The Average American Owns 1.7 Guns - How Many Do You Own?

[THUNDER HANDS]

Poll question: The Average American Owns 1.7 Guns - How Many Do You Own?

Me: none.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

1. I own a 12 gauge shotgun and a .22 rifle. n/t

[Goldom]

2. 1 - An antique Chinese rifle

not in working condition, I would assume, though I can't say as I've ever tried.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. I'd love to see how many the median American owns.

I'm guessing none.

[Bill McBlueState]

9. beat me to it

It's nice that there are still DUers with a grasp on things like statistics and science. After the tsunami conspiracy threads, I had to wonder. :)

[MrBenchley]

12. 60% have no guns....

http://editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000745373

And 29% have five or more of them....

[Richardo]

4. None. In Texas. That technically makes me a eunuch.

:eyes:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. Actually, I think that makes you easy prey.

[Bertha Venation]

39. You ain't right, Richardo.

:bounce:

[spinbaby]

5. Technically they're my husband's

but we own a wide assortment of assault rifles and handguns. Seriously.

[smbolisnch]

10. My husband has 2.

I HATE them. He keeps them unloaded and locked up at least.

[derby378]

6. One-half?

I own my great-grandfather's 12-gauge, but it's pretty much shot out. I could refurbish it, sure, but the gunsmith said it would be more cost than it's worth. "Hang it up and enjoy it," he says. I think I will.

[Shrek]

7. Two shotguns and a rifle for hunting

Plus a small handgun for recreation and a large one for home defense.

Also my son has a shotgun for hunting so I guess that makes for a total household count of six.

[northzax]

8. 1.6, damn, I'm always just below average.

damn you mom and dad.

[GOPBasher]

11. LOL

[WMliberal]

47. uh oh, 1.6 guns and SERIOUS Freudian issues!

Resist the urge to supplant your father as the paterfamilias!

[northzax]

50. I wouldn't say Freudian

a bit more tilted towards purely Oedipal, actually :)

[MissBrooks]

14. I come from gun people....

And still own a few that I use for target practice.

It's a competitive sport that I enjoy. I also practice archery.

[comradebillyboy]

15. i own 4 pistols and 4 rifles

PISTOLS:
a ruger .22
a smith&wesson .32 special
a 9mm makarov
a springfied armory xd-40 (.40 cal)
i am going to ask my wife to get me a 1911 style .45 for our anneversary

RIFLES
2 .22 rifles
1 ww2 french army rifle (obtained in viet nam)
1 ar-15

i am considering taking up trap shooting. any recommendations on a decent shotgun fot the occasional shooter?

i am thinking of starting a gun club where i teach. a goodly number of the teachers are gun nuts

error error, i voted six but i have 8, brain fart

[goodboy]

43. How do you like your XD? I've got the subcompact 9mm, and I've

put about 5000 rounds through it, not one jam or misfire.

[RagingInMiami]

16. Three

A Colt .45 automatic, a Ruger .38 revolver (a 38 special) and a tiny Beretta .25 automatic.

Then again, I live in Miami, where everybody packs.

[short bus president]

19. Three, as well.

A Taurus 9mm (Beretta knockoff), a S&W J-frame 5-shot .357 revolver (kick-ass little snubby - painful to shoot for very long), and a Ruger Single Six .22 single-action "cowboy gun," which is the best thing in the world for cheap and enjoyable target shooting. Still haven't tried to spin it around my finger prior to holstering it, tho. :D

[truebrit71]

17. None. I have no need for a penis extension.

.

[rfranklin]

22. You mean you have a full twelve inches?

Personally, I could use a little help.

[BiggJawn]

30. I do.

But I can't scare burglars or fight Fascism with it, so I own firearms....

[truebrit71]

32. Only when I fold it in half...

... ;-)

[goodboy]

42. LMFAO./ nt

[kodi]

84. you ever try to clean out a nest of poisonous snakes with your penis?

i tried it.

once.

now i use a shotgun.

for some folks, a fire arm is a useful tool for dealing with their environment.

[Seabiscuit]

96. Ditto. 12.5" is more than enough.

I'd never drive an H2 either.

Looks like there are 131 DU'ers I'd feel comfortable meeting according to this poll. As for those with 8 or more guns, let's hope, for their welfare, that they're just antique collectors.

[T Town Jake]

97. Cute nonsense tarted up...

...as something wittily profound. Typical.

[scarlet_owl]

18. None. I don't need one.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

20. averages are generally weird.

i own 0 guns, neighbour owns 10...average of 5 each...means nothing

[WoodrowFan]

21. BB guns count?? (NT)

[Spacemom]

23. My husband has several guns

I'm guessing more than eight. Including some that he's inherited from as far back as his great-grandmother.

I was always afraid of guns until he taught me how to properly handle them.

[Schema Thing]

24. Hah! I just realized that I literally own 1.5 guns

One shotgun, and the blown-apart-in-an-almost-comic-book-fashion barrell of another.

.2 more and I'll be a real Merkin! dangit.

