Why do American citizens own guns? The answer is complex and pluralistic. Protection and self-defense remain the predominant motives, consistently cited by large majorities across surveys
Introduction
"Gun ownership in the United States remains a deeply rooted and controversial phenomenon. Among advanced nations, Americans hold vastly more civilian firearms per capita, and debates over gun rights, regulation, and violence figure prominently in public discourse (Ebsco, n.d.; Pew Research Center, 2024). But beyond political arguments, what motivates many U.S. citizens personally to own firearms? The reasons are multifaceted, ranging from protection and self-defense, to recreation, identity and cultural values, psychological needs, symbolic meanings, and ideological commitments. Understanding these layers is crucial for policy development, public health efforts, and societal conversations about guns.
This essay will explore the main categories of motivations behind gun ownership among American citizens: (1) protection and self-defense, (2) recreational and sporting use (hunting, target shooting, collecting), (3) identity, culture, and symbolism, (4) psychological and emotional factors, and (5) ideological, political, and constitutional beliefs. Each section will draw on empirical surveys, qualitative studies, and theoretical insights. The conclusion will consider tensions and implications of these motivations for regulation and social policy.
Protection and Self-Defense- Prevalence of the Protection Motive
The most frequently cited reason for gun ownership is protection or self-defense. A survey by Pew Research Center in 2023 found that 72% of U.S. gun owners say protection is a major reason for owning a firearm, well above other motives such as hunting or sport shooting (Pew Research Center, 2023). This finding is consistent with earlier studies: in a 2017 survey, 67% of gun owners cited protection as a major reason for owning a gun (Pew Research Center, 2017). The trend toward protection as a primary motivator has intensified: Gallup data show that in recent years, 88% of gun owners cite crime protection as a reason, compared with ~67% in 2005 (Gallup, 2021).
A more recent empirical study, Reasons for Gun Ownership Among Demographically Diverse New and Prior Gun Owners, reported that among all gun owners (n = 1,002), 91% endorsed at-home protection as “very or extremely important,” and many also endorsed protection outside the home (Grace et al., 2024). These high percentages underscore how pervasive the protection rationale is across demographic groups.
- Nuances: Protection from Whom, and Under What Conditions
“Protection” is not a monolithic concept. Detailed investigations reveal that gun owners distinguish between types of threat (e.g., intruders, criminals, strangers, ideological conflict) and loci (at home, in public, during emergencies).
One study analyzing 2023 data found that gun owners frequently cited both at-home protection and out-of-home protection as important reasons, and also considered threats from "ideological conflict" (e.g., protests, civil unrest) to some degree (Grace et al., 2024). In addition, newer gun owners often endorsed multiple reasons for ownership more strongly, potentially indicating more diffuse threat perceptions (Grace et al., 2024).
Another empirical investigation published in Injury Prevention (2025) examined firearm ownership and motivations in a nationally representative cohort. The authors found that protective motivations remain central, but also observed associations between more permissive firearm policies and greater behavioral ambivalence in gun use and storage (Degli Esposti et al., 2025).
Moreover, qualitative research shows that some owners perceive threats in more socially or politically charged terms—fear of civil breakdown, protests, or disorder—rather than purely criminal danger (Thomas et al., 2022). In other words, protection also interweaves with broader anxieties about social stability.
- Critiques and Challenges to the Protection Narrative
While protection is commonly espoused, critics question whether gun ownership reliably confers greater safety. Empirical studies of defensive gun use are contested: some find weak support for frequent, successful defensive uses (Cook & Ludwig, 1994), while public health research emphasizes the increased risks of accidental shootings, suicide, and homicides associated with guns in the home (Grace et al., 2022). Indeed, the presence of firearms in the home is associated with elevated risk of both intentional and unintentional injury among household members (Grace et al., 2022).
Some scholars argue that the “guns-for-protection” narrative has grown in salience as perceptions of crime and fear rise, regardless of actual crime rates (Stroebe et al., 2024). From this lens, owning a gun may be more about perceived vulnerability than real statistical danger.
Moreover, psychological studies suggest that fear, status anxiety, or cultural threats may drive protective gun ownership even in low-crime settings (Kirk & Papachristos, 2021; Stroebe et al., 2024). A survey-based study on “fear and loathing” posits that cultural anxiety—e.g., concern about social status, demographic change, or perceived decline—correlates with openness to protective gun ownership (Stroebe et al., 2024). Thus, the protection motive can also reflect symbolic or identity-laden concerns, not only physical threat.
