CHART OF THE DAY: The Americans Buying the Most Guns Right Now Are Not Who You Might Think

Women and racial minorities have led a surge in first-time firearm ownership in America.

SO WHAT

Gun owners are looking less and less like the liberal stereotype every day.

THE CHART

After decades during which white men dominated American gun ownership, recent years have seen a spike in other demographics availing themselves of the right to bear arms.

WOMEN: The percentage of American women who own a firearm has roughly doubled since 2014, from about one in 10 to 22% last June.

  • In 2020-2021, women made up nearly half of first-time gun buyers.

AFRICAN AMERICANS: Between 2013 and 2020-2021, the rate of gun ownership among black people more tripled, from 7% to 24%.

HISPANICS: From 6% in 2013, the percentage of Hispanics who owned a gun more also rose threefold to 18% last June.

  • 19% of first-time first-time buyers were black in 2020-2021.

Between 2020 and 2021 alone, the proportion of Asian Americans among all gun buyers almost doubled from 3.8% in 2020 to 6.8% in 2021.

THE REACTION

After decades of liberals stereotyping gun owners as backwards white men, the diverse new profile has triggered confusion and anxiety, while gun rights groups have set out the welcome mats.

  • But press account have also noted that, amid a national spike in violent crime, many women and racial minorities cite growing safety concerns as a prime reason for arming themselves.
  • Last March, 58% of women were very worried about crime and violence, compared to 48% of men.
  • In April, 77% of African Americans called violent crime is a major problem, versus half of whites, and in May 75% of African Americans feared they or someone they care about would be targeted in a violent racist attack.
  • Gun violence and crime was the top concern of Hispanics in an Ipsos-Axios poll in June, ahead of inflation and immigration.
  • 63% of Asian Americans in April said they believe violence against their group is increasing.

OK, BUT

Embracing the Second Amendment doesn’t automatically make new gun owners conservatives.