Is multiple-gun ownership an age-related thing?

[grumpyduck]

Okay, so I wasn't sure how to word it. And yes I know about last week's shootings.

But I'm curious as to whether all this interest in owning multiple guns "for self defense" is mostly prevalent among middle-aged and older folks. The very few people I know who have multiple guns, except for a couple of hunters, are all baby boomers.

BTW, I'm not implying that being older makes you want to own guns.

Which leads to what got me thinking about this... will all this interest fade away when these people die off?

[NewHendoLib]

1. I fucking hate the things. This 66 year old will never own one

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

2. Oh there's plenty...

of grooming going on and a large block of younger gun humpers being radicalized thanks to GQP, NRA, et al.

[sarisataka]

3. Older people often have

Greater means to acquire things they have wanted.

You don't see many Young guys driving sports cars or collecting show worthy classic cars

[hlthe2b]

4. Do you have statistics you can point to that younger gunowners aren't buying multiple guns?

Because I've not seen anything to suggest this. Seems the only dichotomy is between no guns at all and gun ownership, but on the latter score multiple guns may be the rule...

I'd be interested if anyone wants to try to research this.

[grumpyduck]

7. I don't have any statistics.

I asked here because so many DUers know much more about this than I do and like to share information.

[Amishman]

18. I imagine the Call of Duty video game franchise has encouraged a lot of gun sales over the years

to Gen X, millennials, and younger

[Ocelot II]

5. Guns are expensive; older people are probably better able to afford them.

Some are just harmless collectors of antique or unusual guns (like some people collect teapots or paperweights); many others are indeed nutballs who think that they need an arsenal of assault weapons to protect them from the government or Antifa or both. But as long as there is a prevailing mentality of toxic masculinity coupled with racism, hatred and fear and fed by the NRA's propaganda that you need guns to defend yourself and there's something wrong with you if you don't have a gun, some people will buy as many as they can afford, regardless of their age. Old gun nuts will be replaced with young ones.

[Shrek]

6. I'm 58 and I have two

A 20-gauge pump action for pheasants and quail, and a 12-gauge over/under for waterfowl.

I might get a rifle if I ever decide to take up deer hunting but I doubt it.

[Amishman]

8. In the hardcore gunner world its almost universal, cultural

My wife's family is hardcore republican, with my brother-in-law (whom I've mentioned several times before) being the worst of many gun nuts.

The kids grow up in it and it is normal to them to have an arsenal in the basement. At one gathering last winter, one of my wife's more distant cousins brought along an AK-47 she had built so my brother-in-law could see why it was not working right. She's 19 and building assault rifles for fun.

[inthewind21]

21. I have a family member

Who owns several guns. He says he needs them for protection. I asked him, if your worst fear comes true and 10 armed people show up to take all your stuff, how many of those guns can you fire at once? Stumped him. Clearly it never occurred to him that it only takes one bullet to take you out and render your 25 guns and thousands of rounds useless.

[Amishman]

24. which is worse, having dozens thinking you need them all for defense or having dozens for fun?

I know with my wife's family (especially by BiL), most of their guns are owned for fun. BiL has to be over 200 owned, including several legal machine guns.

[milestogo]

9. I'm 65 and have never touched a gun.

[Hoyt]

10. Incels need lots of gunz.

[CrispyQ]

11. People have speculated that once the boomers are gone racism will be gone too.

But it doesn't work that way. Racism is taught. Gun love is taught.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

12. No, its more income related

Guns aren't cheap, ammo isn't cheap, and the accessories aren't cheap. I've helped out a guy I served within Iraq with his gun business. He opened up a store after he left the Army and wanted some advice on getting all the paperwork and licensing taken care of correctly. He has said that most of his clientele are younger, mainly people within our generation(millennials), and nearly all are buying either handguns or semi auto rifles. He thanks video games and the zombie fad. These buyers grew up playing first person shooters, most of which use real life guns, and in some cases, use actual brand names, and they now have the disposable income to spend on something similar to what they used in their favorite games. He has shifted his inventory to reflect this, keeping very few hunting rifles or hunting shotguns in stock since they don't sell. He also noted that there has been a large increase in women and POC buying guns as well as of late. There was an article fairly recently that said women and minorities are making up over half of new gun owners now.

[SYFROYH]

13. Different tools in the tool box.

Everyone I know (young adult, middle-aged, and old) who does recreational or competitive shooting or even hunting has multiple firearms.


eta: They are fun and interesting to collect. And they almost always hold their value if not increase.

[sop]

14. "Analysis: Fewer U.S. gun owners own more guns"

"The data...found that the number of U.S. households with guns has declined, but current gun owners are gathering more guns...The number of households owning guns has declined from almost 50% in 1973 to just over 32% in 2010...The concentration comes, in part, because guns are marketed by and large to people who already own guns."

https://www.cnn.com/2012/07/31/politics/gun-ownership-declining/index.html

[NutmegYankee]

15. No, I knew many youth (early 20s) who owned multiple guns.

It's a cultural thing.

