2026 SURVEY FROM GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY SHOWS WIDESPREAD, DIVERSE OWNERSHIP AND EXTENSIVE DEFENSIVE USE OF FIREARMS NATIONALLY
September 18, 2026 – A national survey published in August 2026 provides updated data on firearm ownership in the United States and offers several findings likely to be significant in ongoing Second Amendment and firearms-industry litigation.
According to the 2026 National Firearms Survey, approximately one-third of American adults—or an estimated 88 million people—currently own a firearm. The survey also found substantial growth in firearm ownership among women and minority groups. Women accounted for nearly 46% of validated firearm owners, while reported ownership among Black Americans increased from 25.4% in 2021 to 33% in 2026. Ownership also increased among Hispanic and Asian Americans.
The survey also underscores the extent to which firearms are used for defensive purposes. Nearly 38% of gun owners reported having used a firearm to defend themselves, their property, a family member, or a member of their household. In more than three-quarters of those incidents, the firearm was not discharged, highlighting that the defensive utility of firearms is often not reflected in popularized statistics focused solely on shootings, injuries, or reported crimes involving firearms.
The survey’s findings concerning the prevalence and wide spread use of modern sporting rifles are particularly significant. Approximately 25% of gun owners reported owning an AR-15-type rifle, while 12.9% reported owning another similarly styled semiautomatic rifle. In total, the survey estimates that 26.4 million American adults own at least one modern sporting rifle, accounting for roughly 40 million AR-15-type rifles and another 20 million similarly styled rifles. Further, ownership of magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds is even more widespread, with an estimated 44.5 million Americans currently owning such magazines. Notably, 88% of those owners reported a defensive purpose for owning them. These statistics should be important factors to be considered by the courts addressing whether bans on “assault rifles” and “high capacity” magazines are constitutional. Based on this survey, both should be considered in “common use” and protected by the Second Amendment.
Beyond Second Amendment litigation, the broader takeaway is equally significant for the firearms industry. Gun ownership in America now spans a wider and more diverse cross-section of the population. As the population of firearm owners grows and becomes more diverse, both the public narrative surrounding firearms and the legal landscape governing their ownership and use continue to evolve. The industry’s efforts to educate consumers should also evolve to meet these new and growing populations of firearm owners.
The 2026 survey provides substantial new data on who owns firearms, what they own, and why they own them. Firearm industry members can review the report here.
Renzulli Law Firm, LLP will continue to monitor firearm legislation and developing firearm‑related news around the country. If you have any questions concerning firearms‑related legislation or regulation, please contact Christopher Renzulli.