Although protection tends to dominate survey responses, many gun owners also cite recreational, sporting, or collection motives—often as secondary or complementary reasons.
- Hunting, Target Shooting, and Sport Shooting
Historically and culturally, hunting has been a longstanding reason for firearm ownership in the U.S. In rural and semi-rural communities especially, guns have served as tools for subsistence and sport (Wake Forest News, 2024). In the 2017 Pew survey, about 38% of gun owners said hunting was a major reason for owning a gun, and 30% cited sport shooting (Pew Research Center, 2017). These proportions vary by geography: gun owners in rural areas are more likely to emphasize hunting, while urban and suburban owners lean more heavily toward protection motives (Pew Research Center, 2017; Pew Research Center, 2024).
The Guns in America survey by the National Institute of Justice (1994) reported that recreation was more common than protection as the primary motive—46% said they possessed a gun primarily for recreation, while 46% cited protection (Cook & Ludwig, 1994). However, over time, protection has overtaken recreation as the leading motive in many more recent surveys (Pew Research Center, 2024; Gallup, 2021).
It is important to note that many gun owners engage in multiple uses—they may hunt, participate in target shooting or competition, and still keep a gun for defense. This multiplicity complicates simple categorization.
- Collection and Historical / Aesthetic Interest
A smaller subset of gun owners collect firearms for historical, aesthetic, or investment-oriented reasons. This includes preserving antique firearms, assembling themed collections, or owning firearms for their craftsmanship. In the 2017 Pew survey, 13% of gun owners cited collecting as a major reason (Pew Research Center, 2017).
In qualitative interviews, collectors often express pride in preserving heritage, technical appreciation for firearm engineering, or a sense of stewardship of historically significant weapons (Thomas et al., 2022). Collection motives sometimes interface with identity and symbolism—the notion of firearms as artifacts of American history and frontier mythology.
Beyond utilitarian uses, gun ownership in the U.S. is embedded in a broader gun culture—a system of beliefs, practices, identities, and symbols that shape how many Americans think about arms, rights, masculinity, and citizenship (Wood, 2018; Thomas et al., 2022). Some of the less overt motives of ownership relate to identity, social belonging, and symbolic expression.
- The Socialization and Inherited Gun Culture
Many American gun owners have family traditions of firearms. Pew Research Center reports that about two-thirds of current gun owners say there were guns in their household while growing up (Pew Research Center, 2017). For many, familiarity and normalized acceptance of firearms in childhood predispose later ownership (Pew Research Center, 2017; Grace et al., 2022).
Qualitative research shows that for some individuals, guns are part of familial identity or local culture—passed down, discussed, maintained, and associated with rites of passage (Thomas et al., 2022). Even when individuals do not explicitly cite tradition, being part of gun-owning social networks influences perceptions of legitimacy and norms around firearm use and storage.
- Symbolic and Expressive Aspects: Freedom, Sovereignty, Masculinity
For many gun owners, owning firearms carries symbolic meaning related to freedom, self-reliance, sovereignty, or resistance to perceived overreach. In the 2017 Pew survey, 74% of gun owners said the right to own guns was essential to their sense of personal freedom, compared to 35% of non-gun owners (Pew Research Center, 2017). This suggests that for many, guns are not only tools but symbols of individual autonomy.
In qualitative accounts, some gun owners describe firearms as expressions of personal responsibility, power, or protection of liberties (Thomas et al., 2022). Firearms can stand as statements of independence, readiness, and sovereignty against threats—whether external or internal (e.g., government oppression).
Gendered and cultural dimensions also matter. In a qualitative study of gun identity, Thomas et al. (2022) found that some owners framed guns as extensions of masculinity or rugged self-sufficiency. Guns, in such narratives, become signifiers of competence and control, especially in communities where masculine ideals emphasize protection and authority.
- The “Armed Home” and Cultural Narratives
Recent sociological work explores the notion of the “armed home” as a social script: people frame the home as a boundary to be defended, and owning a firearm inside becomes part of a security narrative (Phung, 2025). Phung’s research suggests that some individuals define gun ownership in relation to cultural scripts about threat, home, and safety—sometimes downplaying the risks associated with firearms (Phung, 2025).
