Why don't significantly more people own handguns?

[BRobb19]

I am specifically referring to the vast number of Americans who WOULD be approved if they applied for a permit/license, and can also afford to buy a handgun and ammo.

There are so many millions of these people who don't own guns. WHY?

 

[kingpin008]

That's a pretty nebulous question to ask. Sorta like "why don't more people own racquetball sets, or exotic sports cars?

For starters, many people don't like guns, for whatever reason. Many don't care either way. Many are ignorant of the necessary steps that must be undertaken, so they don't bother. Others are too poor to afford to shoot. Others can afford it, but like to spend their money and time on other things.

And on, and on, and on....

 

[7mmstalker]

1.Most common use for handguns is defense or law enforcement, many Americans don't have the will to play in those sports.
2.They are harder to master for most people than a rifle, takes more time and effort to get confident and comfortable, many Americans want their hobbies to be easy and comfy.
3.Difficult to hunt with (see #2), many Americans beleive the only legitimate reason to own guns is hunting.
I'm sure there are many other reasons, those are just the most common ones I've heard from otherwise "normal" poeple that I've asked.

 

[george29]

I think for every known gun owner, there is at least one closet gun owner. It's not PC to be known as a gun owner, kids won't be allowed to come over to play with the kids of known gun owners, etc.
Think of it like this, we know there has to be at least 10,000,000 gun owners, but there are only 4,000,000 NRA members, why? Same equation. I figure that 50% that vote the conservative ticket are gun owners, and 20% of the liberals are also.
50% of 56,000,000 = 28,000,000 and 20% of 63,000,000 = 13,000,000 so by this very crude and total imaginary calculation we have 41,000,000 gun owners in the USA of which only 10% belong to the NRA.

These numbers make sense when the figure for weapons in the hands of US citizens stands at approximately 750,000,000 Actually, they make little sense and it means that if the 750,000,000 number is correct then it would make more sense that at least double the amount of Americans are gun owners.

 

[BHP FAN]

George nailed it in one.There are a LOT of folks out there that own grandpa's old .45,or .38 M&P,and wiselytell no one.

 

[7.62X25mm]

Deus Beatus nostra patria Per Licentia

"Licentia" is "license" as in "take license" "lawlessness" "licentious."

You're thinking "libertas" or "libertatis."

 

[Treo]

I am specifically referring to the vast number of Americans who WOULD be approved if they applied for a permit/license,

Where I live no permit or license is required to own a hand gun i think there are far more handguns out here than you realize

 

[evan price]

Why don't more people own pickup trucks? God knows enough of them ask me to help them move stuff in mine...

 

[jakemccoy]

That's a nebulous question. I'd have to narrow the question substantially in order to answer it coherently.

 

[Aaron12]

Can you make 3 inch groups at 250 yards with a handgun??

 

[moooose102]

personally, i think that there are so many people out there who are in denial about their own personal security, that they just dont think they need one. they think that the cops have their back, and nothing bad is ever going to happen to them. so why spend a bunch of money on something they will never use, and lug it around. then, there is the scared factor. a percentage of people are afraid of the loud noise, and / or recoil. or actually taking someones life.the last one is a VERY IMPORTANT decision. if you can not pull the trigger to defend yourself, you have no reason to own a handgun! we all know the reasons why. i am certain, that many people who really could defend themselfs, have convinced themselfs that they could not. mostly, because they have never been attacked. yes, the chances of being attacked are pretty small, but the consequences of being attacked are HUGE! if i just had me to worry about, i may not carry. but i have a family, and there is no way in hell that i am going to let anything really bad happen to any of us if i can help it! chances are, if we are held up, and the guy just wants our money, he can have it. it is not that big of a deal. but if he is going to do harm to any of us, he is going to have a bad day!

 

[highorder]

Why don't more people own pickup trucks? God knows enough of them ask me to help them move stuff in mine...

Hey Evan, I bought a TV, and need to get it home. Are you near Cincinnati?

 

[Firethorn]

I also live in a state with no permits/registration other than for CCW.

I think I remember seeing a statistic once that had handguns being the most numerous if you split by handgun/rifle/shotgun.

