WHEN MEN’S HEALTH surveyed American male gun owners, the results were striking. You’ll find all our featured survey results below, but for our takeaways and analysis, head here.
Guys Who First Fired a Gun:
Under the Age of 18:
- 57% own a gun primarily for protection
- 35% own for hunting
- 8% other
Guys Who First Fired a Gun:
Between the Ages of 18 and 24:
- 79% own for protection
- 15% own for hunting
- 6% other
Men Who Own One Gun Reported a …
- 2x higher rate of having fired a gun in anger
- 50% higher rate of having fired a gun in fear
- 60% higher rate of having threatened someone with a gun
- 25% higher rate of having injured someone with a gun
. . . than men who own four-plus guns.
Gun Owners Who Identify as:
Democrats:
- 45% Own 1 gun
- 15% Own 4+ guns
Republicans:
- 27% Own 1 gun
- 28% Own 4+ guns
When We Asked Survey Respondents:
“Have you ever fired a gun in anger?”
- Democrats: 16% Yes
- Republicans: 10% Yes
“Have you ever threatened someone with a gun?”
- Democrats: 18% Yes
- Republicans: 11% Yes
“Have you ever used a gun to get what you want?”
- Democrats: 13% Yes
- Republicans: 6% Yes
Where Democrat and Republican Gun Owners Agree:
With the statement: “My friends and family know I have a gun.”
- Democrats: 95% Yes
- Republicans: 98% Yes
“My mental health has improved or stayed the same since owning a gun.”
- Democrats: 94% Yes
- Republicans: 96% Yes
“When I was growing up, at least one family member owned a gun.”
- Democrats: 81% Yes
- Republicans: 81% Yes
“Mass shootings make me feel angry or sad.”
- Democrats: 75% Yes
- Republicans: 79% Yes
“I feel safer owning a gun.”
- Democrats: 81% Yes
- Republicans: 81% Yes
ONE IN FIVE of male gun owners reported feeling anxious, worried, or inadequate when their gun wasn’t in reach.
Sixty-nine percent of these men said owning a gun makes them feel “safe.”
How Men Responded to the Statement:
“Owning a gun makes me feel like more of a man.”
- 34% Neither agree nor disagree
- 29% Strongly disagree
- 14% Somewhat disagree
- 12% Somewhat agree
- 11% Strongly agree
Men who strongly agreed with the above statement reported a . . .
- 13x higher rate of having fired a gun in anger
- 6x higher rate of having injured someone with a gun
- 4x higher rate of having threatened someone with a gun
. . . than men who strongly disagreed.
TWICE AS MANY AK-47 owns reported firing a gun in anger compared with men who own a revolver or a shotgun.
2x as many men who primarily own AK-47’s or AR-15’s reported feeling “indifferent” after hearing news of a mass shooting compared with those who own other guns.
When Those We Surveyed Respond to the Statement:
“We live in a dangerous world.”
- 51% Strongly agree
- 32% Somewhat agree
- 12% Neither agree nor disagree
- 3% Somewhat disagree
- 2% Strongly disagree
When Those We Surveyed Respond to…
The statement:
“Do you feel safer owning a gun?”
- Men who “strongly agree” with the Second Amendment: 77% Yes
- Men who “strongly disagree” with the Second Amendment: 58% Yes
The question:
“Has your mental health improved since owning a gun?”
- “Strongly agree” with the Second Amendment: 31% Yes
- “Strongly disagree” with the Second Amendment: 21% Yes
“Do you feel the same when your gun isn’t within reach?”
- “Strongly agree” with the Second Amendment: 75% Yes
- “Strongly disagree” with the Second Amendment: 50% Yes
In general, Most Men Reported:
Their mental health has stayed the same or improved since owning a gun.
- 64% Hasn’t changed
- 31% Improved
- 3% Gotten worse
- 2% Not sure
METHODOLOGY: Men’s Health conducted this survey of 1,211 men over age 18 in the United States who owned a gun. The data-collection period spanned from April 15 to April 29, 2024. The survey was distributed to individuals using SurveyMonkey, Inc., San Mateo, California. www.surveymonkey.com
