Is there any data on the number of guns owned per state, and/or the percentage/ratio of citizens/gun ownership by state?

[chiefs-special-guy]

I have seen the results of surveys that ask about gun ownership. This is probably the best we got. There are many older guns in closets and attics that were obtained before any records were kept.
I don't really trust surveys, but they might be useful for relative comparisons between states. The highest ownership is in the rural west, followed by the southern states. Lowest is New England and the like.
This more or less agrees with my uninformed speculation. Where I live (Alabama) I think about 1/2 of all households report having one or more firearms. It is very common.

 

[dogtown tom]

Like many Georgians, I've never had a NICS check. My CCW exempts me.

The state of GA ran a NICS check on you before they issued you that permit.
Thats why its an exemption.

 

[doubleh]

Actually I find it comforting that the numbers are unknown.

Unknown to most but considering our government I wouldn't doubt a bit that they have a record of every check to buy a gun ever made squirreled away. Too many know unlawful things they have done has come to light for me to think otherwise.

As to how many New Mexicans own guns any cop will tell you everyone in the state does. In this part of the state none care. In fact when our dear guv shut the state down except for big box stores during covid our sheriff wrote a letter stating our LGS was an essential business and the state police honored it allowing them to remain open. The other that sells guns is a farm and ranch store that was deemed essential and didn't need one so we were not affected by the gov's decree when it came to firearms shopping. If you wore a mask into the LGS you were laughed at.

 

[J-Bar]

If you wore a mask into the LGS you were laughed at.

My favorite LGS has a sign on the front door that says hoodies, masks, and sunglasses must be removed before entering. I suspect the employees would do something other than laugh if one were to break that rule.

 

[Savage30L]

At our gun club meeting last night, one fellow told me of someone he knew (locally) who recently committed suicide, leaving his poor widow with somewhere between 400 and 500 firearms. She doesn't know what to do with them, and they are still sitting in the basement....

 

[jmorris]

Actually I find it comforting that the numbers are unknown.

Because I can't double "like" a post.

 

[doubleh]

My favorite LGS has a sign on the front door that says hoodies, masks, and sunglasses must be removed before entering. I suspect the employees would do something other than laugh if one were to break that rule.

Then I couldn't enter their store. Sunglasses have become mandatory after having my cataracts removed. I have worn them starting in high school because of our bright sunlight but now I can't see without them outside unless it's a very cloudy day.

 

[J-Bar]

Then I couldn't enter their store. Sunglasses have become mandatory after having my cataracts removed. I have worn them starting in high school because of our bright sunlight but now I can't see without them outside unless it's a very cloudy day.

I will take you as my guest. I will explain your situation and vouch for you. Let me know when you're in town!!

 

[dogtown tom]

My favorite LGS has a sign on the front door that says hoodies, masks, and sunglasses must be removed before entering.

I would bet 87% of the people entering that store don't read such signs.
That's based on the 87% of buyers that don't read my four sign that says "You must answer both 18a Ethnicity & 18b Race on the Form 4473".
Not to mention the instructions on that Form 4473.

I suspect the employees would do something other than laugh if one were to break that rule.

Like what? Begin yelling at the customer? Draw on him? Hit the panic alarm? Start shooting?
A reasonable action requires a reasonable reaction.
On a cold day, a hoodie over ones head is common.
On a sunny day, many wear their sunglasses until they get inside, and apparently Lord help them if those employees mistake photochromic eyeglasses for DB Cooper.
Masks? Really? If you have the flu or a cold I APPRECIATE YOU WEARING A MASK to keep your germy emanations off me and others. If its a Richard Nixon mask thats different.

 

[doubleh]

I will take you as my guest. I will explain your situation and vouch for you. Let me know when you're in town!!

Thanks but it is a long drive to MO from the east side of NM. I am not up to the trip anymore. I have been to MO once years ago and what I saw was pretty. All of the trees kind of got to me as I am used to being able to see long distances.

 

[armoredman]

Curious if anyone has reliable info on this. Obviously "registration" isn't a thing everywhere (thankfully) so data may be spotty, but is there info on form 4473s by year or anything?

Fortunately, no, there is not really accurate data on the number of firearms lawfully owned in my state - that data is nobody's business.

 

[1KPerDay]

At our gun club meeting last night, one fellow told me of someone he knew (locally) who recently committed suicide, leaving his poor widow with somewhere between 400 and 500 firearms. She doesn't know what to do with them, and they are still sitting in the basement....

