Lawmakers in statehouses and the U.S. Capitol who are debating proposed new firearm laws are lacking some key data: How many people in the U.S. own guns, and how many households contain guns?
Some surveys suggest only 50 million Americans own guns. Others, depending on how they are interpreted, point to a number closer to 90 million. The National Rifle Association puts the total at 100 million. Household estimates are similarly varied. [cont.]
Carl Bialik, Wall Street Journal