[underpants]

25. 1 bolt action shotgun

not really mine.It's the wife's.

[comradebillyboy]

31. bolt action shotguns

are quite unusual. is it single shot or is there a magazine?

[underpants]

37. Both

We have a 4 round clip too

[goodboy]

44. I've got a mossberg 16 ga. bolt action with a 2 shot clip

it's a nice gun.

[Mark H]

95. I love to restore old shotguns.

and have two with bolt action. The .16 Guage has a box (detatchable, like a M-16) magazine that holds three shells, the .410 bore has a tubular magazine. The .410 is often mistaken for a high powered rifle.

[XNASA]

26. As far as everyone else is concerned, I own more than 20!!!!

(In fact, I own none.)

[Left Is Write]

27. None. Ever.

[imabadman]

28. I have a couple of shotguns...

a .22 rifle that I've had since I was 12 and a 9mm Glock.

My wife has a .38 and she has a concealed carry permit. She is my protector :)

[bearfan454]

29. 4 here

Taurus 9MM
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum
Mossberg 12 gauge pump
Remington model 700 25-06 deer rifle(my baby)

[SmileyBoy]

33. Not only do I not own a gun, I have never touched a gun in my life.

:)

[fluffernutter]

34. same here.

[Magrittes Pipe]

35. Just the one.

I see no need for any others.

[Annus Horribilis]

36. Zero

I have never even touched a gun or picked one up.

[mvd]

38. None

Right now, I don't feel the need. I'd move out of the U.S. first.

[goodboy]

40. I've got one of these:

<>

[reformed_military]

57. Nice

Goodboy,

My next purchase. Lets just say, I am above average.

[goodboy]

59. you will love this firearm. It breaks down into 4 pieces, it's reliable

light, easily concealable, and you can get this KICK ASS light for it...check it out with the light:


<>

[Lydia Leftcoast]

41. I provide the counterbalance for some other person who

owns 3.4 guns.

[marions ghost]

45. I live in a "safe" neighborhood...but

1. someone in my family witnessed a mass shooting while at work
2. a neighbor's kid was allowed by his parents to terrorize the neighborhood with a high-powered hunting rifle and there was nothing that could be done to stop him (as long as he didn't kill anybody)
3. a store owner I knew was shot and killed by a robber
4. a jogger was shot and killed by a stranger near a school here
5. my grandfather died in a hunting accident
--------------

So I'm allergic to guns. You will never convince me that an armed America is a good place to be. So please don't bother.

[WMliberal]

46. none yet.

I'm a history nerd, I know I'll be buying historical guns when I'm older and have more money.

[CRK7376]

48. Two

vintage WWII rifles.

M-1 Garand and a Lee-Enfield SMLE IV.303

[Longgrain]

49. Unless cap guns and squirt guns count...

None. I've only handled a real gun once in my life and it was only for show.

[Rabrrrrrr]

51. More than 8 for me

And I like every one of them.

[KamaAina]

52. What on Earth do they do with all the .7s?

What is the sound of seven-tenths of a gun firing?

[KamaAina]

55. I've got it! The .7s are the ones they got at Wal-Mart!

a little slow this morning...

[Cuban_Liberal]

53. Lots more than that.

Lots more...

[Susang]

65. How do your reconcile your Catholicism with gun ownership?

I'm really not trying to be inflammatory. But since you've posted many times that you are Catholic and I grew up Catholic (no longer practicing, but attended 12 years of Catholic school), I was wondering how you can own multiple guns and yet believe in the pacifism that is at the core of the Church's teachings? :shrug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

69. Pacifism at the core of the Catholic Church?

I don't think so.

Quakers, Amish, and Mennonites, yes.

But that's pretty much it in terms of church denominations that have pacifism at the core, and even those aren't quite founded on pacifism.

But I think you might find many members of those faith traditions that also own guns.

I'm curious why you think that gun ownership and pacifism are mutually exclusive.

[Susang]

72. What is the core of the Catholic church?

I'm curious as to what *you* think it is.

[maveric]

54. None now but I'm planning on arming myself.

Us liberals/dems may need guns in the upcoming future.

[n2mark]

56. I don't own one, never will

but I have a sledge hammer at the side of my bed, My luck I would shoot myself and the intruder would get away. At least I can take the hammer and hit him where it hurts. I hope but I would probably freeze, and my dogs would sleep through the whole thing.

[48pan]

58. I've Got Lots of Guns

Paraordinance tactical .45
Colt Gold Cup .45
Ruger Security 6
S&W 686
S&W 41
Walther PP (prewar)
Firestar 9mm
Ruger p89
Ruger MkII Gvt. Model
Ruger MkII Bull Barrel 10"
S&W 17
S&W 52
Springfield 1903
Springfield Garand
3 Shotguns
Remington mod 70 .22
SKS
AR15

I kill paper and clay every week.

[yardwork]

60. This is a skewed sample

Gun owners, by and large, don't hang out in the Lounge. They hang out in other parts of DU.