Still:
1. Most handguns run about as much as a new HDTV
2. Limited areas to shoot. Populations have expanded, new gun ranges haven't kept up.
3. 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' - Many just own an older revolver and a single box of ammo for self defense purposes.

Overall, I agree with George.

The thing to remember is that we're the enthusiasts - much like how I'm a computer nut, and have a good gaming rig - but recommend $300 computers to my grandparents, as it'll do everything they want/need.

Many more people own A gun, but they don't regularly go shooting it, don't have a range membership. They aren't 'proficient' with it, but on average they still manage to beat the criminals with said weapon when it comes down to it.

 

[bdickens]

What about people in free states who don't need Big Brother's permission to buy a handgun?

 

[Intrepid Dad]

I think many people are like I was a few years ago before I woke up to the need for self-defense. Before that I believed that it was the government's role to protect us and that a gun in the home would most likely result in a child being shot. Essentially, I believed the Brady Bunch press releases.

Hurricane Katrina woke me up to the reality that government can't be everywhere at once. Unfortunately, many Americans didn't learn the same lesson I did and still remain in a state of blissful ignorance.

 

[Rimmer]

kingpin008
That's a pretty nebulous question to ask. Sorta like "why don't more people own racquetball sets, or exotic sports cars?

For starters, many people don't like guns, for whatever reason. Many don't care either way. Many are ignorant of the necessary steps that must be undertaken, so they don't bother. Others are too poor to afford to shoot. Others can afford it, but like to spend their money and time on other things.

And on, and on, and on....

Excellent reply!

(FYI on the number of gun owners. BATFE says 80MM owners and 200MM firearms in the USA.)

 

[Deanimator]

A lot of people believe the assinine lie that the police have a duty to protect them or even CAN.

It's not like the media is going to actually tell them what the response time of their local police department is... if 911 handles the call correctly, much less pose the question of whether they think they can do laps around their kitchen table, pursued by a knife wielding maniac until the cops do show up... IF they do.

 

[welldoya]

I think some people don't own a gun simply because they don't have a clue as to how to go about it. It's foreign to them. They didn't grow up with guns and don't know anybody who can teach them.
Going into a gunshop for some people would be like me going into a jewelry shop. They'd be lost and would have no idea what to buy. Then after they bought one, they'd have no idea what to do with it.

 

[Steve Raacke]

So many reasons...
It's like asking how come more people don't own cb radios or more people don't go bowling.
How come everyone doesn't have smoke detectors in their homes?
Home come everyone doesn't have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, the car and each bedroom?
How come everyone hasn't certified in CPR or First Aid and keep a FAK in their home and car?
How come everyone doesn't have a 3 day food and emergency supply kit (72 hour pack)? Is your Bug Out Bag packed and ready to go?
What? Not firearms related? Ok,...
How about why don't more people don't own firearms appropriate for militia service?
How come everyone doesn't have a battle pack of rifle ammo ready to go, a set of TA50 in the closet next to the rifle and a decent M17 or M40 gas mask with spare filters? (I promise not to rant about how difficult it is finding filters for my M17 masks these days.)

Face it. Everyone has a reaon why they would not want a gun around.
Like those who are not scared of the gun but of themselves. They don't trust themselves to own weapons or have come to expect their protection to be the job of the local police agency.
I work with people who don't own guns because they tell me straight to my face that if they did they would probably be in prison for losing their temper and popping a cap in someone. They, like many people, don't trust themselves to have a gun nearby. They are irresponsible, know it and don't want to have firearms around.
I work with others who have irresponsible people around them all the time. The female coworker who's drug using, alcoholic brother is staying at her home because he's unemployeed and a total looser is a good example. She has a history of drug use and, though she's clean now, still has others in her life who can't be trusted anywhre near a gun. At the same time, she's afraid that by having a gun herself she may have to one day use it against one of the idiots in her life. She finds it crazy that I choose to carry a gun. She can't think anything except that I'll looking to shoot someone or that someone will shoot me because I carry.
Many people don't see the need. Their lives havn't been changed by violence or the threat of violence. There are lots of good people in this world. They are working 80 hours a week then their free time is spent with close family or doing charity. They are out building Habitat For Humanity homes. They are doing charity bike-a-thons or fun runs to raise money for diseases that they want to cure. They probably wonder why you are busy at the firing range when you could be out saving the rain forests or raising money to spay and nuter stray cats and dogs. They don't go into dangerous neighborhoods and don't hang around with criminals.

