A new Gallup poll released Thursday reveals a notable shift in firearm ownership patterns, highlighting a growing trend among Republican women. According to Gallup’s data from 2019 to 2024, an estimated 33% of Republican women now own firearms, surpassing the 29% of Democratic men who report gun ownership. This marks a significant 14-point increase in firearm ownership among Republican women since the previous six-year period, from 2013 to 2018.
While the overall gender gap in gun ownership persists, the gap has narrowed in recent years. From 2019 to 2024, 43% of men across political affiliations reported owning a firearm, compared to just 20% of women. However, Gallup notes that the gender gap has diminished slightly in recent years, with the difference shrinking by four percentage points compared to data from 2013 to 2018.
Despite this narrowing gap, men remain far more likely than women to own firearms, a reflection of broader cultural and historical trends in which guns have been traditionally associated with male ownership and responsibility. Yet, the increase in firearm ownership among Republican women suggests a shift in the political and social landscape, particularly as debates about gun rights and personal protection continue to evolve.
The Gallup poll also highlights a growing political divide when it comes to gun ownership. Over the past two decades, the gap between Republicans and Democrats in terms of firearm ownership has widened significantly, from a 16-point difference in 2007 to a 28-point gap in 2024. The stark contrast reflects broader ideological divides on issues like personal freedom, self-defense, and gun regulation, with Republican-leaning individuals more likely to prioritize gun ownership and Second Amendment rights, while Democrats tend to focus on gun control and regulation.
According to Pew Research data from 2023, personal protection is the primary reason Americans cite for owning a firearm, with 81% of gun owners saying they feel safer when they own a gun. This aligns with a 2021 Georgetown University study, which found that there are approximately 1.67 million incidents of defensive handgun use each year.
As crime rates and concerns about national security rise in many parts of the country, the desire to own firearms as a form of self-defense is a significant driver of ownership across all demographics, but particularly among Republican-leaning individuals and women who feel they face unique threats to their safety.
With crime rates in some areas spiking in recent years, Republican women are increasingly turning to firearms as a way to protect themselves and their families, especially in light of political rhetoric that advocates for defunding the police or limiting police presence in certain communities.
A 2023 Pew Research study found that 60% of Democrats who do not currently own a firearm said they could never see themselves owning one in the future. Furthermore, 86% of Democrats believe it is too easy to obtain a gun legally in the U.S., a sentiment that underscores the ideological divide between the parties.
That is a good trend.
We have little or no crime where I live because the criminals know we all have guns.