If you believe some politicians and gun control zealots, United States gun owners are a stereotypical group of overweight, uneducated, middle aged white men who are most likely ‘compensating for something’. Firearms owners are referred to as gun nuts, survivalists, anarchists, domestic terrorists and baby killers. In the words of our own President; “And it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”
I’ve been very fortunate to live and work in a number of areas in this great nation, and visit many others. If there’s one thing I can say with confidence; there is no such thing as a stereotypical American gun owner.
Being involved with firearms through sport, retail, as an advisor and a law enforcement officer, I have come to appreciate there are no demographics not well represented. Men and women, rich and poor, old and young, urban and rural, highly educated and school of hard knocks, every religion, every profession, every political following, every vocation, every race, – otherwise known as a cross section of America. The fastest growing customer segments in industry continue to be women and those with a Hispanic ethnicity. All very far from what some would have you believe.
In the United States, with a population of approximately 320 million, there are an estimated 350 million legally owned firearms. Of course, not every American owns a firearm. In fact, one estimate indicated the average number of firearms per owner has risen in recent years from four to eight. In 2015 we saw record firearms sales across the country and the trend is continuing at record rates into 2016.
The reasons for firearm ownership are as varied as the owners themselves. Firearms are owned for sport, hunting, protection, collecting, investing, heritage and yes, just because they can.
There is however one thing all firearm owners do have in common. They are all universally blamed for the actions of others. Very few others are lumped together in this manner. When a criminal uses a gun, it’s the fault of all gun owners. When a terrorist uses a gun, it’s the fault of all gun owners. When any owner uses a gun irresponsibly, it’s the fault of all gun owners. The answer from the ruling party is to preemptively punish all gun owners to keep them from doing something they had no intention of doing in the first place.
Here’s the thing: bad people are going to do bad things. Stupid people are going to do stupid things. No amount of legislation, oversight or government control is going to stop that. Criminals aren’t going to turn their life around and stop committing crimes because there is a new law on the books. Stupid people aren’t going to become safety gurus because of a new ordinance dictating how to store a firearm in their homes.
Each and every day in this country, the OVERWHELMING majority of those 350 million legally owned firearms are NOT used in crimes or in an irresponsible manner. They ARE used to protect, to defend, to hunt and to shoot. They ARE used to educate youth and new shooters from all walks of life on safety, marksmanship, heritage and personal defense. They ARE used in a safe and responsible manner.
Responsible firearms owners are everywhere in every community, whether you see them or not. Simply owing and using a firearm does not make any of them the next potential crazed lunatic killer, nor does it mean they will be the poster child for safety. Each individual is responsible for their own destiny, not that of the millions of other firearms owners in the country.
As honest, law abiding firearms owners, there are some things all of us can do. We can promote safety and responsibility in our community, at shooting ranges and in the home. We can lead by example of what a good, respectable firearm owner is to our children, family, friends and community. We can stand proud and be all of the things the media and gun grabbers say we are not. Most of all, we can be ourselves and still be the average American gun owner.