address Col. Cooper’s Color Code of Awareness, where many gun owners live in the yellow, and that people who are empowered to carry a firearm are also often more aware of their surroundings than others in the first place (hence why they’re carrying a gun).

Essentially, while some say that gun ownership increases anxiety, it is a tool of empowerment embraced by those willing to take on the responsibility of owning and possessing a firearm.

How Gun Ownership Affects the Safety of the Public

Many 2A proponents state that an armed populace does nothing to deter crime. However, those same proponents also say that civilians having more guns would turn America into the Wild West.

We’re about to discuss why neither of those things is true. In fact, we’ll show you that Americans are safer than many other countries, thanks to our rich gun culture and do-it-yourself attitude.

Home and Business Protection

We’ve all heard the phrase, “When seconds matter, our police are only minutes away.” Homes and businesses tend to be attractive targets for all sorts of criminals and deviants. Therefore, armed civilians, who protect their homes and businesses, often deter and stop crime when police aren’t available.

A 2001 study showed that 497,646 homeowners scared away potential intruders with a firearm. However, the Kellerman study showed that only three homeowners of 198 used a gun to stop a threat efficiently. ²³

In 2015, approximately 9 million Americans had carried a loaded firearm within the past month when surveyed. In 2019, that number increased to 16 million. Furthermore, in 2019, approximately 6 million people carried a firearm daily. ²¹

Public Shootings

While many 2A opponents often cite the failures of “good guys with guns,” it is undeniable that armed civilians can effectively stop threats. For example, Elisjsha Dicken, a 22-year-old armed civilian, fired ten shots from his 9mm at 30 yards, neutralizing a mass shooter at an Indiana mall. ²²

In a devastating 2023 school shooting, police revealed that the shooter chose an elementary school over another target because the secondary target had “too much security.” ²⁶

Although the subject is hotly debated, an estimated 94% of mass shootings occur in gun-free zones. ²⁴ Not only have armed civilians stopped active shooters, they’ve also deterred them.

The Exponential Impact of Owning Guns in America

America does have higher gun death and homicide rates than Canada, the U.K., and Australia. Of course, Canada, the U.K., and Australia have always had lower homicide rates than the U.S. Furthermore, the U.S. has much lower homicide rates than many other countries with fewer guns.

In fact, Mexico and El Salvador have fewer guns than any “safer” country, including the United States, and astronomically higher homicide rates. With relaxed borders, cultural diversity, heavily impoverished areas, and gang membership rates higher than any of the Western countries mentioned, the U.S. is relatively safe compared to countries with similar cultural attributes.

Finally, a cross-sectional study that examined crime from 1977 to 1992 concluded that an armed civilian could’ve prevented 1,570 murders, 4,177 rapes, and 60,000 aggravated assaults. ²⁵

Whereas many Western countries enjoy low homicide rates despite gun ownership rates, many other countries with similar attributes to the U.S. do not. Therefore, it stands to reason that the United States is safer because armed civilians can defend themselves, and many would-be criminals know it.

Why Are Guns Legal in the U.S.?

The legalization of firearms in the U.S. has been a point of contention since the British ruled the colonies. Despite claims to the contrary, American civilians still have the right to keep and bear arms.

Let’s explore why that is by covering a few key points.

Restraining the Power of the Government

Contrary to anti-gun lobbyists' and advocates’ claims, the guys who fought the most powerful army in the world over their guns did not write the Second Amendment for hunting. It also isn’t simply about the right to own machine guns.

The Second Amendment is very clear: A well-regulated militia is necessary for the security of a free state. Therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

When we explore the writings of Payne, Madison, Washington, Hancock, and many others, we see that the entire basis for the Second Amendment is that a government is a threat to liberty and the rights of the people. Fortunately, the founders were wise enough to secure our freedom with the right to keep and bear arms.

Protecting Constitutional Rights

Without the right to keep and bear arms, Americans would have no protection from a tyrannical government. Each amendment is designed to ensure the people have ample means to defend our liberties from the government.

We have the right to assemble, to be secure in our homes, to due process, and to maintain weaponry and defend ourselves from tyranny. While some have forgotten the sole principle of the Constitution, it’s important to note that the right to keep and bear arms is not only a right but a duty.

The Truth Behind Anti-Gun Rhetoric

Anti-gun rhetoric hasn’t changed much since the 1920’s. Essentially, the argument is that if it were more challenging for criminals to get firearms, there wouldn’t be as many crimes.

Trends throughout history disprove this seemingly logical claim, but the argument goes much deeper than stopping crime.

Suicide

The vast majority of firearm-related deaths in the U.S. are suicide. In 2022, 58% of all firearm-related deaths were suicides (27,032 of 46,683 total). Furthermore, nearly half of all suicides in 2022 involved something other than a firearm.

Unfortunately, suicides are the leading cause of firearm deaths and other injury-related deaths year after year.

