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Trends in Gun Ownership in the United States, 1972-2014

March 13, 2015

Survey showing household ownership of firearms in recent decades is slowly declining.

Gun Ownership in the United States: Measurement Issues and Trends

January 1, 2014

Gun violence is a serious problem in the United States. In 2011, 478,400 violent crimes were committed with a firearm (Planty and Truman, 2013). While down dramatically since the 1990s, the rate of non-fatal firearm victimizations rose from 2008 to 2011. Firearms deaths from all causes (homicides, suicides, accidental, and undetermined) averaged over 31,000 annually in 2005-2011 (CDC WISQARS, 2013; Hoyert and Xu, 2012). Non-fatal gunshot injuries totaled 81,396 in 2012; a rise in the injury rate per 100,000 from 20.5 in 2002 to 25.9 in 2012 (CDC, 2013).Given the magnitude and seriousness of gun violence, it is important to have accurate and reliable information on the possession and use of firearms in the United States. This report examines one crucial element, the level of and trends in household and personal gun ownership. First, the report considers methodological issues concerning the measurement of gun ownership. Second, it examines trends in gun ownership. Third, it evaluates the nexus of these two factors, the impact of methodological issues on the measurement of trends gun ownership. Finally, it considers what ancillary trend data on crime, hunting, household size, and number of guns available suggest about trends in gun ownership.

Public Attitudes Towards and Experiences With Workplace Safety

August 30, 2010

Analyzes survey results on trends in public support for and attention to workplace safety measures, concerns about workplace homicides and other safety issues, and workers' satisfaction with safety in their own workplaces. Considers implications.

Paid Sick Days: Attitudes and Experiences

June 21, 2010

Analyzes survey findings on Americans' views on the importance of paid sick days as a basic workers' right and support for legislation guaranteeing paid sick days by age, race/ethnicity, income, education, family structure, and political affiliation.

Public Attitudes Towards the Regulation of Firearms

March 1, 2007

Support for the stricter regulation of firearms is widespread both in terms of the range of measures endorsed by the public and in terms of the high level of public approval for such measures. As Table 1 shows, majorities in 2006 favor all proposals to expand regulations: 91% support making it illegal to use guns while under the influence of alcohol, 85% want the sale of 50 caliber rifles limited, 82% want the sale of semiautomatic, assault weapons limited, 80% favor criminal background checks for all sales of guns, including private sales between individuals, 79% back requiring a police permit before a gun could be purchased, 76% believe that terrorist attacks have increased the need for stricter gun control, and 54% want illegal gun sales to be punished more severely than illegal drug sales with another 37% saying that punishments for illegal gun sales should be as tough as penalties for selling illegal drugs.