Gun Fact Guide: What You Don’t Know About Guns

Are you interested in learning more about guns?

It’s a known gun fact that over 40% of the American population has a gun in their household. While it may sound like a lot, it’s actually a big step down from the 51% of gun owners recorded in 1978. This is mainly because of the decline in violent crimes and improved gun control in the country since then.

However, people will still have a reason to own a gun for themselves. While some will use it for protection or sport, others own guns because these intrigue them. If you’re among these people, then you may be keen on learning anything you can about guns.

If you are, continue reading what’s below. We have a lot of gun facts for you to read about to help you increase your gun knowledge. 

The Number of Guns America Owns

We mentioned above that over 40% of the American population has at least one gun in their household. This means that, taking the current population into account, there are at least 134 million guns in the country. 

However, that doesn’t take into account the number of people that have more than one gun in their homes. It’s worth noting that 20% of gun owners possess around 65% of the firearms in the country. This means that they will at least have more than four guns in their home.

Factoring that into the count, you’ll get a rough estimate of 270 million guns in the country. That means that 89 of 100 people can get a gun for themselves if distributed equally among the population.

Among these guns, you’ll see that handguns are the most common ones. This is because they’re enough to keep a household protected against most threats. Speaking of protection, you’ll also see a lot of shotguns in gun-owning households.

Most people dub shotguns as the best guns for home defense. Its sleek design and blast radius allow for easy coverage in tight spaces like the hallways in a home.

2013 Was the Most Profitable Year For Firearms

Do you want to learn where all these firearms came from? The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives states that a majority of these guns got manufactured in 2013. In fact, 10,844,792 firearms, to be precise.

This was because of a trend that started way back in 2008, when Barack Obama became the president-elect of the country. He was public about his agendas, which included what the majority of US citizens wanted at the time, stricter gun control.

Because of this, many people feared that it would be impossible for them to get a gun. This prompted them to buy firearms while they still can.

The tension surrounding gun control grew in 2009, which caused even more people to buy guns for themselves. This marked the first time firearm sales increased by more than a million in US history.

This continued to grow each year as people saw the value that guns had. With more stories about people who used their guns to stop hostile situations, the firearms market exploded. 

More Than Half of the States Implement the Stand Your Ground Law

Around 34 states in the country implement the “Stand Your Ground” law. It’s one of the few gun laws that absolve people of any crimes. Of course, the right conditions must apply before the law takes effect.

The law states that the use of deadly force, including that of firearms, is legal when used to defend oneself. The situation must entail that they’re avoiding severe physical harm or potential death. Otherwise, they will not get absolved of any crimes. 

Due to the nature of the law, you cannot use it as an excuse to defend others. It’s up to the person in immediate danger to defend themselves.

You also have a responsibility to avoid conflict, first. This is the “Duty to Retreat” act. This states that you must first run from the scene of the conflict before anything else.

If the danger persists, only then are you allowed to Stand Your Ground. This is to ensure there’s no needless violence taking place unless necessary.

The Formation of the NRA

The National Rifles Association (NRA) is a large group that advocates the right to bear arms. They’re responsible for the growth of gun ownership, turning it into a sport for gun enthusiasts to take part in. Their influence allowed gun companies to flourish even when most people considered them too dangerous to operate.

This is thanks to the lessons that the NRA teaches to every registered gun owner. They emphasize gun control, safety, and competency. These lessons help reduce the number of gun-related injuries in the country.

Did you know that two Union veterans started the NRA, though? It was back in 1871 that these veterans decided to form the group. Their original purpose was to improve troop marksmanship on the battlefield.

They also hoped to promote rifle shooting as a scientific experiment. Needless to say, they reached their goal as firearm shooting does have science behind it. 

Today, the NRA has over 100,000 certified instructors under their employment. Over 1 million gun owners know all about trigger discipline because of them, too. They also regularly hold different shooting events to promote disciplined gun ownership.

It’s also because of the NRA that gun mods, like the ones that Magpul sells, are becoming popular. Learning how to mode a gun gives you an advantage in stability and accuracy. The NRA encourages owners to make every shot count so they can improve their discipline.

There’s an Agreement Against Mentally Unstable Gun Owners

As established above, a lot of people in the country own at least one firearm. The United States even ranks first in the gun to population ratio. This can be a scary thought since it means dangerous individuals may carry a firearm. 

However, what’s great is that there’s a law that prohibits certain people from having a gun. Federal law states that everyone must undergo a background check when registering for a gun. These checks are to see if there are any signs of mental stability or illness.

They’re likely to harm themselves or others using firearms. This makes causes them to become legally prohibited from owning a gun.

The checks are also to see the history of the potential gun owner. Any relevant criminal records will prohibit them from getting a gun. It’s also to check whether the person is on any watchlist or on a no-fly list.

Concealed and Open Carries

Even if you’re a registered gun owner, you shouldn’t show your firearm in public. This can instigate fear in the public and can cause a small panic. Only servants of the law are legally allowed to show that they have a firearm on their person at all times.

This is why you should invest in a concealed carry when you’re getting yourself a gun. It’s not enough that you hide your firearm, but you should also make sure that no one can tell you have one.

The goal of this is to help keep public order. However, there are some states that allow citizens to use an open carry in public. They have the right to do so as long as they have a license to present when asked.

Gun Laws In Different States

As you would imagine, different states have different gun laws in place. This manifests in interesting ways, like in Vermont. There, it’s legal for anyone aged 16 and above to possess a handgun.

They can buy one even without parental consent. It also applies to other types of firearms like rifles and shotguns. This is how they learn how to fix a gun at a young age.

Meanwhile, some states like Idaho and Wyoming are exempt from federal gun laws. This means that they’re free to manufacture guns without strict regulations to restrict them.

There are also states that ban or regulate automatic weapons. They’re deemed unnecessary for ordinary citizens. This is to help reduce the instances of violent crimes in these states.

There are also some states that permit students to carry guns on campus. The University of Colorado and Wisconsin are among them, and they allow students to carry concealed weapons on school grounds.

Among the most interesting facts about guns involves a small city in Georgia. It’s mandatory that every household must own a gun if they’re within the city limits. Kennesaw seeks to discourage even the smallest property-related crimes through this law.

This law was also made in response to a gun ban in another state. It’s to show that the government could trust ordinary citizens with guns. Needless to say, it worked out well as there’s been a reduction in violent crimes and petty theft since then.

Learn All You Can With This Gun Fact Guide

Learning about guns is another way for you to understand how you can use them. Make sure you stay knowledgeable with this gun fact guide today!

Do you want to learn more about different topics and trends today? Check out our other posts and find something that interests you! Learn about all the weirdest things today!

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