One of the most divisive issues in the US revolves around guns and gun ownership.
However, there’s a lot more to talk about when it comes to guns than the narrow American political debate. There are so many interesting gun facts out there, that it’s a shame to not spend some time engaged with the wild world of firearms. Common discussions are often about gun control, rather than guns themselves, and you rarely run into any positive gun facts.
Are you looking to learn some facts about guns?
Let’s take a look at ten that might surprise you.
1. Three Out of Every Ten American Adults Personally Own a Gun
By some estimates, American citizens now own 40% of all of the guns in the world. This is more than the next 25 countries with the most gun ownership combined.
While three out of every ten American adults say that they personally own a gun, 41% of Americans say that they live with an individual who does.
Americans as a whole have broad exposure to firearms. Nearly 60% of Americans have friends who own guns, nearly 50% grew up in a household with guns, and more than 70% have shot a gun at one point or another.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans who own a gun own more than one. Roughly 75% of gun owners say that they could not imagine ever not owning a gun.
Have you been considering buying an airgun? Check out the best place to buy an airgun right now.
2. Russian Cosmonauts Carry a Gun on Their Spacecraft
While it might seem strange that Russian cosmonauts would bring firearms on space missions, there is actually a very practical reason why they do so.
After cosmonauts Alexi Leonov was stranded in the Siberian wilderness after his capsule malfunctioned, he had the very reasonable concern that the pistol in the survival kit would be ineffective against wildlife in Siberia. In particular, wolves and bears.
For this reason, cosmonauts started carrying TP-82s, which were triple-barreled Soviet pistols. These were carried by cosmonauts between 1986 and 2007. Nowadays, they use a regular semiautomatic pistol.
3. The City of Kennesaw, Georgia Has a Mandatory Gun-Possession Ordinance
That’s right. In Kennesaw, Georgia, it is mandatory for all households in the city to have a gun. There are, of course, certain exceptions allowed.
This law was created in response to an Illinois law that mandated gun prohibition. The ordinance was passed in 1982. The city of Virgin, Utah passed a similar law in 2000, and since then so have Nelson, Georgia, Gun Barrel City, Texas, and Nucla, Colorado.
For what it’s worth, Kennesaw is considered one of the top ten safest cities in Georgia.
4. There Is Only One Legally Operated Gun Store in Mexico
Even though Mexico is a country with nearly 130 million residents and the nation stands an area of more than 761,000 mi.², there is only one gun store and the whole country. Located on the outskirts of Mexico City and run by the army, it takes six documents and months of background checks to even enter the gun store.
While they make it incredibly difficult to get a gun, Mexico has been experiencing unprecedented levels of gun violence.
5. The Oldest Gun Company in the World Was Established in 1526
The oldest gun company in the world is Beretta. It was established in 1526 and has supplied weapons for every major European war since 1650.
6. The Assassin of President Garfield Chose His Weapon Based on What He Thought Would Look Good in a Museum
James Garfield was assassinated by Charles J. Guiteau on July 2, 1881. Guiteau borrowed $15 from a relative to purchase the revolver he would kill the president with. When he was at the gun store, he chose a gun with an ivory grip over a wooden grip because he felt it would look better in a museum exhibit after he assassinated the president.
The revolver was displayed by the Smithsonian for some time in the early 20th century. However, it has been lost since then.
7. More Than 60% of the Gun Deaths in the US Are Suicides
While there is a lot of talk about gun violence in the US in the media, there does not seem to be much conversation about the issue of suicide in our nation. It seems like it would be worth mentioning that more than half of the deaths caused by firearms in the United States are suicides.
8. The State of Vermont Had No Gun Laws Until 2018
Even though there were little to no gun control laws in Vermont, the state consistently has one of the lowest gun homicide rates. Despite this, in 2018, they enacted laws that raised the minimum age for purchasing a firearm, required background checks for private firearm sales, banned possession of bump stocks, and more.
9. Big Bertha Was Ridiculously Powerful
This WWI German siege howitzer was fielded by the Imperial German Army between the years of 1914 and 1918. It was so powerful that troops had to put cotton wads in their nose, ears, and eyes, move 300 yards away, and open their mouths so that their eardrums wouldn’t burst.
Facts About Guns: There’s a Lot to Learn!
The history of firearms is absolutely fascinating. There are so many different types of guns and different shocking or fun facts about guns. Since gun ownership is such a contentious issue in this day and age, it can be a good idea to learn as much as you can about this major aspect of American and human history.
Did you find this article full of facts about guns interesting? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more fascinating and informative content!
Join the discussion on this topic with Boys Sets Fire Blog by visiting our contact page
Hey guys it’s Andrew! I am a writer, a blogger, and a curious human being full of ideas. I remember as a teenager going to my local store to grab a freshly published magazine about the ins and outs of the online business world.
Leave a Reply