Some members of this board are living in a mindset closed to the realities of the society they really live in. You go to gun ranges and gun shows. You read in and post on gun forums. You hang out with friends and family who are gun owners. It's almost cult like. You get this distorted worldview.
It's like when we have a thread about a shooting in some anti-gun/gun free zone place and several people post about what a difference it would have made if CCW was allowed. As if suddenly the mall, hospital, resturant, Dunkens Donuts or wherever would be packed to the rafters with responsible citizens all armed and trained to respond to a threat. It's BS. Even in shall issue states with liberal carry laws you still have a very small percentage of citizens get permits, training and then carry everyday everywhere allowed by law.
Why don't significantly more people own handguns? Because significantly more people don't give a rats rearend about handguns. They have other priorities in their lives.

 

[HoosierQ]

A whole lot of people just couldn't care less about owning a firearm. They grew up without them, their friends may not have them (or as noted above don't let on).

I think we need to recognize that there are really three groups out there when it come to ownership: 1) People like us who choose to own firearms and/or shoot, 2) Those who make a choice not to own firearms or shoot..."they scare me", "they're dangerous", "they're for killing things" etc., and 3) A whole bunch of people who, if they have $600 dollars burning a hole in there pocket would spend it on some piece of electronics, or designer shoes, or furniture, who just couldn't possibly care less about owning a firearm...on way or the other.

Group 3 is where we need to educate so even if they still would rather have a stereo than a Sig...they don't vote against liberty and the 2ndA.

PS. I suppose there is a group 4, the long gun only people but I have to think they would own a handgun if they had the money. My father had 7 long guns and 1 .22 pistol...just not a handgun guy but 100% pro-firearm.

 

[hso]

As said before, most folks don't see a need to own a handgun so they don't. Most states don't require any prior approval to own a gun (excluding the 4473 and NICS). No permits, no permission and there are huge numbers of folks that don't own handguns and don't feel the need to.

Remember it's a right, not a requirement.

Don't assume that because we perceive a need that others do as well.

 

[WVMountainBoy]

I have many friends who don't own a firearm, for many different reasons. Several of my close friends had no exposure to weapons growing up and now that they have kids of their own they believe now is not the time to be on a learning curve. Several just have no interest in the expense, responsibility, and time consumption that responsible gun ownership requires. I've had to tell several people that unless you're willing to put the time and effort into learning about your chosen weapon you're better off counting on your kitchen knives for self defense as atleast you've handled those before and know where they are most of the time.

 

[22-rimfire]

I think a lot of people don't own firearms because they see no need for them and money is always in short supply. Most of those people have had no exposure to shooting firearms. Personally, I never had any desire for a handgun of any kind until my life moved in a direction that carrying a rifle around was a bit cumbersome. So, once you make the plunge and begin to shoot, you will usually own firearms for the rest of your life.

I would like to know why there are so few NRA members when there are so many gun owners?

 

[jackdanson]

I don't know. Many are delusional. One guy I work with stated he is pro NRA, but also pro AWB. I told him that is contradictory and proceeded to show him how a mini-14 and an AR shoot the same ammo out of the same length barrel, yet the AR will be banned because of how it looks, not because it is more "deadly". He then clarified that he is still pro 2a, but he thinks all semi-autos should be banned.... ::facepalm::

I then asked him if "sniper rifles" should be banned and he said yes. (I know he has a remmy 700) I told him to turn in his remmy at the first chance he gets.

 

[22-rimfire]

Until you convince people that their gun rights may be subject to a lot of red tape in the future or owning selected guns may not be considered "reasonable", you won't get much action. A sizable percentage of the population don't even know the name of the vice president or the vice president elect as was clearly demonstrated repeatedly on some of the news and talk/entertainment TV shows during the national presidential election.

75% of the population won't even know when their gun rights are restricted. Half of those don't care. But if the freedom of speech or the press was somehow restricted.... all "heck" would break loose. The revolution in the colonies was started by a few activists and was not supported by the majority of the citizens. These activists would be considered extremists in todays world or far right or left. People have to be lead. This will not change.