GUNS/RLTD Where does your state rank in gun ownership?

[Jubilee on Earth]

Apologies if you’ve all seen this before (I’m sure the numbers have changed slightly... this is based on 2013 data. Not sure if there’s an updated version).

Some surprises in this list. I expected California to be much lower in gun ownership than it is... (All the celebrity bodyguards?) And I thought states like Missouri and Oklahoma would be higher.

How Armed is Your State?
The 50 United States ranked by percentage of gun ownership

So, CBS News published an article asking, “How heavily armed is your state?” It’s far from conclusive, mainly because there are many unknowns about guns and gun ownership — for instance, in free(ish) states, there’s no such thing as gun registration. But it does attempt to sum up gun ownership by taking data from a “gun ownership rate assessment” titled “Gun ownership and social gun culture,” published in 2015.

Here is a look at per capita weapons data, based on the ATF’s National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and 2013 data from the U.S. Census:


1. Rhode Island: 5.8%
2. New York: 10.3%
3. New Jersey: 11.3%
4. New Hampshire: 14.4%
5. Connecticut: 16.6%
6. Ohio: 19.6%
7. (tie) Nebraska: 19.8%
8. (tie) California: 19.8%
9. Maryland: 20.7%
10.(tie) Massachusetts: 22.6%
11. (tie) Maine: 22.6%
12. Washington, D.C.: 25.9%
13. Illinois: 26.2%
14. Oregon: 26.6%
15. (tie) Pennsylvania: 27.1%
16. (tie) Missouri: 27.1%
17. Washington: 27.7%
18. North Carolina: 28.7%
19. (tie) Vermont: 28.8%
20. (tie) Michigan: 28.8%
21. Virginia: 29.3%
22. Oklahoma: 31.2%
23. Georgia: 31.6%
24. Utah: 31.9%
25. Kansas: 32.2%
26. Arizona: 32.3%
27. Florida: 32.5%
28. (tie) Indiana: 33.8%
29. (tie) Iowa: 33.8%
30. Colorado: 34.3%
31. Wisconsin: 34.7%
32. South Dakota: 35%
33. Texas: 35.7%
34. Minnesota: 36.7%
35. Nevada: 37.5%
36. Tennessee: 39.4%
37. Kentucky: 42.4%
38. Mississippi: 42.8%
39. South Carolina: 44.4%
40. Louisiana: 44.5%
41. Hawaii: 45.1%
42. North Dakota: 47.9%
43. Alabama: 48.9%
44. New Mexico: 49.9%
45. Montana: 52.3%
46. Wyoming: 53.8%
47. West Virginia: 54.2%
48. Idaho: 56.9%
49. Arkansas: 57.9%
50. Alaska: 61.7%

https://www.alloutdoor.com/2018/10/24/how-armed-is-your-state/

 

[NHGUNNER]

Seen this before and don't believe it. Maine is tied at #11 with 22.6%. Most people I know own at least one firearm (even liberals) and the majority own a few.

 

[20Gauge]

We have a lot more guns here than they are reporting....Georgia.

 

[Jubilee on Earth]

I wonder if it’s tallying only tallying handguns? I mean, I live in northern Michigan where everyone and their uncle has a shotgun or a rifle. No license is needed for long guns. So my guess is they don’t have that number accurate. Pretty sure people didn’t disclose that on the last census. I have no idea how else they'd get that info, so yes... I’m sure these numbers are way off.

 

[WalknTrot]

I dunno. None that I own are "on the books" and if somebody calls and asks me how many guns I own, or even if I own them, I am hanging up on them.

Might give somewhat of an indication, but my hunch is that this thing leans toward Wild-Ass-Guess territory.

 

[AlaskaSue]

I’m guessing that #50 is pretty on target.... I cannot think of anyone I know who doesn’t have at least one in the household, though of course there are some. Wish mine hadn’t all sunk with the boat, sigh!

 

[Rabbit]

We have a lot more guns here than they are reporting....Georgia.

Agree.

 

[mercyangel]

We have a lot more guns here than they are reporting....Georgia.

Yep!

 

[Freeholder]

I'm sure there are a lot of people who only own an older firearm (or firearms) that was never registered.

