Guns owned is almost 1:1 ratio of the U.S. Population

[xd9fan]

www.connpost.com/business/ci_3904257

In 2005, Americans purchased 4.7 million new guns, the NSSF said, bringing the estimated total of citizen-owned guns to 290 million. These are legal sales; the number of guns sold illegally is not known.

The U.S. Census Bureau said Monday there are approximately 298 million Americans.

Its the gun owning pop. like 90 to 100 million. So the average is around 3 guns. I'm above average!! (and my guidance councelor said I would be normal...ha)

just imagine.....
if all those owners would be NRA, GOA, JFPOF memebers......

 

[leadcounsel]

The more antis try to steal our 2nd Amendment rights the more it encourages hoarding guns.

One of my primary reasons for buying (hoarding) guns is because of my legitimate concern that it may be difficult or impossible in the future. I suspect many feel the same way.

If they would just back off, then I suspect that gun sales might slow down.

 

[Autolycus]

That is why I want to get some of the more common calibers. 9mm , .40SW , and .45 ACP for my automatics. I will probably also get a .38 / .357 revolver and a .22 as well. Then I will move on to rifles.

 

[Steelcore]

I think the total is closer to 1 billion than 290 million.Gvmt figures are always low.

 

[Fly320s]

Are those sales figures for new guns or for guns that have been transferred through a dealer? Think of all of the used guns that were sold in private party transfers.

I think Steelcore is right; those figures are low.

 

[1 old 0311]

I do my part.

Kevin

 

[beerslurpy]

There are tons of unserialized pre 67 guns, smuggled guns, war trophies and homemade guns out there. And homemade doenst mean crappy- I mean 1911s, AKs, ARs, etc. I have heard numbers as high as 400 million (250 long guns, 150 pistols).

 

[boofus]

The hoard factor definitely comes into play. The klinton gun ban did absolutely nothing for public safety but taught me that what's cheap and plentiful today might be outrageously expensive tommorrow.

That's partly the reason I got into the Class 3 game. If I didn't do it now I never will be able to later. I'm probably going to stash away a few AR lowers in case The Beast actually muscles her way into power in 2008. She probably had william jefferson's nuts in a vise and came up with the whole AWB idea in the first place.

 

[Sistema1927]

It is my goal to keep my gun count higher than my age count. Now that I have passed the half-century mark, I see that I am "depriving" a bunch of fellow citizens of their right to be armed.

 

[KINGMAX]

Twenty - five and growing

All told, mixed w/ pistols, rifles and shotguns today a total of 25 firearms. I buy good stuff at bargain prices. I do not always buy brand new, but I try to get as good as I can afford at the time. The one piece that I really enjoy shooting that was a true unknown is my Heritage Birds Head grip, 22LR/22magnum combo. It is not the most attractive, but it feels great in the hand. It is built like a tank. :banghead: I use it to practice my pistol shooting techniques. It is the only single action I own that has a true safety on it. I have said it before: 'This is the best $99.00 I have ever spent on a new hand gun.' I really was just looking for a little 22 magnum for a carry gun to take into the woods, (it's a great snake gun, CCI # 9 shot in .22 mag), or on the boat that I wouldn't be so worried about beating it up. It has surpassed my expectations totally.

REMEMBER: Take a girl shooting - she will love you for it !!

 

[xd9fan]

The hoard factor definitely comes into play. The klinton gun ban did absolutely nothing for public safety but taught me that what's cheap and plentiful today might be outrageously expensive tommorrow.

I am in this camp.
Looking to get a bushy M4A3 AND a sigarms 556. A small part of why both is the bitter taste of the AWB. (and I have 3 small boys).....God only know what new infringements there will be.....in the name of "security"

 

[only1asterisk]

if there really are only 300 million out there, it makes me very sad. Every one of my guns is a person that is gunless.

David

 

[geekWithA.45]

Hoarding is a factor, but we have to keep the overall ownership rate up too.

If it ultimately get to the case where 12-13% of the population owns guns (the best numbers available for the dark & fascist state of NJ), there won't be enough people with "skin in the game" to care, or have the legal/historical/cultural background to know. Then the 20% of committed gun bigots can easily mislead the 50% of the agnostic, and the two will gang up on the 13%.

Viola: New Jersey, writ large.

 

[taliv]

yes, but with all the illegal immigration, the 298 population figure is also low. the ratio may still be close

 

[BigG]

I guess I got more than my share as I could arm a significant unit. Don't tell anybody I said this!

 

[KINGMAX]

I'm with Big G

Yes I could arm a group of at least 2 squads w/ a Long gun, pistol and knife each. I thought that was the way it should be.

All BS aside - I just collect for the fun of collecting and the enjoyment of the shooting sports.

 

[Lonestar.45]

Every time I hear of the UN gun ban coming, or ammunition taxes, or more bans in different states, it just enourages me to go out and pick up yet another gun. Preferably one with the evil features most in danger of being banned.

 

[DigitalWarrior]

OMG only1!

You are right! Every one of my guns is an unarmed person! That really puts it into perspective!

 

[lee n. field]

I have read, but do not know for a fact, that the US civilian population owns more firearms that everybody else in the whole world combined.

 

[CAnnoneer]

We still need more guns.

Moreover, we need more gunowners.

But most of all, we need more gunowners actively preaching about rights and freedom to the undecided majority.

 

[PCGS65]

I have 4 and plan on making it 5 soon.

 

[Husker1911]

If things ever got truly desperate in this country, I have a number of surplus military rifles with which I would probably arm a select number of worthy friends. Issue them a rifle and 40 rounds of ammo, and tell them to go forth and engage the enemy, and gather their arms and munitions. I'm keeping my FAL and Bulgarian AK for myself, thank you!

 

[WeedWhacker]

The more antis try to steal our 2nd Amendment rights the more it encourages hoarding guns.

In my case, this is fact. The sole reason I purchased my first firearm was because of one of the dumbest pieces of legislation ever to pass through the chambers of Congress: the 1994 "Assault Weapons" Ban.

As soon as I hit 21, I went out and bought a brand new pistol... and a couple pre-ban (HIGH CAPACITY OH NO!) magazines, besides.

 

[xd9fan]

This could be a great example of Govt-involed unintended consequences. I wonder if there is more guns in private hands due to more idiot gun laws by politicians. hmmm... more gun laws equal more guns.

The G-man needs to remember prohibition. This is about more than just drinking beer!

 

[halvey]

Are those sales figures for new guns or for guns that have been transferred through a dealer? Think of all of the used guns that were sold in private party transfers.

It says it right here:

In 2005, Americans purchased 4.7 million new guns

Used guns and private party sales are not included. Besides, a used gun sold from one person to another wouldn't increase the # of guns out there anyway.