What state has the highest percentage of gunnies

[RugerGuy]

The top 5 "shall issue" states in terms of percentage of eligible adults having carry permits:

(http://blogostuff.blogspot.com/2004/12/percentage-of-adults-with-carry.html)

7.45% South Dakota
6.79% Indiana
6.76% Pennsylvania
5.23% Connecticut
5.12% Washington

Would you by any chance know about top states with handgun ownership per capita? I was told about 15 years ago that Maine was was second only to Alaska for handgun ownership by the instructor we had. I was just wondering if it was true. Thanks

 

[spooney]

I believe Montana has the highest percentage of hunters, fwiw.

 

[Kodiaz]

Hey Joab you might be on to something. I talk to a couple guys at work about guns and all of them have guns . And the salesman at my job who I don't talk to much had an N.D. (shot himself in the foot) . The gun he shot himself with he bought from my boss . I love my job.

 

[PCGS65]

Hey Joab you might be on to something. I talk to a couple guys at work about guns and all of them have guns . And the salesman at my job who I don't talk to much had an N.D. (shot himself in the foot) . The gun he shot himself with he bought from my boss . I love my job.

Are they hiring? Can you CCW on the job? LOL

 

[Cosmoline]

AFAIK everyone in this state has some form of firearm. There's no lower 48 state that can really compare. Just look at the elections. There are no real antis. The conservatives have over 20 firearms, the liberals over five, while the inevitable crazy third party guy has a bunker somewhere in the hills.

 

[bumm]

Very difficult to guess which state would have the highest percentage of gun ownership. I grew up in Nebraska and live in Iowa now. I'd suspect the level of handgun ownership isn't particularly high, but most everybody I know has at least one long gun somewhere in the house. Lots of pheasant and deer hunters, and even if someone doesn't hunt, guns last a LONG time.
Marty

 

[oweno]

This is not exactly the answer to your question but ... maybe 10 years ago I read somewhere that Alaska has the highest per-capita NRA membership, New Hampshire was second highest.

I'd guess that this statistic came from 'The American Rifleman' but I'm not sure...like I said, it's been maybe 10 years since I read it.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

AFAIK everyone in this state has some form of firearm. There's no lower 48 state that can really compare. Just look at the elections. There are no real antis. The conservatives have over 20 firearms, the liberals over five, while the inevitable crazy third party guy has a bunker somewhere in the hills.

I am betting he is right. I go to Alaska aevery year and almost everyone seems to own a firearm.

 

[waterhouse]

I'd have to guess Alaska as well, or perhaps somewhere like Montana or Wyoming. Some state with a ton of land, not too many people, and a general statewide mindset that you are far from help and responsible for taking care of yourself. Plus they have those big ol' bears up there in Alaska, so you'd have to be a crazt person to not own a gun

 

[NineseveN]

As some of the posts have stated, PA is up there, but perhaps not first. I do know that the Alleghenny County Sherrif's Office touts that they issue more CCW permits than any other county in the United States. If it wasn't for Philadelphia, we might be tops state-wise.

I would think Alaska is up there per-capita with Texas being lower than one might think.

 

[Meplat]

Alaska's population is comparatively small versus it's land mass. I'm thinking Texas or maybe one of the northern midwest states, like MN or WI.

Actually, since the question was asked "per capita", then having a small population would make it easier to sway the figures in one direction or another. Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Mississippi and a few others come to mind. All are states with relatively small populations who are more attuned to outdoor life, fishing and hunting - and thus I would think - more geared to the acceptance of and even an embracing of firearms ownership for a variety of reasons.

I've lived in two of the above, and know of very few homes that don't contain at least one firearm per household member.

 

[DocHarman]

and the answer is... West Virginia

DUH!

 

[aerod1]

My guess would have been Alaska.

Jim

 

[MNgoldenbear]

Gee, when I drove across it a couple years ago, I'd have said Wyoming. It looked like BOTH residents of the state had guns! Sorry. It just seemed like such a wide open space.

 

[carebear]

Gee, when I drove across it a couple years ago, I'd have said Wyoming. It looked like BOTH residents of the state had guns! Sorry. It just seemed like such a wide open space.

 

[PlayboyPenguin]

Gee, when I drove across it a couple years ago, I'd have said Wyoming. It looked like BOTH residents of the state had guns! Sorry. It just seemed like such a wide open space.

I know what you mean. I drove through Cheyenne during my move to the great NW. Not often you see a state where they had to remove the wheels from the capital building.

 

[Kodiaz]

Yeah quite a few people CCW. We're the heaviest armed AC company in Fl.

 

[carebear]

So the "cool" guys pack "heat"?

 

[lawdogso]

Not California!!! LOL...

 

[Stevie-Ray]

In terms of pure # of gunowners:

California: 6 million
Texas: 6.1 m
Florida: 3.6 m
Michigan: 2.5
Pennsylvania: 2.2

I figured Michigan would be at least near the top. We do love our guns here. And during hunting season, you can't get near a range.

 

[The_Antibubba]

Licensed and registered, that is

California: 6 million

I'm sure the REAL number is much higher.