> I'd like to know the methodology that leads to that conclusion. Unless they are making some seriously handwavey assumptions in the absence of a 1:1 binding of

> I'd like to know the methodology that leads to that conclusion. Unless they are making some seriously handwavey assumptions in the absence of a 1:1 binding of individual/household to gun purchase which is technically illegal for the Government to maintain. Likely just a survey. I thought the number sounded high as well until I remember that most people in my family are technically gun owners because they inherited their parents' or grandparents' firearms. In our case, our great-grandparents settled and farmed land and needed firearms. They have now been passed down as essentially the only artifacts of our lineage's settlement in this country. They've all been stored in gun safes, which is probably why they've persisted as some of the most well-preserved family heirlooms. Some of these guns haven't been fired for 50 or maybe even 100 years, but technically they make people "gun owners" per these surveys. Personally I think we could use more gun control, but if I'm being completely honest I would actually be quite upset if these family heirlooms became illegal or onerous to keep due to government regulation.