Men, Married, Southerners Most Likely to Be Gun Owners

[billh58]

Nearly two-thirds of Southern married men own guns

PRINCETON, NJ -- Men are three times more likely than women to personally own guns, representing one of the largest demographic differences in gun ownership, according to an analysis of Gallup polls from 2007 to 2012. Gun ownership also varies significantly by region, with Southerners more likely to own guns than those living in other regions of the United States. Marriage is also a strong predictor of gun ownership.

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Notably, while Republican party identification is associated with higher rates of gun ownership -- 38% versus 22% for Democrats -- the statistical model shows party is a weaker predictor of gun ownership, once other factors are taken into account. In other words, higher rates of Republican gun ownership likely result more from the fact that men, Southerners, and married people tend to identify as Republicans than from something about being a Republican drawing one to owning a gun.

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Two of the groups most likely to have a gun in the household are married Southern males (70%) and married Southern females (62%). Southern white males, at 66%, are also among the most likely to have a gun in the household.

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The high level of gun ownership in the United States -- nearly one in three Americans personally own a gun and nearly half of households do -- means efforts in Washington to restrict gun ownership will potentially affect tens of millions of Americans. From a political standpoint, the question is whether those gun owners are more likely to see possible new restrictions on guns as a necessary step to try to limit gun violence in the United States or as an unacceptable limitation on their ability to own guns.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/160223/men-married-southerners-likely-gun-owners.aspx

This is not an attempt at bashing Southerners, but rather a presentation of facts aimed at determining who we need to target in order to address meaningful gun violence reduction through sensible (and doable) gun control measures. Due to the fact that Republican gun owners substantially outnumber Democratic gun owners, it would seem logical to forego any attempt to sway the right-wing gun nuts, and concentrate on the more Liberal Democrats. No matter how small, any victory is still a victory.

The old advice "know your enemy" is very applicable in the war with the right-wing gun lobby for taking back our streets and addressing the gun violence public health issues that we face as a nation. Support a Democrat who has not been purchased by the ILA/NRA/GOA gun lobby for political office at all levels of government, and vote as if your life depended on it -- because it just may.

[Aristus]

1. "I gots to perteckt m'wimmin-folk!"

[billh58]

2. And the kin folk said

"Jeb, move away from there..."

[Aristus]

3. I had a conversation with one of my sister's friends about guns.

He's a working class guy, which I respect. But he's got this totally pathetic vision of himself and his place in modern society. He owns, and is constantly bragging about, his arsenal of guns, and his stash of ammo. 4,000 rounds, at last count.

He breezily insists on the necessity of all of this: "I've got daughters to protect."

I told him: "Dave, the problem is, you're daughters aren't going to be threatened by random gunmen in the streets, no matter what you see on the news. They're going to be threatened by husbands, boyfriends, co-workers, people that they know. And you, your guns, and your 4,000 rounds of ammunition aren't always going to be around."

[billh58]

4. Too true because

typically women are abused and/or murdered by people they know rather than by total strangers.

[mwrguy]

5. 18% are named 'Cletus'