Texas Gun Ownership: Gun Ownership: Total Numbers, Trends, and Most Popular Guns

Report Highlights: Texas gun ownership has declined in recent years, but the number of firearms purchased has increased since 2020.

Texas is home to over 32 million firearms.
Although Texas has the highest numbers of guns and gun owners in the U.S., it ranks 14th in gun ownership percentage as it is the second most populous state.
Approximately 36% of Texans report owning at least one firearm.
In the past 24 years, Texans have purchased 24 million firearms.
On average, there are 1.08 firearms per person in Texas.
The firearm-related death rate in Texas is 15.3 per 100,000 people; slightly above the national average.

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Methodology

Only a small percentage of firearms in the United States are registered, leaving millions in circulation without precise records. This lack of comprehensive sales data or universal registration makes it impossible to determine the exact number of guns in the country or any given state.

We utilized a combination of state and national data sources to estimate the number of firearms in Texas. These included self-reported surveys, the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) data, and population statistics. By analyzing Census Bureau data to understand population trends and correlating them with NICS background checks, we estimated the number of firearms purchased annually. Surveys were then used to gauge the percentage of gun ownership in Texas.

Finally, national firearm data (which are often considered more reliable) were cross-referenced to ensure our estimates are as accurate as possible and account for potential under- or overestimations. This methodology provides an educated approximation of gun ownership in Texas, though it remains subject to limitations inherent in self-reporting and incomplete data sources.

How Many Guns Are in Texas?

There are an estimated 32.9 million to 54.9 million firearms in Texas.

Among these, over 1 million are registered. Surveys indicate that 36% of Texas' 30.5 million residents own at least one firearm, equating to approximately 10.98 million firearm owners. ^{1, 4}

Federal Firearms License (FFL) dealers have sold 24 million firearms in Texas since 2000. This suggests that many gun owners possess more than one firearm, which aligns with national trends of multiple firearm ownership.

What’s the Gun-to-Person Ratio in Texas?

There are at least 1.08 firearms per person in Texas, with estimates as high as 1.8 firearms per individual.

Between 2000 and 2023, more than 24 million firearms ^{1, 4, 6} were sold in the state through licensed dealers. Surveys indicate that 36% of Texans ¹ – about 10.98 million people – own at least one firearm. This figure does not account for private sales or privately manufactured firearms, which likely contribute to the overall total.

On a national scale, there are an estimated 500 million firearms in the United States, equating to approximately 1.5 firearms per person.

Yearly Trends in Texas Gun Ownership

Household gun ownership in Texas has risen from 40% in 2000 to 45% in 2024. Texans purchased over 5 million firearms between 2020 and 2023 alone. ^{1, 4, 6}

Despite having more firearms than any other state, Texas ranks 14th in gun ownership percentage as fewer Texans own guns than residents in different states.

Gun sales in Texas exhibited a 17% spike following the Uvalde attack in May 2022. Sales declined after the state implemented permitless carry legislation in 2021, likely due to a reduced perceived urgency for firearm purchases. ^{1, 4, 5}

How Many Guns Does the Average Texas Resident Own?

The average gun owner in Texas owns between three and five firearms.

Based on firearm sales over the past 24 years and the state's population, the typical gun-owning Texan is estimated to have at least three firearms. When factoring in national data and the gun-to-person ratio, this number could increase to as many as five firearms per owner. ^{1, 4}

What Are the Most Popular Guns in Texas?

Handguns are the most popular firearms in Texas, mirroring nationwide trends. Approximately 72% of gun owners in Texas own at least one handgun, compared to 62% who own rifles and 54% who own shotguns.

Texans’ firearm purchases reflect this preference, with 53% being handguns and 47% rifles. ⁴

Experts identify the most popular firearms in Texas as 9mm pistols, 22 LR revolvers, 12 Gauge shotguns, and rifles chambered in 223 Rem/5.56x45. These choices reflect versatility, ease of use, and suitability for both personal defense and recreational shooting. ³

Firearm-Related Deaths in Texas

In 2023, Texas reported 4,583 firearm-related deaths, with a firearm death rate of 15.3 per 100,000 people – slightly above the national average of 14 per 100,000.

Of these deaths, 59% were attributed to suicide, while 37% were homicides.

Between 2019 and 2022, firearm-related deaths in Texas rose by 25%. However, in 2023, the trend began to reverse, with a slight decline of 1.5%. This shift may indicate the start of a stabilizing or decreasing pattern in firearm-related fatalities. ⁷

Wrap-Up

While exact data are unavailable, self-reporting surveys and FFL sales records allow us to estimate the number of firearms and gun owners in Texas.

Texas leads the nation in the number of firearms, reflecting its high level of gun ownership. However, as the second most populous state in the U.S., its gun ownership rate is lower than other states with a higher percentage of gun ownership.

Sources

Written by

Cassandra McBride

Texas Gun Ownership: Gun Ownership: Total Numbers, Trends, and Most Popular Guns

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