US Gun Ownership At Lowest Level In 40 Years

[jaF0]

American gun ownership drops to lowest in nearly 40 years
Washington Post - ‎5 hours ago‎



The percent of American households owning guns is at a near-40 year low in the latest CBS News poll released this month. According to the survey, which was conducted among 1,001 Americans in the aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shooting, 36 percent ...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...erican-gun-ownership-is-now-at-a-30-year-low/



If that's accurate, the NRA may be losing after all.

 

[stickygirl]

Same article
"A 2004 survey found that the average gun owner owned 6.6 firearms, and that the top 3 percent of gun owners owned about 25 guns each. More recently, a CBS News poll taken in March of this year found that roughly 1 in 5 gun owners owned 10 guns or more."
"But gun purchases, as measured by FBI firearm background checks, are at historic highs. And data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms shows that gun manufacturers are churning out record numbers of guns."
nope - NRA are doing fine

 

[lovecraft68]

Guns get to be like anything else. If you buy one and you like shooting at the range, you end up getting another one, then another one.

Plus there are people who are outright collectors of...everything they ever buy.

There are people who compete and there's different competitions for different guns.

I also think that hot on the heels of that Florida Tragedy some of those 1001 may have been lying.

I have...more than one, way less than 25.

 

[Pookie]

https://www.thetrace.org/2016/01/ne...ped-by-47-million-following-sandy-hook-surge/


New NRA Tax Filing Shows Membership Revenues Dropped by $47 Million Following Sandy Hook Surge
The seesawing numbers found in its 2014 New York state disclosure belie the group's image as a political juggernaut.

BY ALEX YABLON· @ALEXYABLON·January 23, 2016
The National Rifle Association’s (NRA) New York state financial disclosure forms for 2014 are now online, and like past years’ tax filings, the documents provide a rare glimpse at the organization’s inner machinery. The group’s total revenues fell from more than $347 million in 2013 to roughly $310 million. Contributing to the decline was a drop in income collected from its members. Revenue from annual dues fell from $175 million to $128 million in 2014, a drop of 27 percent.

 

[Hard_Rom]

Guns get to be like anything else. If you buy one and you like shooting at the range, you end up getting another one, then another one.

Plus there are people who are outright collectors of...everything they ever buy.

There are people who compete and there's different competitions for different guns.

I also think that hot on the heels of that Florida Tragedy some of those 1001 may have been lying.

I have...more than one, way less than 25.

Like fishing rods. Can't own just one. I have one of each type or more. Fly rods, bait casters, spin casters, down rigger rods, ultra lights, various lengths etc.

I could see myself owning at least 10 guns if I was so inclined. Shotguns of a couple of gauges, rifles of various calibers, antiques of various periods. Maybe more than 10. Pure target gun (Olympic style), pure long range. And a few handguns. Cap and ball revolvers, cool. An AR all blinged out.
Toys! A .410 will suffice for 75% of needs.

 

[Rachel_X]

The next thing on my list is a crossbow. While not technically a gun, there's something very appealing about them.
Some people like flowers and art, others like firearms and farts.

 

[Que]

I know I would be keen to answer somebody called me up and asked me what kind of firearms I had around the place whether I had any gold stored at home, and whether I had any valuable jewelry or tools.

Always great to have an opportunity to brag about your easilly disposed of assets over the phone to a stranger

 

[Hard_Rom]

The next thing on my list is a crossbow. While not technically a gun, there's something very appealing about them.
Some people like flowers and art, others like firearms and farts.

Good for hunting. Totally unrestricted up here. Basic hunter safety course all that is required. Extended seasons over guns. Cheap. Can take down moose. Not much good against flying fowl but good for turkeys. Easy to use as a gun. Even have scopes.

Noisy things. At the archery range kind of distracting when one goes of beside you.

 

[jaF0]

The next thing on my list is a crossbow. While not technically a gun, there's something very appealing about them.
Some people like flowers and art, others like firearms and farts.

http://6abc.com/news/philly-man-charged-with-murder-in-wifes-death-by-crossbow/1402600/

 

[lovecraft68]

The next thing on my list is a crossbow. While not technically a gun, there's something very appealing about them.
Some people like flowers and art, others like firearms and farts.

I have one, they're a lot easier to use than a bow and arrow which I was always terrible with.

 

[phrodeau]

Who would lie and tell a stranger over the phone that they don't have a gun? It's much more likely that those who don't have guns would tell strangers that they do.

 

[cfuhrer]

Who would lie and tell a stranger over the phone that they don't have a gun? It's much more likely that those who don't have guns would tell strangers that they do.

How do you figure that?

 

[sr71plt]

Who would lie and tell a stranger over the phone that they don't have a gun? It's much more likely that those who don't have guns would tell strangers that they do.

I tried covering that with Rom on another thread. He took "scientific certainty of interview polls" very seriously and put me (he claims) on ignore.

 

[phrodeau]

How do you figure that?

"Hello, do you have a gun in your home?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure I do. I'm not defenseless here. In fact, it's right next to me, with bullets in it and everything."

