Gallup: Number One Reason For Gun Ownership is Personal Safety

Politix

A new Gallup poll looked at the most popular reasons Americans own guns. Not particularly surprising, personal safety comes in first, with a whopping 60% of respondents citing that as their primary reason for keeping a firearm around.

But only one in twenty of those polled say they own a gun because, quite simply, the 2nd Amendment grants them the right. "Only 5% of American gun owners cite 'Second Amendment rights,'" writes Gallup, "despite its frequent use as an argument against gun control."

After personal safety, hunting is the most popular reason given, followed by "recreation and sport" and target shooting.

"Those who own firearms for protection may feel that their own personal safety is a vital need on which they do not wish to compromise," Gallup adds in conclusion. "This, rather than views on the Second Amendment, may explain why moving toward greater gun control as many Democrats have sought to do, is so difficult."