Liberal America is Embracing Firearms

Gun ownership among registered Democrat voters has jumped by 25 percent since 2019,surveys show, a move an NRA spokesperson has described as far from shocking’

- JAMES BICKERTON

Democrats THE PROPORTION OF REGIS-tered who have a firearm in their home has jumped significantly over the past few years, with some analysts saying rising crime in urban areas could be behind the increase.

The November 2023 survey by NBC News found 41 percent of Democrats said they live in a household with a gun, up from 33 percent in a similar survey they conducted with the Wall Street Journal in August 2019.

Notably, in a similar NBC survey conducted in March 2004, 33 percent of Democrats also said they lived with a gun, indicating the sharp rise has been concentrated over the past four years. The latest poll of 1,000 registered voters was conducted between November 10 and 14.

The data also showed a rise in Republicans having a gun at home, though this was less sharp and more in line with previous trends. In November 2023, 66 percent of registered Republicans said they live with a firearm, against 64 percent in August 2019 and 57 percent in March 2004. Overall, 52 percent of registered voters said their household has a gun in the latest poll, up from 46 percent in 2019.

Professor Gary Kleck, who teaches criminology and criminal justice at Florida State University, said the overall figure is broadly in line with previous numbers and suggested the increase among Democrats could be down to a crime surge in major cities.