Kathleen

 

[Vtshooter]

I wonder if it’s tallying only tallying handguns? I mean, I live in northern Michigan where everyone and their uncle has a shotgun or a rifle. No license is needed for long guns. So my guess is they don’t have that number accurate. Pretty sure people didn’t disclose that on the last census. I have no idea how else they'd get that info, so yes... I’m sure these numbers are way off.

We did see this before, and I don't remember how they came up with the numbers. It was some sort of approximation, but I don't know what it was based on. Some states have no permit/licensing for any firearms, so it's like they are pulling numbers from the air.

Here we go, from the linked article

Here is a look at per capita weapons data, based on the ATF’s National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and 2013 data from the U.S. Census.

So it seems to be based on the NFA registry, and anyone stupid enough to answer gun ownership questions on the Census.

 

[Shooter]

Nebraska tied at 7, no way, most of these are taken off the NICS instand check system, states like Nebraska dont use the system since we have a purchase permit system,
we get a permit to purchase every 4 years, you can buy as many weapons as you want during that time, and no fed contact, you can also use your ccw permit to purchase with,

I been a dealer since 1975, and am not even set up to use that system,

so we show very low numbers in that survet

 

[Publius]

Seen this before and don't believe it. Maine is tied at #11 with 22.6%. Most people I know own at least one firearm (even liberals) and the majority own a few.

Same here for West Virginia and they could bump that up to 85% and they would be safe saying that.

 

[NoMoreLibs]

Well, it looks like we're in the top 50.

 

[20Gauge]

I wonder if it’s tallying only tallying handguns? I mean, I live in northern Michigan where everyone and their uncle has a shotgun or a rifle. No license is needed for long guns. So my guess is they don’t have that number accurate. Pretty sure people didn’t disclose that on the last census. I have no idea how else they'd get that info, so yes... I’m sure these numbers are way off.

This would be my guess.

 

[20Gauge]

Same here for West Virginia and they could bump that up to 85% and they would be safe saying that.

We wouldn't be more than 70-75%. There have been a lot of liberals moving into the state the last decade.

 

[Millwright]

I remember one of these deals from a few years back.

It had one state at 100+%... maybe Idaho?


This OP is from CBS, so assume it's fake news. Dunno what their angle for lying is, but they are...no doubt.

 

[Wise Owl]

I wonder if it’s tallying only tallying handguns? I mean, I live in northern Michigan where everyone and their uncle has a shotgun or a rifle. No license is needed for long guns. So my guess is they don’t have that number accurate. Pretty sure people didn’t disclose that on the last census. I have no idea how else they'd get that info, so yes... I’m sure these numbers are way off.

Well in Maine we have no registration for any guns unless they were full auto type. You can even own a 50 cal without registering it anywhere. And since they passed Costitutional carry you don't even need a carry permit to carry concealed.

I don't think I know of many people who don't own guns up here in Western Maine. As long as you pass the NIC's test, you can own it. Period.

One of the many reasons I moved out of Michigan. Too many gun laws.........too many liberals.......

 

[NoDandy]

Don't believe data in article. True data is highly classified !!!

 

[Wise Owl]

I'm sure there are a lot of people who only own an older firearm (or firearms) that was never registered.

Kathleen

I have two that are pretty new and they aren't registered. No registration required in Maine, or NH or VT......for that matter......... Or TX and more than a few other states........

 

[catskinner]

Fake, made up, whatever you want to call it. Having lived in Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas I can say that with no doubts. Behind every blade of grass...

 

[SouthernBreeze]

Hawaii wins out over Mississippi? I don't think so.

Like catskinner said, "Behind every blade of grass".

 

[Magdalen]

Wait. Where's Delaware?! I own a gun. Where's Delaware!?!?!?

 

[FaithfulSkeptic]

Minnesota is higher than Texas? That I find hard to believe.

 

[BadMedicine]

well it got alaska right.

 

[RB Martin]

We have a lot more guns here than they are reporting....Georgia.

Obviously, they aren't counting tragic boating accidents!

 

[RB Martin]

Wait. Where's Delaware?! I own a gun. Where's Delaware!?!?!?

Washington, DC is in the list...Delaware is missing!

 

[Caplock50]

Here's a map that better 'explains' gun ownership in Texas...