 

[cfuhrer]

https://www.thetrace.org/2016/01/ne...ped-by-47-million-following-sandy-hook-surge/


New NRA Tax Filing Shows Membership Revenues Dropped by $47 Million Following Sandy Hook Surge
The seesawing numbers found in its 2014 New York state disclosure belie the group's image as a political juggernaut.

BY ALEX YABLON· @ALEXYABLON·January 23, 2016
The National Rifle Association’s (NRA) New York state financial disclosure forms for 2014 are now online, and like past years’ tax filings, the documents provide a rare glimpse at the organization’s inner machinery. The group’s total revenues fell from more than $347 million in 2013 to roughly $310 million. Contributing to the decline was a drop in income collected from its members. Revenue from annual dues fell from $175 million to $128 million in 2014, a drop of 27 percent.

That doesn't account for life members. There are four life members in our family and we haven't given them a penny in nearly a decade.

 

[cfuhrer]

"Hello, do you have a gun in your home?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure I do. I'm not defenseless here. In fact, it's right next to me, with bullets in it and everything."

"Hello, do you have a gun in your home?"

"That's none of your business." :dial tone:

 

[Hard_Rom]

"Hello, do you have a gun in your home?"

"Uh, yeah. Sure I do. I'm not defenseless here. In fact, it's right next to me, with bullets in it and everything."

Not up here that would be illegal. Stolen guns are a huge source of weapons for criminals. I would have to be very sure it was a legit call. Saying you have guns is a lot riskier than just hanging up or even saying no.

It's best to keep quiet if you have firearms. Even if stored legally. While you're at work they have lots of time to crack open many gun safes.

 

[MichaelinChina]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...erican-gun-ownership-is-now-at-a-30-year-low/



If that's accurate, the NRA may be losing after all.

Depends who they surveyed!

 

[spacekowboy]

So it's a buyers market is what you'really telling me?


Sweet! I'm gonna go stock up.

 

[Hard_Rom]

That doesn't account for life members. There are four life members in our family and we haven't given them a penny in nearly a decade.

Of course life members are going to be die hard NRA supporters. But it does show that new members are not replacing those who are not so hardcore and leave after awhile.

The OFAH (Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Ontario's strongest pro-gun lobbyists) offer cool deals on fishing gear for new members. I know quite a few who take advantage of that. Then let membership lapse and resign up a two years later. Not really OFAH supporters just getting free stuff is the point.

 

[sr71plt]

Not up here that would be illegal. Stolen guns are a huge source of weapons for criminals. I would have to be very sure it was a legit call. Saying you have guns is a lot riskier than just hanging up or even saying no.

It's best to keep quiet if you have firearms. Even if stored legally. While you're at work they have lots of time to crack open many gun safes.

So what you're saying is that such a "scientific" information-collecting poll might be answered with lies(?)

 

[Sean Renaud]

Guns get to be like anything else. If you buy one and you like shooting at the range, you end up getting another one, then another one.

Plus there are people who are outright collectors of...everything they ever buy.

There are people who compete and there's different competitions for different guns.

I also think that hot on the heels of that Florida Tragedy some of those 1001 may have been lying.

I have...more than one, way less than 25.

Some of those people MAY have been lying but if you look at the polls there is a fairly steady decline. Now it's POSSIBLE a few more people lie every year than did the year before. But I doubt it. It seems that the reality is that a lot of families did have guns for hunting and defense of livestock. The correlation between farmers in particular and rural life in general and gun ownership is pretty high.

And this isn't the first poll that has suggested that while guns have continually gone up it is in the hands of increasingly few people.

 

[MichaelinChina]

and of course the poll was conducted just post Orlando, when the issue was still strong in people's minds. It's quite possible people felt sickened by the carnage done by the shooter and ashamed they owned guns and so, lied.

And we have to ask how representative the survey was. But hey such a technicality might spoil a good story right?

 

[Sean Renaud]

and of course the poll was conducted just post Orlando, when the issue was still strong in people's minds. It's quite possible people felt sickened by the carnage done by the shooter and ashamed they owned guns and so, lied.

And we have to ask how representative the survey was. But hey such a technicality might spoil a good story right?

Pew conducts the survey roughly every 2 years.

Granted mass shootings happen so often that people might feel sickened and lie every single time. . .in steadily increasing numbers year after year after year for over thirty years. Is that the story you would like to run with?

 

[Hard_Rom]

NRA tax filings are a far better representation of the strength of the pro-gun faction. Though many may quietly buy a gun for hunting or even home protection and not join the NRA. Another source of junk mail and spam e-mails perhaps. Support of hunting and simple home protection may not translate into NRA support.

NRA may be lacking relevancy.

Our entire club rejected OFAH membership and many left due to it's oversell of liability insurance. Secondary liability insurance too, after your home insurance paid out.

The vote went to not become 100% affiliated because it occurred during deer hunting season and a few went hunting instead of staying in town to vote for their federation.