Posted on 01/23/2018 5:45:25 AM PST by marktwain
Those who campaign for a disarmed population take comfort in persuading themselves that gun ownership is declining in the United States.
This is the primary goal, after all. If gun ownership is declining, they can claim they are “winning”.
The most commonly cited evidence that gun ownership is declining is the General Social Survey, which shows a gradually declining percentage of households in the United States that tell survey-takers they have guns in the household.
But the number of guns sold in the last decade skyrocketed. At the beginning of 2008, there were about 301 million privately owned guns in the United States.
At the end of 2017, there were about 418 million. That is an increase of 38 percent in ten years. 117 million guns were added to the private stock in the last decade.
The proponents of population disarmament explain this by claiming that fewer gun owners are buying more guns.
Gun owners are buying more guns. But substantial numbers of new gun owners are buying guns as well. In a study of California gun buyers, where all gun purchases are required to go through government approved gun dealers, the percentage of new gun owners varied from 32 percent to 40 percent when looking at periods before the Newtown (Sandy Hook) killings in December of 2012 and the San Bernadino terrorist attack in December of 2015.
From the study, annals.org:
Acquirer characteristics were also similar across the 2 periods. Ninety percent were male, and approximately 70 percent were white. First acquisitions accounted for 40 percent of all acquisitions in the year before the Newtown shootings and 32 percent in the year before the San Bernardino shootings.
(Excerpt) Read more at ammoland.com ...
That’s good news. I hope all of these new gun owners are learning how to safely handle firearms.
The key phrase there is "...that tell survey-takers they have guns in the household". At this point in our history, there is no way anyone in my family would admit to a pollster, survey-taker, or census-taker that we own firearms.
"...polls..."
Mine were lost in a tragic boating accident on the deepest part of the Chesapeake Bay. I went out in a shallow draft boat while small-craft advisories were in effect. I should never have gone fishing in such conditions, and I definitely should not have taken my entire gun collection with me. Yes, I know its my own fault, and I take full responsibility, but it still hurts [tears well up in both eyes].
Was it anything like that?
The surveyors didn’t notice the empty boat trailers beside the houses.
They may certainly need them to make the New California split from the communist-ruled urban areas. That spilt would be the best thing that ever happened to CA. CA’s rural and ag areas have been “held hostage” way to long by the urban insane.
>> I hope all of these new gun owners are learning how to safely handle firearms.
There are far too many quickie, BS-filled “coffee and donut” courses taught by blowhard dumba$$es.
If you’re new to guns, look for an NRA Basic Pistol course, and NOT an NRA “Home Firearm Safety”, or “First Steps Pistol” course. Avoid any Uncle Billy-Bob’s $39 two-hour Shootin’ and Killin’ courses like the plague.
Before taking any class, ask how much of the class time is spent on the range.
And for my fellow FReepers who are experienced shooters, when is the last time you took a newbie to the range?
"...Was it anything like that..."
If it’s declining then just about anyone who wanted some sort of firearm bought them; then too, several arms manufacturers are not selling many either - I think Remington is have some issues there.
Exactly. When someone asks whether or not I own or does my family own firearms I’d tell them none of their business.
"...I’d tell them ‘none of their business’...”
Then I’d tell them that we have two black powder cannons, several muskets and three swords. And a flagon of rum.
Dean
Banlist !?!
"...cannons, muskets, swords, and rum..."
“that tell survey-takers”
Possible the people surveyed couldn’t admit they had a stolen gun, were felons, or had used it to shoot the guy next door already.
That would be a real self-incrimination incident that could hit the Darwin Awards. “Yeah, I got a gun. And you got my phone number and address.”
rwood
Remember kids - if anyone asks, "Guns are icky"
You already drank your entire stock of cask ale?
Why the hell would I tell a surveyor that I have a gun in my home!?!?!
Typo!
Dean
Banlist !?!
Working out of hotel room... early morning..
must be more excuses out there...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.