[IbogaProject]

16. If we can flip the SC time to go orinionalist

After all the Second Amendment was written before bullets existed, so we are free to regulate ammo, since the second amendment didn't envision bullets, or repeating guns. I know a few repeating weapons predate the constitution and the bill of rights, but they were very obscure and maybe not known by the founding fathers. And "A well regulated militia" does start the second.

[hack89]

22. "the Second Amendment was written before bullets existed" ???

What do you think the colonial army was shooting at the British at Lexington and Concord?

[Gore1FL]

25. Metal balls rammed into the muzzle on powder that was previously pour/rammed in.

The first cartridge that could be fired from a strike of the gun's hammer didn't get invented until the middle 1800s.

[hack89]

26. Those round balls were called "bullets".

So yes, bullets are covered by the 2A.

[Gore1FL]

27. I never said they weren't covered by the 2nd Amendment.

I was simply answering your question.

[hack89]

28. My bad.

My question was actually sarcastic - I found that statement that i was replying to oddly detached from reality.

[VarryOn]

17. As many here have pointed out, it's a function of older people....

having the means to afford more toys, this case being guns.

I go to the gun range on occasion. I'd say it's about 50/50 on younger versus older. I do see a lot of father/sons and father/daughters together, where the father is, like my father did for me, teaching the younger how to shoot. I did the same for my son.

Most people in my experience have a gun or two for self-defense. One in the nightstand and maybe one under the carseat. If they have others, they are likely for hunting or they inherited them. It's very common to hand guns down in the family.

I dont know if gun interest will fade over time or not. Maybe it will in parts of the country, but here in the South/Midwest, I dont think it will. Nearly everyone grew up around guns, and I'd venture to say most homes have multiple guns.

We do have a problem with some guns ending up in the hands of the wrong people, usually middle-aged, white guys mad at the world or gang bangers settling turf wars. Either one has a lot of hate in their hearts.

If they could write them to be constitutional, red flag laws are probably the best way to go. Although, I'm not sure what you do about a place like Chicago. Clearly, banning guns in the city havent worked.

[Hangingon]

20. Income increases with age, but may decrease in retirement.

Older people have a lifetime to accumulate property - including firearms. We should remember that guns were not always considered the evil they are today. Hunting is a cultural trait.

[melm00se]

19. I am "older" (late 50s - - - - god where did the time go?)

and I own multiple guns.

This post is for education only. I will not engage in debating firearm policy or justifying of what I own and why.

Firearms, for the most part, are not cheap.

New Shotguns can range from ~$300 to "how much you got?" (Over and unders can have the biggest price tags - look up companies like Purdy and Krieghoff)

Most pistols range from ~$300 or so to ~$1200. Glocks (the most popular pistols run in the $450-500 range)

Most rifles range from ~$400 to somewhere around the "how much you got?". AR pattern rifles (the last time I checked) run $500 on up.

In addition to the firearm itself, there are accessories (magazines, sights, ammunition, slings, cleaning materials, lubricants etc) which can rack up some serious coin.

Many gun owners own multiple guns because not every gun does everything.

An over and under shotgun is a great choice for clay sports but are kind of pricey to take waterfowl hunting and a pump action shotgun is great for hunting but not so good for clay sports.

Pistols can vary in their uses. 22LRs make great target pistols but for hunting anything larger than a chipmunk not so much. A 9mm makes a great competition pistol but more expensive to run than a 22LR and not acceptable for hunting. A 454 Casull is a great pistol hunting round but really expensive to run and very punishing to fire a couple of hundred rounds in a day.

Same thing with rifles. Each caliber has is really good for certain activities and not for others.

While you can use the same gun for various activities (and some people do..I did when I was younger) but when the budget allowed, I sprung for a more specialized gun for my specialized tasks. I did not own an up(per) scale over and under until my late 40s as I had other demands on my money. When I had the discretionary funds I spent them on my hobby.

[VarryOn]

23. When I'm making the case to my wife that I "need" a new gun...

I invariably make the point that "at least I'm not a golfer" like many of our friends are. I point out how expensive it is (i.e. club membership, greens fees, attire, buying the latest/greatest club, annual golf trip with buddies, etc.) and how much time it requires (i.e. driving range, 4-5 hours per round, etc.).

But, you're right. Gun collecting isnt cheap. And I'm really not sure if golf is more expensive or not! lol

[melm00se]

29. You sound like me...

my wife and I have an agreement.

I can have a max of 8 firearms at any given time. If I hit the 8, I have to trade one in to get another. The only way I can have more than 8 is if I buy a true investment gun. I have yet to find one that 1) fits in that category and 2) rings my bell (like the antique swords I own).

And you know what?

It works as it prevents me from having safe queens. Every gun I own gets used and used on a fairly regular basis.

I am a little concerned since moving to FL as there aren't a lot of action pistol places within an hour or so.

[Kaleva]

30. The youngest Boomer is now 58. I don't think it's age related.

I know people in their 20's and early 30's who own a few each. The person I personally know that has the most guns is 82 years old but he's a collector.