Hopefully your buddy or another kind soul can help her sell them for what they’re worth and get her the proceeds rather than her taking them to a pawn shop or something.

 

[Savage30L]

Hopefully your buddy or another kind soul can help her sell them for what they’re worth and get her the proceeds rather than her taking them to a pawn shop or something.

I can't think of a pawn shop locally that would want to handle a transaction that large. Her best bet might be to sell to or through an auction house like Morphy's. But she'd need some help, especially with inventorying and grading, and she probably doesn't know anything about how to go about that. An attorney might be a big help for that many firearms at one time. But I got the impression that she and the family are too reminded of him, by the guns, to want to deal with that now.

I'll try to remember to talk to the member (whom I only met last night) about it at the next meeting. If the widow decides to auction the estate "on the grounds", then we as a club ought to turn up for it.

 

[Show Me]

Every year ATF publishes data on NFA firearm ownership by state.
Anything related to Title I firearms would be just someone's guess.

Until 2021-05F, licensees could destroy any 4473's older than age twenty. Now we have to keep them until we discontinue business. So, no, there is no compilation of ownership data from 4473's.

Then who gets the info or is it destroyed

 

[dogtown tom]

Then who gets the info or is it destroyed

ATF will pick them up, eventually shipping them to West Virginia where they are stored in shipping containers in a parking lot.

 

[Miami_JBT]

Like many Georgians, I've never had a NICS check. My CCW exempts me.

Georgia has far better gun rights than Florida.

 

[Elkins45]

The state of GA ran a NICS check on you before they issued you that permit.
Thats why its an exemption.

The state of Kentucky runs a NICS check on every permit holder monthly, or at least they did before we instituted permitless carry. That’s one of the reasons we used to always be near the top of those “most guns sold” scare lists some media outlets like to publish even though we aren’t particular populous.

I don’t know if they abandoned the practice once the permit became superfluous for residents, and I’m not willing to make the effort to find out.

 

[Miami_JBT]

I have seen the results of surveys that ask about gun ownership. This is probably the best we got. There are many older guns in closets and attics that were obtained before any records were kept.
I don't really trust surveys, but they might be useful for relative comparisons between states. The highest ownership is in the rural west, followed by the southern states. Lowest is New England and the like.
This more or less agrees with my uninformed speculation. Where I live (Alabama) I think about 1/2 of all households report having one or more firearms. It is very common.

Surveys suck... and I'm glad they do. The most recent one beleives less than 600,000 guns are owned un Florida.

Gun Ownership by State (2024 Statistics)

Which states have the highest rates of guns per capita? This article breaks down gun ownership by state.

ammo.com

Yeah, whoever complied that sure doesn't know what they're looking at. Thetr are over 2.5 million active CCW permits right now. Of course, some of those are out of state since FL does issue non-resident permits.

 

[Miami_JBT]

The state of GA ran a NICS check on you before they issued you that permit.
Thats why its an exemption.

So does FL. Yet FL isn't exempt since the issuing office isn't law enforcement. Even though the FL Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services had their own law enforcement agency. The Division of Licensing is the office that issues CCW permits, but they aren't the LE sworn aide of FDACS. So Floridians don't get to skip NICS under ATF's rules. And besides, Floridians get to be double fisted and charged $5 a background since FL does it themselves.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

Recall an article i saw in the New York Times years ago on New Yorkers who owned-and carried-guns in violation of that city's Stalinist gun laws. It quoted one businessman on why he carried:
"When was the last time you heard of a precinct house being held up ?"
I live in a liberal town-Princeton, NJ-in a blue state. Lots of closet gun owners, liberals who believe in the RKBA, own and shoot, for reasons of their own-fear of ostracism, bucking the Party Line, keep quiet about it.

 

[wis bang]

Recall an article i saw in the New York Times years ago on New Yorkers who owned-and carried-guns in violation of that city's Stalinist gun laws. It quoted one businessman on why he carried:
"When was the last time you heard of a precinct house being held up ?"
I live in a liberal town-Princeton, NJ-in a blue state. Lots of closet gun owners, liberals who believe in the RKBA, own and shoot, for reasons of their own-fear of ostracism, bucking the Party Line, keep quiet about it.

I was in that area when new West Windsor starter castle residents attempted to close the range on Rt. 571.

I always remember my father's comments seeing the signs 'East Windsor' FIREARMS USE RESTRICTED at the township line.

Yet just driving around Assinpink WMA seeing the number of families bird hunting makes one realize ther really are a lot of armed people in that 'sterile' state...