Just because a person does not own a gun—a non-gun owner—does not necessarily mean that his or she is part of an anti-gun or anti-Second Amendment group. But who are the non-gun owners? As it pertains to firearms, the population of the United States is made up of three types of people who can be represented in a “bell curve,” also known as a “normal distribution” or “Gaussian distribution.” In short, this is a symmetrical probability distribution that represents gun owners and pro-2A supporters on the right of the curve; anti-gun and anti-2A individuals on the left of the curve; and the non-gun-owning majority in the middle. It is the individuals who fall in the middle that the pro-gun and anti-gun factions are trying to sway to their side.
Unfortunately, this fight for the middle is not being fought on a level playing field. The pro-gun faction typically has facts on their side and employ them in their debates. The anti-gun faction often uses emotion, skewed facts and statistics, and even straight-out lies to argue their side.
Pew Research
According to a July 2024 national survey by Pew Research, 40 percent of Americans live in a house with a firearm, and of those, 32 percent personally own firearms. Of those who personally own guns, 45 percent lean Republican, 20 percent lean Democrat, and the remaining 35 percent who live in a household with a firearm have no noted political affiliation. Additionally, 40 percent men said they'd owned a firearm; only 25 percent of the women owned a firearm.
Of the gun owners, 72 percent cite that personal protection is the primary reason that they own a firearm. The other top two reasons for owning firearms that are cited in the research are 32 percent for hunting, and 30 percent for recreational and competition shooting. The reasons cited by 15 percent of gun owners is that they are gun collectors, and the remaining 7 percent said they own a firearm for their jobs.
According to Pew, 60 percent of the population in the United States are non-gun-owning. This group of individuals includes the anti-2A individuals and those who just simply do not own a gun. Of this group, 52 percent of individuals surveyed stated that they could never see themselves owning a firearm. The survey does not distinguish between anti-2A individuals and non-gun owners in the reported 52 percent. It is safe to say that neither one, the anti-2A or non-gun owners, represents 100 percent of this group.
Of those remaining, 47 percent of individuals who do not own firearms state that they are open to owning a firearm in the future. Of this group, 60 percent lean Republican and 40 percent lean Democrat. Additionally, this group is also represented by 56 percent men and 44 percent women. In particular, it is this group of individuals that the pro-gun and anti-gun factions are trying to win over.
Several things make the non-gun owner “up for grabs” between the pro-gun and anti-gun factions. First, many non-gun owners can be persuaded into either category. Second, many have not been educated or given the necessary information regarding firearms. Lastly, it is often the case that non-gun owners have not been properly introduced to the shooting sports or activities.
Persuasion
Non-gun owners can be persuaded to join the pro-gun side or the anti-gun side through perception. Some non-gun owners develop opinions regarding guns and gun owners from what they see and hear on the news and other external influences. Perception and imagery are very powerful when it comes to persuading individuals.
Anti-2A activists and organizations are very experienced in trying to persuade non-gun owners to join their side. These groups are very effective in using emotions and misinformation to spread their message. With the mainstream media on their side and skewed polling and statistics, anti-2A organizations are slowly changing public perceptions.
Persuading a non-gun owner to become pro-gun can be done through our actions. This is why it is important to be a responsible gun owner. After demonstrating firearm safety, one of the most important things that a gun owner can do is project a good image. After all, gun owners represent the Second Amendment.
We can persuade a non-gun owner to become pro-gun by handling our firearms safely and responsibly and always following the NRA Gun Safety Rules:
- ALWAYS Keep the Gun Pointed in a Safe Direction,
- ALWAYS Keep Your Finger off the Trigger Until Ready to Shoot, and
- ALWAYS Keep the Gun Unloaded Until Ready to Use.
We should always project the image of a responsible gun owner. This includes when we take photographs and videos while in possession of a firearm.
It is common for individuals to take pictures of themselves or others while at the gun range, shooting competition, or hunting. Always be mindful of how others will perceive the way you are holding or displaying a firearm. Pictures with a handgun in a proper holster or a longarm safely slung over the should almost always give the impression of a safe firearm and the person who is handling it.
What we wear when in possession of a firearm can also be very persuasive to a non-gun owner. When in public, wearing full head-to-toe camouflage can leave a non-gun owner with the wrong impression. Additionally, being dressed in tactical clothing while handling firearms can lead to negative thoughts by a non-gun owner. It is unnecessary to be in “full battle gear” in public.
Education
Most non-gun owners can distinguish between the truth and lies. They just need the information to make informed decisions. It is the responsibility of the pro-gun individuals and organizations to reach out to the non-gun owners. Unfortunately, the anti-2A groups are very organized and effective in getting their message out.
Anti-2A activists and organizations are anti-education when it comes to spreading misinformation. They spend more time making up facts, misinterpreting data, and skewing information than reporting the truth.
The pro-gun faction is also very effective in persuading non-gun owners to join their side. Pro-gun individuals and groups do this by making rational arguments that expose the misinformation of the anti-2nd Amendment faction. We can do this by ensuring we are educated on the truth and getting our message out to the public. To do this though, pro-gun individuals need to know where to go to get the proper information.
One of the best places to get correct information on gun ownership and the 2nd Amendment is the NRA. The NRA is the frontline defense against the anti-2nd Amendment faction. Pro-2nd Amendment information and facts can be found at home.nra.org. There are also NRA Official Journals and digital properties such as NRA Women, NRA Family, Shooting Sports USA, among others.
It is also important to do your research. Read about our Founding Fathers, what they believed, and the reasons why they knew the Second Amendment was critical for a free nation. Other documents include the Federalist Papers, essays and papers written by the individuals who had a hand in forming the United States. Pro-2A individuals and groups should never stop doing their research and educating themselves.
An overall lack of information is a major constraint to non-gun owners. This includes not knowing where to go to purchase a firearm, what type of gun to buy and how to choose the correct ammunition for it, how to safely transport the firearm and ammo to a shooting range, and how to properly clean the gun after shooting it. This group lacks confidence due to a lack of knowledge and feels they may be criticized by others. They are usually intimidated by entering a gun store or shooting range and being surrounded by people perceived to be at a higher skill level.
Activities
Many non-gun owners have never been properly introduced to the shooting sports or other activities to enjoy the safe and responsible use of firearms. I have seen non-gun owners who were properly introduced to different activities immediately become pro-gun individuals! As the Assistant Hunter Education Coordinator and the statewide Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Coordinator, I have introduced hundreds of non-gun owners to hunting, sporting clays, and recreational shooting. I cannot think of one of these individuals who did not become pro-gun after they were properly taught how to engage in the sport.
Another activity that any pro-gun individual can introduce a non-gun individual to is a gun safety course. Their safety concern may be the only thing stopping a non-gun owner from becoming a pro-gun owner. Gun safety training can be found at many gun ranges, or you can look towards the NRA for excellent firearms safety training.
A non-gun owner may have never been invited to go to the range with one of their pro-gun friends. Many times, a pro-gun owner just assumes that if they know someone who does not own a firearm, they are against guns. They may have never been introduced to shooting and are awaiting the opportunity! If you know an individual that you think is an anti-gun person, invite them to go with you to the range. You may have just discovered a new range partner!
Non-gun owners can just as easily become part of the pro-gun faction as they can become part of the anti-gun faction. WE can be the influence in their life, or the anti-2A community can. It is our duty and responsibility to get as many of our fellow citizens as possible to become 2A advocates!