43 to One

A 1987 study that included 743 firearm homicides from 1978 to 1983 showed that individuals for every 43 firearm-related homicides, there was only one defensive use case. ¹⁹ However, the study neglected to define the shooting type properly and did include defensive use cases where the defender never fired a shot.

When we combine all survey and study data, we see that there are an average of 1.8 million defensive gun use cases each year. This estimate ranges from 1,500 (Gun Violence Archive) to 3 million in a 2001 study.

Gun Rights

Contrary to popular belief, the right to keep and bear arms is not centrally focused on the firearms themselves but rather on the right of the people to keep and bear arms for the common defense.

Furthermore, many state constitutions reaffirm the right of the people to keep and bear arms for the defense of self. Supreme Court cases dating back to the late 1800s (Cruikshank and Presser) also reaffirm the 2A’s purpose as an individual right. Therefore, despite anti-gun activists’ claims, Second Amendment rights are an individual liberty separate from a militia.

Popular Ammo Calibers

Upon realizing the value of gun ownership in America, your firearm-ownership journey gets pretty interesting. Finding the caliber that best fits your lifestyle and needs varies. Let’s discuss the most popular ammo calibers in America.

Self-Defense Ammo Calibers

Any piece of metal flying at hundreds of feet per second can stop threats. However, there are a few popular self-defense ammo calibers that deserve recognition.

Rifle calibers such as .223 Rem or 5.56 are optimal for self-defense, while handgun calibers such as the 9mm, 40 S&W, .380 ACP, .38, .45 ACP, .357, and the 10mm are all popular options.

Hunting Ammo Calibers

Choosing the most popular hunting calibers is tricky because we can’t use varmint rounds on elk. Furthermore, we must explore distance and terminal ballistics to assess which is better for the hunt.

However, choosing the most popular hunting calibers for the hunt doesn’t have to be complicated.

The smaller calibers are typically better for smaller game, while the medium and larger calibers are better for medium and large size game.

Target Practice and Plinking Ammo Calibers

Naturally, it’s recommended that you practice with your EDC and hunting rifles. However, there are calibers that reign supreme for novice shooters and those who simply enjoy shooting.

These calibers are typically more cost-efficient with lower recoil. No one likes leaving range day with an aching shoulder and empty wallet. So, if you’re interested in learning to shoot and are in the market for a caliber to have fun with, there are some great options.

Best Calibers for New Shooters

With millions of new gun owners each year, we’re seeing an uptick in novice shooters at the range. Furthermore, instructors are sharing their insights into the best calibers for new shooters.

Picking a caliber for new shooters can be a bit tricky. On one hand, you don’t want to scare them or make them uncomfortable. On the other hand, you don’t want to give them a false sense of security with a lower-powered round.

Beginning with a .22LR (handgun or rifle) is typically optimal to give new shooters some experience. However, upgrading to a more powerful round like the 9mm or .223 Rem is also a good idea because the new shooter can become better acquainted with more effective calibers.

Popular Ammo Brands

Now that you understand gun ownership in the U.S., let’s talk about the ammo. Ammo, similar to guns, is another part of American culture. Our ammo selection is vast, with many excellent options for every person’s needs.

American-Made Ammunition

There’s no shortage of ammunition manufacturers in the U.S. Some of the most popular ammunition is American-made.

Hornady is known for its phenomenal designs and reliability, while Federal produces mixed categories of high-quality and affordability. Nosler produces excellent hunting ammunition, while Blazer and CCI are known for their target rounds. Winchester and Remington are popular for their range and hunting ammunition.

Imported Ammunition

Imported ammunition shouldn’t be overlooked, either. American shooters have enjoyed low-cost cartridges from other countries for many decades.

Unfortunately, the selection of imported ammunition isn’t as plentiful as it once was due to sanctions placed on Russia. However, TulAmmo and Wolf are still available at times. PMC is a South Korean ammunition company specializing in FMJ (target practice) ammo, and it also produces some JHP (defense ammo) cartridges.

Sellier and Bellot come from the Czech Republic and produce high-quality FMJs (target ammo). Finally, MagTech is a Brazilian company that produces range ammo.

American Gun Ownership: The Power of the People

American gun ownership isn’t an exceptional obsession with firearms; It’s an exceptional enthusiasm for the right of free people to protect their families, homes, businesses, and country.

Although many foreigners (and even some Americans) don’t understand our gun culture, we do have valid reasons for maintaining our place in the world as the country with the highest rates of civilian-owned guns. Whether we’re speaking in terms of our liberty or our personal safety, the right to keep and bear arms belongs to the individual. It isn’t a right given to us by our government; it is a right we continue to afford to ourselves.

Sources

Written by

Cassandra McBride

Infographics

Popular Ammo Calibers and Brands

223 Ammo 7.62x39 Ammo 9mm Ammo 45 ACP Ammo 22 LR Ammo 12 Gauge Ammo 5.56x45 Ammo 308 Win Ammo 40 S&W Ammo 380 ACP Ammo 38 Spl Ammo 357 Mag Ammo