Why are right-wingers/Republicans-on average-more likely to own guns?

[YoungDemCA]

(Apologies for the provocative thread title...)



As you can see, 56% of Republicans report living in a household with at least one firearm, compared to only 31% of Democrats.

It's even more stark a difference in gun ownership rates if measured in terms of ideology.



Note that the above is predictors of *personal* gun ownership, rather than *household* gun ownership. Conservatives are 1.5 times more likely to own guns than non-conservatives, compared to Republicans being 1.2 times more likely than non-Republicans.

Now, obviously there are plenty of other variables here, some of which are even stronger predictors of gun ownership among individuals than either ideology OR partisanship. Race and age are both equally strong predictors of gun ownership as ideology is, with whites and older Americans being both 1.5 times more likely to own guns as non-whites and younger Americans, respectively. We also see a big gap between the married and the non-married; the former are 1.7 times more likely to own guns than the latter. An equally large gap exists between Southerners and non-Southerners, with the former group being considerably more likely to own guns than the latter.

But the biggest gap of all-by far-in terms of individual gun ownership?

Gender. Men are 5 times as likely to own a firearm as women are.

Keep in mind, however, that all of the demographics in our country that are more likely to own a gun-men, whites, older Americans, married people, Southerners, rural Americans (or at least, "exurban" suburbanites closer to rural areas)-all of these groups, are also more likely to vote Republican and identify as "conservative", anyway.

So maybe....the original claim in my thread title is kind of a spurious one. It may be technically true, but it's misleading. I mean...there probably *is* a relationship between ideology, partisanship, and likelihood of gun ownership, but I don't think it's nearly as clear-cut as "conservatives/Republicans are more likely to own guns."

Thoughts?

[SummerSnow]

1. I thought about that too.

Well I think they never collectively thought about amassing an arsenal until the Obama fear in 2008. But they always say it's their constitutional rights.

[randys1]

26. right before he was elected I had a sporting goods store owner tell me he had to stock up on guns

and sell them before Obama outlawed them

TODAY the NRA is selling their mindless followers on supporting them because Obama is still going to to do it, their magazine the rifleman or whatever the idiotic thing is called is so fucking racist and full of shit it is almost humorous

[Adrahil]

49. Gun prices went nuts after Obama was elected.....

It was crazy. And I couldn't even buy cheap .22lr ammo for plinking.... It's still rare.

[RKP5637]

2. Republicans are fearful people, hence they are border paranoid most of the time and

load up on guns to pacify their unfounded fears about everything. Someone, something is always coming to get them. As for republican women, they probably need protection from their significant others.

[RadicalGeek]

6. Perhaps

Or it's the notion that they're becoming fewer and fewer as American becomes more diverse, tolerant and urban!

[RKP5637]

8. Very good point, that too! It no doubt fuels their unfounded fears and paranoia even more! n/t

[blm]

3. The last few decades of propagandizing them by nurturing their 'bunker mentality'

Any time you can appeal to their bunker mentality it's like hitting the lottery for, not only the gun industry, but, for the RW political industry.

[RadicalGeek]

7. Yep

<EOM>

[tularetom]

4. The question is backasswards

Should be "why are gun owners more likely to be republicans?"

And the answer is obvious, the republicans and their allies in the media have done an excellent job of portraying Democrats as advocates of firearms confiscation.

[Captain Stern]

22. Exactly what I was thinking

If the gun issue is somebody's most important issue, it only makes sense that they would oppose the party that they believe is trying to take away their right to own a firearm, even though they are mistaken in their beliefs.

You're right in saying that the republicans and their allies have done an excellent job of portraying democrats as advocates of firearms confiscation. But, frustratingly, there are plenty of people on the democratic side that not only don't do anything to quelch that notion, but actually affirm it.

[B Calm]

30. Simply amazing, considering Brady is a Republican.

[Kalidurga]

5. Biology

Republicans are more likely to have a larger amygdala system therefore are more likely to feel a need for protection. Then factor rural vs urban and there is another percentage of gun owners. Then factor in an actual need to hunt. Factor in a culture that believes in self sufficiency even when faced with an intruder.

Now not everyone with a larger amygdala is going to be right wing and not everyone who has a gun has a larger amygdala. But, it's probably enough to account for a larger percentage of RWers having guns.

[RKP5637]

15. Thank you for posting this! I was going to add that to my reply, but was

hopeful someone would point this out too. And basically, IMO, is why one can not talk them out of their unfounded fears. In short, they can not help themselves.

