Gun Owners as a Percentage of Each State's Population

Via comment by Franklin Pierce on What’s the Gun Ownership Rate in Your State? “Here, the stats are more reasonable”

This article lists individual gun owners as a percentage of each state’s population, as of 2007.

This data is relevant to national and state elections, particularly the 2012 presidential election, as it clearly explains why candidates President Obama and Republican Mitt Romney refuse to meaningfully address gun control and ownership issues, at least before the November 2012 election day: thirteen of fourteen 2012 battleground states have gun ownership rates of 30% or more.

Interestingly, all ten of the states with the highest gun ownership rates (all 50% or more) are considered staunchly Republican-red states. And nine of the ten states with the lowest gun ownership rates (all less than 30%) are considered staunchly Democratic blue states. The sole exception is Florida, a battleground state with a 24.5% gun ownership rate.

See Pros and Cons of Gun Ownership and Use Laws for Individuals for more on this hot-button issue.