1 in 1 1/2
Many more people that that own firearms. Here are some statistics.
There have been over 300 million new firearms sold in the US since the 1968 GCA, when gun sales first started being compiled by the government.
Who knows how many were sold before 1968, there is just no data on it, but one can assume at least another 200 million new firearms were sold to the public from the late 1860s when cartridge firearms became common to 1968.
As far as how many people own them, it's hard to say. The only statistics are phone surveys, and how many people are going to tell a stranger what they own? Most surveys put the percentage of the entire country at about 40-50% of all Americans owning a firearm, and about 65-80% of households having a firearm. Some areas the percentages are lower, some are higher.
I recall an estimate there is now enough firearms in civilian circulation
to put three in empty hands of every USA resident. But, are they
all gun owners, because if not... should we trust every person who is?
Depends on where you live. Where I live it is mostly farmers and small communities. I will bet at least 9 out of 10 people have a gun of some sort. The farmers is 10 out of 10 own them. They need to kill coyotes or dogs and most carry them in their trucks. Even my sister who lives alone has an arsonal of guns.
See I do not think there are hard statistics I understood 50 % of American households owned a firearm. I do know in Florida they just last year hit one million permits issued to law abiding citizens for legal concealed carry of a firearm.
In addition last year in Florida they had to roll back ALL additional restrictions put on by localities BEYOND what the State law says.AND instituted a $1500 PERSONAL fine to any official who even proposes additional local restrictions. Was quite a scramble for the localities to back off. Bunches of their beloved signs had to be found and taken down. LOL
I just watched a youtube vid about murder per capita vs number of guns. I believe the number was average- 90 guns per 100 people in the USA.
That is not the answer to your question- but it gives an idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pELwC...=...
"I seen the statistic stating there is about 89M guns in the US"
LOL. That statistic is wrong. By a large margin. Where are you getting your data? Shannon Watts? Josh Sugarmann?
89 million? Its more like 300 million.
Correction there are over 89m gun owners and over 350,000,000 guns in the U.S
Last real numbers I saw estimated there are over 200 million firearms here in the US and close to 1/3 of all American households have at least 1 firearm.
