June 22, 2025

15 Interesting Firearm Facts in the USA

1. More guns than people: There are an estimated 400+ million civilian-owned firearms in the U.S., exceeding the population of about 330 million.

2. About 32–35% of U.S. adults say they personally own a gun, and around 44% live in a household with a gun.

3. Handguns are the most commonly owned type of firearm, followed by rifles and shotguns.

4. Gun ownership is more common among men (about 39%) than women (around 22%).

5. Rural Americans are more likely to own guns than urban or suburban residents.

6. White Americans have the highest gun ownership rates among racial groups.

7. Self-defense is the top reason cited for owning a gun (about two-thirds of gun owners).

8. Hunting and sport shooting are also common motivations, though less so than self-protection.

9. The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right to keep and bear arms.

10. Gun laws vary widely by state, with some states requiring background checks, waiting periods, or permits, and others having very few restrictions.

11. Federal law prohibits felons, domestic abusers, and certain other individuals from owning firearms — though enforcement and loopholes vary.

12. The U.S. has the highest rate of gun deaths among developed nations, including homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings.

13. Firearms are the leading method of suicide in the U.S., accounting for more than half of all suicide deaths.

14. Mass shootings, though a small fraction of overall gun deaths, receive intense media coverage and have spurred debates on gun control.

15. The U.S. accounts for about 40–45% of the world's civilian-owned guns, despite having less than 5% of the global population.