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One of the things that tend to irritate NRA members and the more vocal groups of gun owners is the claim that the NRA exists, not to protect gun rights, but to sell guns on behalf of the American gun industry. Herewith, some thoughts, based on the research reported in this article.
First, the article suggests that between 22% and 29% of Americans own guns. Given my experience in my social group (Rotary, writers, co-workers, family members) that one-third-ish number seems right. That's 93 million people, plus or minus. And you'll note that my social group covers both conservatives (Rotarians, bankers) and liberals (writers). Second, the article suggests that most people own one or two guns. Again, of the people in my social groups, that's pretty accurate.
I'm an outlier. I own nine guns, which puts me in the 3% of Americans in that category. I've purchased four of them, requested two as gifts, and was given unsolicited three (all of which are nearly as old as I am). By the most generous of measures, then, I cause a gun to be purchased once every five years. Again, I'm an outlier - most people are one-and-done over a lifetime.
So who the hell is buying the 11 million guns made in the US on a given year? And we import guns too. Guns are durable goods - I've fired guns made before World War II, so they really don't wear out.
Well, obviously some portion of the "one-and-dones" are newly minted buyers, but 93 divided by 11 is 8.45, so the US gun industry is making enough guns for every gun-owning American to buy a gun every 8th year. Oh, that 11 million is a significant increase over previous years.
Clearly, then, some large portion of the people buying guns are folks who already have multiple weapons and feel the need to have more. Something is driving that, and the NRA is as good a bet on "something" as anything else I see.
First, the article suggests that between 22% and 29% of Americans own guns. Given my experience in my social group (Rotary, writers, co-workers, family members) that one-third-ish number seems right. That's 93 million people, plus or minus. And you'll note that my social group covers both conservatives (Rotarians, bankers) and liberals (writers). Second, the article suggests that most people own one or two guns. Again, of the people in my social groups, that's pretty accurate.
I'm an outlier. I own nine guns, which puts me in the 3% of Americans in that category. I've purchased four of them, requested two as gifts, and was given unsolicited three (all of which are nearly as old as I am). By the most generous of measures, then, I cause a gun to be purchased once every five years. Again, I'm an outlier - most people are one-and-done over a lifetime.
So who the hell is buying the 11 million guns made in the US on a given year? And we import guns too. Guns are durable goods - I've fired guns made before World War II, so they really don't wear out.
Well, obviously some portion of the "one-and-dones" are newly minted buyers, but 93 divided by 11 is 8.45, so the US gun industry is making enough guns for every gun-owning American to buy a gun every 8th year. Oh, that 11 million is a significant increase over previous years.
Clearly, then, some large portion of the people buying guns are folks who already have multiple weapons and feel the need to have more. Something is driving that, and the NRA is as good a bet on "something" as anything else I see.
