A recent poll by NBC News showed that an increasing number of American households are now armed. This surge in gun ownership, as highlighted by the new data, is a significant development reflecting multiple trends in American society.
The poll results, showcasing a 10-point increase in gun ownership over a decade, have sparked considerable attention. While data suggests a rise in firearm purchases, such trends do not uniformly reflect across various measures of gun ownership.
The FBI’s monthly background check report exhibited a surge in sales, with a surge during specific moments such as during the pandemic and various periods of political and societal unrest. Data from the General Social Survey (GSS) indicate a steadier trajectory over the years, suggesting modest changes in the percentage of Americans reporting that they keep firearms at home.
The GSS findings reveal intriguing shifts, especially regarding party affiliations and geographic regions. While rural Republicans remain the most inclined toward gun ownership, Democrats and urban dwellers have shown increased reporting, defying historical trends. This phenomenon signifies a major departure from conventional expectations.
The GSS data also underscore a notable uptick in reported gun ownership among Black Americans, aligning with data gathered by NBC News. This increase, while observed in both datasets, remains more modest in the GSS, yet the trend is unmistakable.
It’s crucial to note that these shifts occur within relatively smaller subsets of the population, notably within more Democratic groups, a deviation from previous trends primarily associated with rural Republicans.