[cestpaspossible]

64. But work out the average

[yardwork]

87. The results show that 64% of us respondents have zero guns

Among the 46% of us respondents who do own guns, the category with the largest number of votes is "one gun," followed closely by "more than eight guns."

We can conclude from this terribly skewed, self-selected, self-reporting sample that the majority of people who responded to this poll in the DU Lounge in the short time period in which the poll has been up own zero guns. Among those who do own guns, most own one gun, but a lot of gun owners own more than eight.

What does this tell us? Ab-so-lute-ly nothing, but it's fun and about as reliable as the usual poll reports in the newspaper or on TV, and a heck of a lot more reliable than "poll" results that end up in our mailbox sent by some interest group with money to raise.

[cestpaspossible]

91. OK, I'll do it for you - 1.54

At this point, there are 189 votes. If we make the conservative estimate that all those who voted 'more than 8' only have 9 guns, there are a total of 285 guns or in other words, based on the sample, the average DUer has 1.54 guns, just slightly below the national average of 1.7 reported by the original poster.

[bigwillq]

61. None

My house never had a gun

[sparky_in_ma]

62. More than 20

I like target shooting, and collect black powder guns.

[Texasgal]

63. None.. I do not believe in guns

I do however believe that we should have the right to posse them.

[Susang]

66. No guns for me

My neighborhood has more than enough to make up the deficit my lack of ownership would create in the national average. ;-)

Plus, it's kind of hard to own a gun when you live across the street from a church. It's kind of hard to do a lot of things when you live across the street from a church, the guilt can get to be overwhelming!

[Rabrrrrrr]

71. Why let the church stop you?

I'm a church going type, I own guns. I've even taken my guns to church (left them in the truck, of course) when I've gone to the church directly after hunting.

I know ministers who have guns, and who hunt with them. And some who just target practice with them.

[Susang]

73. You're trying to pick a fight with me, aren't you?

Well I'm not going to let you! :P

[Rabrrrrrr]

76. Nope, not at all!

Just curious!

No fight picking whatsoever.

:hi:

[jukes]

67. oops, voted 4

actually six. damn, keep losing track of them...

[politicat]

68. we have one, 22 something but I know little about it.

I'm a recurve bow girl. Silent, deadly, takes skill. The firearm is Mr. Pcat's, a gift from the redneck side o' the fambly for his 16th birthday as a mark of manhood.

I know it's been fired, but not in the last ten years.

Pcat

[blondeatlast]

70. None. nt

[u4ic]

74. None

they terrify me. :scared:

[Deja Q]

75. I haven't any NRA-approved guns, and it's larger than 1.7, truly!

All the NRA repukes; add all theirs up and it wouldn't be larrger than 1.7...

:wow:

[Bat Boy]

77. Never felt the need to own one.

I really don't think I'll ever own one.

I don't buy the "I have a gun now I'm safe from all harm" idea. Strikes me as bullshit.

[Renew Deal]

78. OK, why are you baiting the gungeon?

;)

[slutticus]

79. Just a sawed-off.

So 1/2.

[doc03]

80. Not enough!

Ruger Blackhawk .357 Mag
Ruger single six .22/.22 Mag
Ruger Old Army .457 cap and ball
Remington 870 12 Ga. slug gun for deer
Remington 870 12 Ga. Wingmaster
Remington Model 6 30/06

I got a letter from the NRA today. Would you believe it may be my last chance to join them before the gun grabbing liberals take my guns. I get one of these every few weeks. While I am a firm believer in gun rights the NRA makes me sick. I used to be a member but it has turned in to a arm of the Republican party. I sent it back with bullshit written on the letter and said buy the fucking stamp assholes.

[Bok_Tukalo]

81. Gun???

This is my weapon
This is my gun
This is for fighting
This is for fun

[Guaranteed]

83. LOL

Rifle, man. Rifle.

[Bok_Tukalo]

85. Rifle?

They must have changed the lyrics since I was in.

[Guaranteed]

90. In Full Metal Jacket they say

"This is my rifle,
This is my gun."

:shrug:

[sakabatou]

82. I have two

None of them work as they are only models.

[Dorian Gray]

86. I don't own a gun

and I never will own a gun. One, I'm a city dweller, so there is no need for one in my life. Two, I'm scared shitless of the things, so I don't think I could even hold one without breaking into a cold sweat.

[MrSlayer]

88. 4 - 1 shotgun, 1 rifle, 2 handguns.

Best defense is a good offense.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

89. I inherited 12 firearms

Most of the guns I have are collectibles but there are a couple 12 gage shotguns and a S&W Tactical 9mm. What can I say, it was a strange inheritance. :shrug:

[Allenberg]

92. Not too many

.38, .22 Magnum Rifle, 12 guage, and an aught 6.

[Baja Margie]

93. I don't have a pistola.

:shrug:

[ornotna]

94. Just one - Sig Sauer P-230

[roguevalley]

98. Actually, its three. An Alaska Statehood commerative rifle that

you can never shoot, an Italian flint lock rifle from the Napoleonic wars and a shotgun from my uncle.