Number of law-abiding U.S. gun owners?

[Robo_Railer]

Just wondering what the latest figure is on how many people in the U.S. (legally) own at least one gun.
On my favorite law enforcement forum, one member posted what he titled "Firearms refresher course." It was full of quotes like "A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone." I thought there was a lot of good material in there for taglines and/or bumper stickers.

One I particularly enjoyed was "64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday." Googling that returns 340 English pages with the phrase, and I don't want to weed through that to find out how accurate the number is.
Thoughts, anyone?

 

[Autolycus]

I dont think that you can honestly measure this. Define Law-abiding? Is speeding law abiding?

What about people who are in possession of an "illegal" gun? Or carry illegally? Is an unconstitutional law valid? I believe one supreme court case said it was not.

In my opinion it is impossible to give an accurate number. I think that we just need to know that the laws will only affect the law abiding and new gun control will only affect those who choose to follow it.

 

[CDignition]

"Law Abiding" in this case can be restrained to "Not using a firearm to harm Innocents".. We don't care about parking tickets or other sum such nonsense...

 

[Robo_Railer]

I think that we just need to know that the laws will only affect the law abiding and new gun control will only affect those who choose to follow it.

Well, we know that, but some folks who don't own a gun might be impressed by the big number. (Thinking of those who aren't anti-gun, but don't understand why we who do own guns are so against giving up anything to the Billary Brady Bunch.)

I guess if I can't cite a source for the almost-65-million figure, then no one can disprove it, either.

 

[alucard0822]

Most of the NRA reports I get talk about estimates of at least 80 million gun owners and 300 million guns, but it is a number that is near impossible to measure, as it should be.

 

[Autolycus]

Remember its also in how you interpret the statistics. Of those 80 million we have to wonder what the criteria was. Is it number of guns sold? Is it an survey of 1000 people then multiplied?

Remember that the majority of people who own guns are probably older and from my parents or grandparents generation. I am 25 for the record. And they are passing away. So we see that this can change.

Either way good luck with your quest.

 

[Robo_Railer]

"Law Abiding" in this case can be restrained to "Not using a firearm to harm Innocents".. We don't care about parking tickets or other sum such nonsense...

Exactly. Well said!
Thank you.

 

[longeyes]

beware the measurers

Data of this kind only serve to provide the various academic types with slop for their "studies," with all the attendant mischief that follows therefrom. The Second Amendment never was and never will be about "how many." That is, in esse, an anti-firearms speculation.