A May 6, 2026 Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 35% of American Adults say they or someone in their household owns a gun – down from 42% in 2023 – while 55% don’t live in gun-owning households, and 10% are not sure.
Among those who live in gun-owning homes, 65% feel more safe because someone in their household owns a gun. Only six percent (6%) feel less safe, while 26% feel it has no impact on their personal safety.
Only 22% of American Adults trust the government to fairly enforce gun control laws – down from 29% three years ago – while 58% don’t, and 21% aren’t sure.
Republicans (36%) are more likely than Democrats (18%) or those not affiliated with either major party (14%) to trust the government to enforce gun laws fairly.
Significantly more Republicans (50%) than Democrats (27%) or the unaffiliated (30%) say they or someone in their household owns a gun.
Among those who live in gun-owning households, 75% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats and 62% of the unaffiliated feel safer as a result.
More men (39%) than women (32%) live in gun-owning households.
Americans 65 and older are most likely to say they or someone in their household owns a gun, and less likely to trust the government to fairly enforce gun control laws. Forty-two percent (42%) of men 40 and older live in gun-owning households.
Forty percent (40%) of whites, 31% of blacks, 24% of Hispanics and 27% of other minorities say they or someone in their household owns a gun. Hispanics are most likely to trust the government to enforce gun control laws fairly.
Significantly fewer unmarried Americans (28%) live in gun-owning households, compared to 42% of married adults.
Forty-two percent (42%) of those with annual incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 say they or someone in their household owns a gun, compared to 28% of those earning less than $30,000 a year.
Forty-five percent (45%) of entrepreneurs live in gun-owning households, compared to 33% of government employees, 34% of private sector workers and 41% of retirees.
The survey of 1,225 American Adults was conducted on April 27-29, 2026 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. To see survey question wording, click here.
Among those who live in gun-owning homes, 65% feel more safe because someone in their household owns a gun. Only six percent (6%) feel less safe, while 26% feel it has no impact on their personal safety.
Only 22% of American Adults trust the government to fairly enforce gun control laws – down from 29% three years ago – while 58% don’t, and 21% aren’t sure.
Republicans (36%) are more likely than Democrats (18%) or those not affiliated with either major party (14%) to trust the government to enforce gun laws fairly.
Significantly more Republicans (50%) than Democrats (27%) or the unaffiliated (30%) say they or someone in their household owns a gun.
Among those who live in gun-owning households, 75% of Republicans, 52% of Democrats and 62% of the unaffiliated feel safer as a result.
More men (39%) than women (32%) live in gun-owning households.
Americans 65 and older are most likely to say they or someone in their household owns a gun, and less likely to trust the government to fairly enforce gun control laws. Forty-two percent (42%) of men 40 and older live in gun-owning households.
Forty percent (40%) of whites, 31% of blacks, 24% of Hispanics and 27% of other minorities say they or someone in their household owns a gun. Hispanics are most likely to trust the government to enforce gun control laws fairly.
Significantly fewer unmarried Americans (28%) live in gun-owning households, compared to 42% of married adults.
Forty-two percent (42%) of those with annual incomes between $50,000 and $100,000 say they or someone in their household owns a gun, compared to 28% of those earning less than $30,000 a year.
Forty-five percent (45%) of entrepreneurs live in gun-owning households, compared to 33% of government employees, 34% of private sector workers and 41% of retirees.
The survey of 1,225 American Adults was conducted on April 27-29, 2026 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence. Field work for all Rasmussen Reports surveys is conducted by Pulse Opinion Research, LLC. See methodology. To see survey question wording, click here.
