Guns in California

Data from the new University of California Firearm Violence Research Center

This article was published on 12.19.19

In 2017, the University of California Firearm Violence Research Center—a state-funded program to investigate gun violence and the effectiveness of prevention measures—was founded at UC Davis. This month, it released the first findings in its Firearm Ownership and Acquisition in California report. In the state, 4.2 million adults (14 percent of the adult population) own a gun, and an additional 3.1 million live in a home with a gun owner. Here are some other California gun ownership numbers.

• 73 percent of gun owners are male; 27 percent female

• 60 percent of guns were purchased retail; 10 percent private-party; 30 percent were non-purchase transfers

• 47 percent of guns are held by 10 percent of owners

• 45 percent of firearms owned are handguns; 55 percent long guns

• 55 percent of handguns were bought for protection against people