americans- how common is it to carry a gun?

Question

when i asked my question "what do you keep in your glovebox" i was surprised to hear that some people kept a gun! i live in australia, and people who hold gun licences are those in the outback who need to shoot vermin, it's another thing to carry a shot gun in your purse!

Answer 1

Keeping my .45 in the glove box would be to far if I ever would need it. That's why I keep it on my hip if I need it.

Answer 2

Not as many carry as should. I think it depends on where you live. Many cities or states try to tell us that we don't have the right to carry a gun. However, they are wrong. It is proven that crime goes down when people carry and have firearms in their homes (AND know how to use them). The only thing gun control does is take the guns out of legal citizens hands. The criminals can still get the guns and do.

Here in Oregon, after a 4-hour course, passing a criminal background check, and paying your fee, you can carry concealed. If you do not want that, you are allowed to carry a gun on your hip, in PLAIN sight or in your car. If it is in the glove-box, it is considered concealed. When I took my class, there must have been 25 people, of all ages and gender and most courses are larger. I ALWAYS have a gun in hand when I go outside at night on our property. We have 4-legged animals that weigh 500+ pounds that could kill you in a minute. They climb trees and we have lots of trees and domestic animals. I prefer to have some sort of defense with me.

Do I carry concealed? Of course all the time. Why? I feel safer, esp as a female driving alone at night . The gun is strictly for self defense. If I have to draw, it is because I am afraid for my life. Nothing more... nothing less. Most people don't carry a shot gun in their purse or poctet... way too big. The majority will have a 38, 9mm, or 40mm that they carry. The reasons are size (esp. for concealed), firepower, and damage. The shotgun is beside the bed, used during a swat type engagement, or hunting/ridding the area of "vermin" (say rattlesnakes or cougars that are attacking).

Answer 3

I'd guess 10% actually carry a gun on their person or in their car in the US. I live in Louisiana, in the south, near Texas. I personally don't. Most people here own a gun, say >80%, but that is usually a shotgun or rifle for hunting. The state motto for Louisiana is "Sportsman's Paradise", since there is so much hunting and fishing here.

Answer 4

In America most police and security personnel carry guns. The majority of gun owners usually leave their guns at home unless they are frightened, paranoid, or suspect trouble of some kind. However, an American is more likely to have one in his glove compartment than on his person.

Numerous surveys over the last 40+ years have found that almost half of all households have at least one gun owner and just less than a third of all adults own one. (around 31%)

Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, 2003, released in July 2004 that 1,079,301 high school students across America take a weapon to school at least once every 30 days and 1.3 million high school students are threatened or injured with a weapon on school property at least once every year, but I bellieve this includes all weapons, and not just guns.
Although most criminals in America don't carry guns, it's no surprise that a lot of the (usually younger) gang-bangers will carry them if they can get their hands on them. A very active drug dealer will usually have a gun, but the common dope addict has usually sold any gun he might have had (or traded it for dope.)

In the more rural areas of the country it's not uncommon to see one or two rifles or shotguns displayed on a rack in the back window of a pick-up truck. Some people use them for hunting or poaching, but they are usually just for show.

Small hand guns are more common in the rougher parts of most cities. You are really not allowed to carry a concealed weapon without a permit, but a lot of women who have been victims (or who are afraid of being victims) will go ahead and get the permit so they can carry them in their purse.

A lot of gun owners are proud of their guns and want to show them off, but even in America people get real nervous when the see a gun, so most people leave them home.

The police, in particular, are most afraid of guns, even though they carry them. This is because their training has conditioned them to respond at the sight of any weapon.

Answer 5

i carry my Colt 45 1911 in my glove box or on me concealed and yes i have a permit to carry concealed i feel very safe with it i keep my big guns at home unless i am going shooting i have a Sten MK2 sub machine gun its automatic its from 1944 and its legal and a Barrett 50. BMG rifle,M1 Garand 30-06 rifle ,1897 trench gun i like to hunt deer and ducks and i use the sub machine gun if somebody break in my house and for fun and the 50. and the M1 for deer

Answer 6

Its not as common in states that have laws banning the carrying of concealed weapons. Most that do in these areas are uncover law enforcement, criminals, thugs and people asking to get arrested for it. I know that in the southern states and a bunch of the 'back home' type midwest and all its more common for people to carry them to protect their land and act dumb when they get liquored up because of lack of law enforcement per area of land, and most of those kinds of places believe in the goodness of others and self-policing. It pretty much is a dying cause... our constitution that states the right to bare arms is something that we should be allowed, but unfortunately each year the ability is getting more and more stripped from the people. Which sucks. But anyhow... that should cover your question and keep the shotgun outta your purse, it belongs slung over your shoulder ;p~Quinn

Answer 7

lots of people own guns but I think very few carry them around - except in Texas or the South, but hey that might just be a stereotype also.

The only gun I personally own is a staple gun.

Answer 8

I live in Chicago where it is illegal to own a handgun. I know people that do own them in the city tho. Most people believe if the gangbangers have guns then it should be ok for anyone to have a gun. Take the guns away from the criminals first, then take them away from law abiding citizens.

Answer 9

I know lots of people who carry guns on a daily basis. Im mean ya it is Alaska but still its pretty common. i have quite a few guns myself. And we dont carry a shotgun around with us, we carry a pistol, im partial to the .45 ACP.

Answer 10

Alot of Southern US states, its very common. I live in Louisiana now, from Canada and I was shocked. Its hard to get a gun here, there you can buy them at Wal Mart.

Answer 11

We have a gun but we only carry it with us when traveling cross country other then that we keep it at home