A new study's survey data shows that United States gun ownership includes nearly one-third of American adults. The researchers learned that the ownership of weapons in America is closely linked to a U.S. "gun culture" in which family and friends also own firearms such as handguns and shotguns, and people look down on non-gun owners.
Dr. Bindu Kalesan of Columbia University (New York) stated that her research group hypothesized that the U.S.'s "deeply rooted" gun culture was linked to the estimated 310 million firearms owned.
A strong connection still existed after removing various factors such as gun laws and deaths, according to West Central Tribune. Kalesan told that to Reuters via an email.
The Columbia researchers used data collected from a 2013 Web survey of 4,000 Americans over 18 years old, from all 50 states. The study participants represented the entire U.S. population.
Around 29 percent of all Americans reported that they own a gun. The lowest figure was 5 percent in Delaware, while the highest mark was nearly 62 percent in Alaska.
Gun ownership numbers were lowest in the Northwest. Meanwhile, people in the South and West regions had the highest gun-owning rates.
In terms of race, gender, and age, white males over 55 years old were most likely to be firearm owners. Rates were lower for all other demographics.
Approximately 5 percent of the survey's participants reported that their gun's function was hunting. Also, just 10 percent had completed gun safety courses.
Gun-owning figures were 50 percent higher in states with greater gun fatality rates, compared to those with fewer firearm deaths, according to West Texas News.
A total 32 percent of all gun owners had been exposed to "social gun culture." The figure was a mere 6 percent among non-gun owners.
While U.S. ownership of guns is declining, sales figures are up. These statistics could imply that firearm owners are purchasing multiple guns.
Kalesan noted that gun ownership among civilians is quite high compared to other developed countries. For example, Australia launched a gun turn-in program in 1996, due to rising firearm deaths. Since then gun fatalities have plummeted.
The study's findings were published on June 29 in Injury Prevention.