Moreover, interpretations of gun violence differ: some individuals contrast “our gun” (trusted, defensive) with “other guns” (criminal, external). This binary underscores how symbolism and narrative frames shape how owners think about risk, legitimacy, and normalization (Phung, 2025).
In sum, symbolic and identity-based motives make gun ownership more than functional. Firearms become part of how some Americans see themselves and their role in society.
While protection, recreation, and identity cover much ground, a deeper layer concerns psychological and emotional motivations—the ways in which owning a gun functions for self-concept, agency, control, and emotional security.
- Feelings of Control, Mastery, and Agency
A recent commentary on psychological aspects of gun ownership suggests that many owners use a firearm not only to guard against physical threat, but to preserve psychological well-being: feelings of control, agency, and empowerment (Psych Wisc, n.d.). That is, owning a gun can help individuals feel more secure in a world seen as uncertain or threatening (Psych Wisc, n.d.).
Gun owners may perceive firearms as tools to reassert control in environments where they feel vulnerable or marginalized. In such contexts, gun ownership is less about actual danger and more about a sense of order, autonomy, or control in one’s life.
- Fear, Anxiety, and Motivated Reasoning
From a social-psychological perspective, perceived threats—especially amplified by media, social discourse, or collective anxiety—can drive increased demand for firearms. Pierre (2019) discusses the “psychology of guns” and how motivated reasoning, fear, and threat perception shape attitudes toward guns and gun policy. Individuals may overestimate danger, view the world as more chaotic or violent than data show, and thus justify ownership as a rational precaution (Pierre, 2019).
Similarly, the “fear and loathing” model (Stroebe et al., 2024) argues that both fear (victimization concerns) and status anxieties (concerns about social change, identity threat) contribute to protective gun ownership. Especially in times of social upheaval or cultural change, symbolic insecurity can translate into material responses (i.e., owning guns).
Some studies find that among non-owners, those with higher cultural anxiety—worries about societal shifts, demographic threats, or declining status—are more likely to consider future ownership (Stroebe et al., 2024). Thus, gun demand is not only about crime but also about existential anxieties.
- Psychological Identity and Meaning
Beyond control and fear, guns can offer psychological meaning—helping individuals feel more purpose, connection, or existential coherence. For some, owning a gun ties them into communities (shooting clubs, hunting networks), offering shared values and belonging. Guns can become parts of personal narratives of duty, vigilance, or moral commitment.
Thomas et al.’s (2022) qualitative study reveals that some owners interpret firearms as civic obligations or markers of full citizenship—ways to actively participate in societal defense or readiness. In such cases, gun ownership contributes to one’s sense of moral or civic identity, beyond utilitarian functions.
Finally, a central dimension in American gun ownership is ideological and constitutional belief—rooted particularly in the Second Amendment and the political landscape surrounding gun rights.
- The Second Amendment and Constitutional Belief
One of the most powerful motivators for gun ownership is commitment to constitutional rights. Many citizens regard owning firearms not merely as a personal choice but as a civic right. The U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment (“the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”) is widely interpreted by pro-gun advocates as protecting individual gun ownership. This belief drives both ownership decisions and resistance to gun control proposals.
In Pew’s 2017 survey, 74% of gun owners said the right to own guns was essential to their personal sense of freedom (Pew Research Center, 2017). Conversely, non-gun owners are far less likely to hold that view. This underscores how constitutional ideology is entwined with gun culture and ownership.
- Political Identity and Partisan Alignment
Gun ownership and attitudes toward firearms are deeply gendered along partisan lines. Republicans and Republican-leaning individuals are more than twice as likely as Democrats and Democratic-leaning individuals to own a gun (Pew Research Center, 2017; Pew Research Center, 2023). Gun rights advocacy is often part of broader conservative political identity, including distrust of government, prioritization of individual liberty, and resistance to regulation.
Gun owners often view gun policy proposals (e.g., background checks, bans on assault weapons) through ideological frames—perceiving them as threats to individual rights, autonomy, or as slippery slopes (Pew Research Center, 2017). These ideological beliefs can reinforce ownership, as owning a firearm becomes an act of political stance.
- Ideological Justifications for Ownership
Some gun owners articulate ideological justifications beyond narrow constitutionalism. For instance, some refer to the need to be prepared against tyranny, social collapse, or governmental overreach. In certain segments, ideological ownership includes beliefs in militia traditions, citizen defense, or checks on state power. Though such justifications are less common in mainstream surveys, qualitative research reveals they exist among segments of the gun-owning public (Thomas et al., 2022).
