Gun-Owning Homes at Record Low

The percentage of U.S. households with guns is at a record low, according to the annual General Social Survey. In 2014, 32 percent of Americans owned or lived with someone who owned a firearm, tying the mark set in 2010. The survey also found that 22 percent of Americans own firearms, down from the 1985 peak of 31 percent. However, the drop does not necessarily reflect a response to gun-violence fears. The survey said the decrease was probably correlated to a decline in the popularity in hunting. Also according to the FBI, gun background checks have actually increased, “suggesting the total number of firearms being purchased is going up,” explained the AP report. The survey also found that four out of 10 white Americans lived in a household with a gun, compared to two out of 10 black and Hispanic Americans. Higher-income households were also significantly more likely to possess firearms than lower-income ones.