Growth in the number of gun owners/carriers

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  • Phase2

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Dec 9, 2011
    7,014
    27
    There are no hard numbers on how many gun owners and carriers there are although gun sales remain high despite the retirement of the salesman of many years: Barack Obama. So, is this just existing gun owners loading more safes or does it include a significant amount of new people?

    The Crime Prevention Research Center is reporting that the number of licensed gun owners is up about 8% from this time last year and up 3x (304%) since 2007. The 8% growth is good, but actually down from the average growth (9.7%) over the last 12 years.

    Bottom line: invite someone to the range.

    Alabama has the highest rate of licensed gun owners: 26.3%. Indiana is second with 17.9%. We can do better!
     

    JollyMon

    Shooter
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Sep 27, 2012
    3,547
    63
    Westfield, IN
    There are no hard numbers on how many gun owners and carriers there are although gun sales remain high despite the retirement of the salesman of many years: Barack Obama. So, is this just existing gun owners loading more safes or does it include a significant amount of new people?

    The Crime Prevention Research Center is reporting that the number of licensed gun owners is up about 8% from this time last year and up 3x (304%) since 2007. The 8% growth is good, but actually down from the average growth (9.7%) over the last 12 years.

    Bottom line: invite someone to the range.

    Alabama has the highest rate of licensed gun owners: 26.3%. Indiana is second with 17.9%. We can do better!

    Your right we should fight for no licensing... There shouldnt be a license to exercise a right. I would expect many states that have constitutional carry exceed those numbers.
     

    Sigblitz

    Grandmaster
    Trainer Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    9   0   0
    Aug 25, 2018
    14,583
    113
    Indianapolis
    Yesterday someone at work was talking to me about getting a license. Today he's $75 poorer.
     
    Last edited:

    nhgluff

    Plinker
    Rating - 100%
    39   0   0
    Jul 19, 2010
    113
    2
    Yes people are buying more guns but they are buying 1 a carry gun etc. After that they have no interest and are not real gun buyers collectors etc. As stated above most have no money to pursue or finance the hobby. We are entering a time where a generation will not have financial abilities to afford guns or will they care to. I've seen it getting worse demonization of guns no money makes it worse. I think we will se a time where laws will pass to ban guns and few will care because they have no interest in them. The fact that we have a constitution and a right is irrelevant because they've been taught that is not to matter.
     

    Mgderf

    Grandmaster
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    43   0   0
    May 30, 2009
    17,877
    113
    Lafayette
    Yes people are buying more guns but they are buying 1 a carry gun etc. After that they have no interest and are not real gun buyers collectors etc. As stated above most have no money to pursue or finance the hobby. We are entering a time where a generation will not have financial abilities to afford guns or will they care to. I've seen it getting worse demonization of guns no money makes it worse. I think we will se a time where laws will pass to ban guns and few will care because they have no interest in them. The fact that we have a constitution and a right is irrelevant because they've been taught that is not to matter.


    This is not the case in my circle of friends and family.
    Yes, finances are tight for most working class people, but the younger crowd in my family has picked up where my generation left off, and without much prompting.

    My sister has two kids that were both raised as conservatives, but had never had a gun around the house, and there was no discussions about firearms.
    Both kids, one male one female, have married in the last 5 years and both now own firearms of their own and regularly visit a range.

    I have helped to teach untold numbers of new shooters through the NSSF's "First-Shots" program over the past 10 years and I'm confident that many will continue the sport.
    I know I'm responsible for at least a dozen different people acquiring their own license to carry.

    Yes, I hear a constant drumbeat of chatter telling how interest in firearms is dropping.
    It just doesn't ring true in my neck of the woods.
     

    Ndavid45

    Sharpshooter
    Rating - 83.3%
    10   2   0
    Apr 29, 2019
    452
    2
    Indianapolis
    As to the comment about the younger generation (my generation) not being able to afford the hobby or pursue collecting, i see at as more of a choice. My friend claimed for the past two years that he couldn't afford a gun. Instead he was buying every new game that came out, eating out almost daily and generally waiting money in every way possible except drugs and hookers. He finally purchased a handgun recently. This lack of financial responsibility is a big problem in my generation, too many people seem to make it a goal to spend everything they make that month instead of saving. I know for a fact that you dont have to be anywhere near wealthy to own multiple firearms and shoot regularly. With how cheap you can buy a decent handgun or build an AR now days, then upgrade it over time, the only thing standing in people's way of being armed is their own lack of financial discipline and poor choice of priorities.
     

    russc2542

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    24   0   0
    Oct 24, 2015
    2,111
    83
    Columbus
    I feel like even though there are more people getting licenses and more gun sales going on, I worry it's not as good as we'd like:

    How many are truly interested and arming up and adopting the right mindset vs
    -Just getting a LTCH to try it out or just in case (like IN where we have a (relatively) cheap, low-requirements lifetime permit).
    -Getting on board with the idea but not really 2A people or gun people.
    -Buying a gun out of fear/impulse but will lose interest or decide it's scary after all.
    -Buying a gun to put in a shoebox in the closet "just in case".
     

    Phase2

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    6   0   0
    Dec 9, 2011
    7,014
    27
    I feel like even though there are more people getting licenses and more gun sales going on, I worry it's not as good as we'd like:

    How many are truly interested and arming up and adopting the right mindset vs
    -Just getting a LTCH to try it out or just in case (like IN where we have a (relatively) cheap, low-requirements lifetime permit).
    -Getting on board with the idea but not really 2A people or gun people.
    -Buying a gun out of fear/impulse but will lose interest or decide it's scary after all.
    -Buying a gun to put in a shoebox in the closet "just in case".

    Probably about the same number as those that preceded them.
     

    Sniper 79

    Master
    Rating - 100%
    19   0   0
    Oct 7, 2012
    2,939
    48
    I've seen an uptick once IL lifted the ban a few years ago. New shops popped up and people were gun crazy for awhile.
     

    1nderbeard

    Master
    Local Business Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    38   0   0
    Apr 3, 2017
    2,529
    113
    Hendricks County
    Obama is out, but a whole flock of democrats is still proposing crazy legislation from gun confiscation to removal of the freedom of religion. Personally, that has motivated me in multiple purchases this year. I'm not even really an AR15 guy, and I built two this year.
     

    COOPADUP

    Accipiter
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    8   0   0
    Aug 8, 2017
    6,670
    113
    Hamilton County
    Yes people are buying more guns but they are buying 1 a carry gun etc. After that they have no interest and are not real gun buyers collectors etc. As stated above most have no money to pursue or finance the hobby. We are entering a time where a generation will not have financial abilities to afford guns or will they care to. I've seen it getting worse demonization of guns no money makes it worse. I think we will se a time where laws will pass to ban guns and few will care because they have no interest in them. The fact that we have a constitution and a right is irrelevant because they've been taught that is not to matter.

    There is a younger generation that does seem to just buy a carry gun then it just sits in the safe. But I know a number of younger folks that are very engaged in training and practice. Once you get the gun bug, it's hard to not consider purchases from time to time.
     

    DoggyDaddy

    Grandmaster
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    73   0   1
    Aug 18, 2011
    102,029
    77
    Southside Indy
    There is a younger generation that does seem to just buy a carry gun then it just sits in the safe. But I know a number of younger folks that are very engaged in training and practice. Once you get the gun bug, it's hard to not consider purchases [STRIKE]from time to time[/STRIKE] constantly.

    FIFY... ;)
     
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