In the study by Grace et al. (2022), gun owners with children in the home were more likely to oppose stricter gun laws, possibly reflecting ideological resistance rooted in perceived threats to family autonomy and control. Thus ideology can shape not only motivations to own, but stances on regulation.
These categories of motivations are not mutually exclusive; many gun owners endorse multiple rationales simultaneously. Indeed, surveys often find that most gun owners report two or more reasons for ownership (Pew Research Center, 2017; Grace et al., 2024).
For example, a rural hunter might cite protection, sport shooting, and tradition all at once. A newer urban gun owner might express protection motives, identity-based statements about freedom, and ideological resistance to regulation. The relative weight and primacy of these motives can vary over time, context (crime wave, pandemic, civil unrest), and social narratives.
Tensions and contradictions also arise. For instance, the protection narrative may conflict with public health evidence that firearms in the home increase risks. Symbolic narratives of liberty may collide with the lived consequences of gun violence. Ideological resistance to regulation may impede consensus on safety measures that even gun-owning households favor (e.g., safe storage or background checks).
Furthermore, as new owners enter the population (some citing broader motives), ambivalence may grow—i.e., some owners may endorse ownership but not actively carry or maintain their firearms. Degli Esposti et al. (2025) suggest that permissive firearm regimes may compound such behavioral ambivalence, complicating policy and public health messaging.
Understanding how motivations shift over time or across groups remains a challenge: younger or minority gun owners may emphasize different motives (e.g., ideological, symbolic, or reactive) than long-time traditional owners (Grace et al., 2024).
Implications for Policy, Public Health, and DiscourseUnderstanding why Americans own guns has practical implications for policymaking, public health interventions, and sociocultural discourse.
- Policy Design (Tailored Interventions)
Because motives vary, one-size-fits-all policy approaches are unlikely to resonate with all gun owners. For example, safety messaging focused purely on homicide risk may not persuade those whose primary motive is symbolic identity or constitutional belief. Multifaceted strategies that recognize protection, identity, and symbolism may yield more traction (Degli Esposti et al., 2025).
- Public Health and Risk Mitigation
Public health efforts—like counseling in clinical settings about safe storage—should acknowledge the motivations of gun owners (e.g., belief in protective benefit). Grace et al. (2022) note that owners with children who own for protection are less likely to support gun violence prevention policies; hence, interventions must respect owners’ beliefs to achieve trust and uptake.
- Bridging Discourse Divides
Recognizing the legitimacy (to owners) of symbolic, emotional, cultural, and identity motives may foster more constructive dialogue between proponents and critics of gun control. Demonizing all gun owners as irrational may alienate moderate or ambivalent owners whose motivations are nuanced.
- Monitoring Trend Shifts
Ongoing surveillance of motivations, especially among newer gun owners, is essential. As demographic composition shifts (e.g., more women, minorities, first-time buyers), motives may evolve, altering how policies should respond (Grace et al., 2024; Degli Esposti et al., 2025).
- Risk-Benefit Balance
Policymakers must grapple with conflicting evidence: while many owners believe firearms enhance safety, epidemiological data often show elevated risks associated with gun availability in homes. Bridging this gap may require more nuanced risk communication that respects owners’ perspectives while emphasizing empirical risks.
Why do American citizens own guns? The answer is complex and pluralistic. Protection and self-defense remain the predominant motives, consistently cited by large majorities across surveys. Yet beyond that, many owners also cite recreation, hunting, sport shooting, collecting, or aesthetic interest. Moreover, ownership often intertwines with deeper layers of identity, culture, symbolism, emotional security, and ideological belief. Guns in the U.S. are not merely tools; they are networked into narratives of freedom, belonging, control, and self-conception.
This multifaceted motivational landscape presents both challenges and opportunities. For policy and public health to be effective, they must engage with—not simply dismiss—owners’ rationales. Policies conceived without attending to cultural, emotional, and identity dimensions may fail at persuasion or implementation. Likewise, respectful recognition of the diversity of motives can open spaces for more inclusive dialogue across polarized divides.
Ultimately, understanding gun ownership in the United States demands empathy, interdisciplinary insight, and attention to how individuals perceive threat, agency, and meaning in an uncertain world. Only then can we hope to navigate toward safer, more evidence-informed, and socially legitimate solutions.
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