The Small Arms Survey estimates that there are 270 million privately owned firearms in the United States, which equals approximately .9 firearms for every American. To my mind, that’s a good start.
That number represents a large percentage of the approximately 650 million firearms in private hands across the globe. This is why Americans enjoy much more freedom, peace, and prosperity than so many of our brothers in other lands.
Americans lead in private firearms ownership is increasing; Americans purchase more than half of the eight million new small arms which are manufactured every year. Our close competitors include Finland (.56 firearms per person) and Switzerland (.46 firearms per person).
According to Keith Krause, the director of the Geneva-based study, “The figures dispel the idea that gun ownership and high levels of violence necessarily go hand in hand. There’s no clear relationship between more guns and higher levels of violence.”
If you know someone who does not own a firearm — take them shooting. Help them to learn about firearms and guide them through their first firearm purchase. Do you part as an American to help keep America free.