[Kalidurga]

21. No they can't really

But I think a lot can be done to make sure there is better gun safety education so that at least few children get fatally shot and wounded with guns. Well children and adults, but I think children are more vulnerable to accidents than homicide.

[valerief]

18. This woman can't feel fear, because she's missing an amygdala.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-12017039

Lead researcher Justin Feinstein said: "Because she is missing her amygdala, she is also missing the ability to detect and avoid danger in the world.

[valerief]

9. Guns are part of Teh Stoopid culture. nt

[RKP5637]

17. The US certainly has enough of that to go around IMO. n/t

[samsingh]

10. because repugs are stupid.

[arcane1]

11. They are easily frightened, and believe what they see on television.

Plus, guns in popular media are used as a stand-in for male sexuality, and they fall for that 100%.

[JoePhilly]

12. Three reasons.

1) They are fearful.
2) They are more rural ... rural folks often actually need a gun.
3) They see themselves as just as brave and important as the founding fathers.

That last point is the key one.

They hold a delusion that they are just like the founders, fighting tyranny, ready to die .. blah blah blah.

The gun is part of their save the world fantasy.

[C_U_L8R]

13. 100% Paranoid

Compounded by 200% Gullibility.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

14. The numbers that actually stand out in that to me?

The rural/suburban/urban crosstab, because that's the only place that Dems really come close to matching Republicans. Rural Dems own guns at a rate almost as high as rural Repubs. That sorta tells me that we might do better if we were to focus more on pistols ("personal safety weapons&quot than rifles ("hunting weapons&quot .

Sure, the high profile 'mass shooters' use things bigger than pistols a lot, but the majority of regular shootings are pistols, and you make the 'hunting Dems' nervous when you start going after long guns, even just AR's.

[wandy]

16. I wonder if the question apply to areas other than guns..........

Why are teapublicans obsessed with strong leaders (or at least leaders who use strong language?
Why are teapublicans obsessed with war at the drop of a hat?
Why are teapublicans obsessed with voter fraud?
Why are teapublicans obsessed with climate change?
Why are teapublicans agitated/frightened by LBGT?
Why are teapublicans agitated/frightened by people not the same color they are?
Why are teapublicans agitated/frightened by people not the same religion as they are?
Why are teapublicans agitated/frightened by people not as well of as they are?

Why are teapublicans so self-righteous?
Did I just answer my own question?

[justice1]

19. Most people where I live that owns firearms are farmers, military and hunters.

I really only know of one gun nut, considering how much nerve damage he has in his hands after almost killing himself drinking and driving, everyone that knows him wonders if he could even shoot a gun.

I do find it ironic that he would vote for people based on the 2nd amendment, not realizing they are the same people that would love to get rid of disability payments.

[Hoyt]

20. They are paranoid, callous, bigots, intimidators, bullies, pissants, and worse.

[Prophet 451]

23. It's about fear

The entire conservative ideology these days is built on fear. Fear of others, fear of change, fear of everything. Conservative high priests play on fear because fear goes straight to the amygdala, the least evolved part of the brain. It's like a short-cut bypassing all the higher brain functions. One way of alleviating that fear, in the US anyway, is to own a gun (not always true in other countries because the social construction of a firearm is different there).

[baldguy]

43. Assuming that 'change' automatically *does* mean absolutely anything

Just proves the posters point.

[Eleanors38]

24. Fastest growing gun-ownership groups: Women and self-ID Democrats.

According to Gallup survey released in 2012.

[baldguy]

44. Propaganda works.

RW fear-mongers have known that for millennia.

[Eleanors38]

45. Fear feeds on fear. We should all know that.

[santamargarita]

25. When the Lord said Dicks they thought he said Hicks and they got in line twice.

[JaneyVee]

27. FEEEEAR!

[randys1]

28. America has a sickness and it is called gunitis

[truebluegreen]

48. I think it's more a case of collective insanity.

Love of Gunz is only part of it.

[Mister Nightowl]

29. Fear

[dembotoz]

31. in my state dems traditionaly have not sought out the sportsman class

we left it to republicans and the took them in.

this brewed rather accurately a repub pro gun, dem antigun reputation.

This was fostered by the nra as a way to sell more hardware which is where the nra has always been.

and it has truth to it. in my state most dem pols would not be caught dead in hunter orange. Republicans would not be caught dead without a number of orange or camo outfits in the closet--even if those outfits were purchased at a fine shop in an exclusive shopping area.

[Adrahil]

50. There is a certain amount of smugness in that, yes?

A know a number of folks who would be inclined to support Democratic economic policies, but who feel disrespected by the D's because they like to hunt, or have a gun in the house for protection. They either don't vote, or vote for the R's.

Honestly, I think this is an issue that really hurts us right now. I know it really matters to so,e here, but I think their energies are misplaced.

[rhett o rick]

32. Of course the glaring stand out statistic is the Male / Female 5 to 1.

I think that statistic tells a lot. The other statistics are rather close and I was surprised to see that education didn't make more of a difference. So what is different between men and women that would account for this lopsided statistic? Here is my guess. In my humble opinion men have a greater need to prove their "manhood". I don't think women have anything similar. Our society expects men to be physically stronger and more "protective" or at least I think men think that. I think that a lot of men view gun ownership as a component of their virility.

That's my shot. I hope I haven't pissed off all demographics. I, of course, was generalizing.

[tabbycat31]

34. Maybe the men are trying to make up for something else

The same could be said for driving the biggest truck, etc.

(I'm a northeastern female who's never owned a gun. Don't have any desire to fire one).

If I went too far, shoot me for saying this. I just had to.

[rhett o rick]

39. Don't get me wrong, as with most things both genders share responsibility.

But I do have to say that there is a special place in my heart for the men that drive the huge trucks with the huge tires and a gun in their gun rack and drinking Bud Ultra Light with a water chaser. What's that all about.

[seveneyes]

33. A Liberal Contrarian would neither ask nor answer such a poll

They would just defend themselves upon need.

[Pisces]

35. Fear rules their lives. Fear of God, Fear of the Government, Fear of foreigners, fear of the unknown

[Jenoch]

36. I think the biggest reason is geography.

residents of metropolitan areas generally identify more as Democrats and have a much lower rate of firearms ownership. States with less dense population centers generally vote more conservative and have a higher rate of gun ownership. My therory ilonly refers to gun ownership by people who are legally qualified to own guns. For example, this does not take into account the 150,000 gang members living in Chicago. Of course, it is unlikely that many of them are registered voters.

[eallen]

37. Guns have been made a political totem

The right-wing has turned guns into a symbol. The gun is now like the cross and the Bible. Because of that, there now are many conservatives who ten years ago would not have dreamed of owning a gun, who since have bought one. Or three. They may live in an eastern city. They likely don't hunt. Many of them don't even like to shoot. But by God they have that new gun tucked away on the top shelf of their closet with five boxes of ammo. It makes them feel like Real Americans(tm). The message has gotten through to them loud and clear.

And it pisses me off, because they have driven the price of ammo through the roof. And on the rare occasion that they do go to the range, they have piss-poor muzzle control.

[freshwest]

38. Really need to have geography factor in more in the graphs. I think it's the main factor.

I've lived in extreme rural and very urban areas. In the former, I had a gun. In the latter, there is no need to have one. I was not, and am not, prone to the rich fantasy life that media engenders.

[Oktober]

41. In the broadest of broad strokes Republicans are more oriented on the individual...

... while Democrats are more oriented on the group.

A natural extension of that is security. One group goes alone with a gun, one group calls a cop with his gun.

[Shankapotomus]

46. I hypothesize it's because

they are more in the grips of an outdated male code that says men play with weapons.

[TransitJohn]

47. Fear, it's pretty simple

Liberals believe in the innate goodness of mankind, and want to help others
Conservatives believe that people are innately selfish, and fear others

[coldean]

51. Why are right-wingers/Republicans-on average-more likely to own guns?

Because they need to save America from the voter fraud threat duh...
Didn't you see the video with the brown man with his greasy hands all over the absentee ballots??

*sarcasm*

[notadmblnd]

52. It's not that deep

Republicans are selfish, shallow, materialistic people who are so full of themselves that they think everyone want's their shit. Bottom line; they need the gun to protect their shit.

[customerserviceguy]

53. If you flip the question around

it becomes, "Why are progressives/Democrats on average less likely to own guns?'

My theory is that it's something left over from the 1960's. Guns were associated with police-state tactics in the civil rights era, and let's not forget the murders of JFK, RFK, and MLK. Those events probably soured a significant number of progressives on the idea of individual gun ownership, and I'd bet most of those people still feel that way.