Why do people own AR-15s? 33% of owners cited self-defense, poll finds
March 27 at 6:12 a.m.
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A series examining the AR-15, a weapon with a singular hold on a divided nation
About the terminology
Colt acquired the AR-15 patent and trademark from Armalite in 1959. The patent expired, leaving many companies to produce their own weapons, commonly called AR-15-style rifles. While Colt still holds the trademark, “AR-15” has become a ubiquitous term for a popular style of gas-operated, magazine-fed semiautomatic rifle. For this reason, we refer to the rifle broadly as the AR-15 in this series.
The AR-15 is the best-selling rifle in the United States, industry figures indicate. Almost every major gunmaker now produces its own version of the weapon, which dominates gun dealers’ walls and websites.
Critics claim that the military-style gun has no legitimate civilian use — yet about 1 in 20 Americans own one. So who chooses to buy an AR-15, and why?
The Washington Post and Ipsos asked nearly 400 AR-15 owners to explain their reasons for having the weapon, what they use it for and how often they fire it.
The survey found that AR-15 owners come from red, blue and purple states. Compared with Americans as a whole, AR-15 owners are significantly more likely to be White, male and between the ages 40 and 65. They’re also more likely to have higher incomes, to have served in the military and to be Republican. And AR-15 owners are more likely to live in states former president Donald Trump won in 2020 than adults overall.
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Self-defense was the most popular reason for owning an AR-15. Other popular answers included recreation, target shooting and hunting, while some pointed to owning an AR-15 as their Second Amendment right.
Why people own
AR-15-style rifles
Q: In a few words, what are the main reasons you own an AR-15-style rifle? (Open-ended responses coded into categories.)
Self-defense/
Protect home/self/family
33%
Target shooting/
Take to range/
Competition
15%
Fun/
Recreation/
Sport
15%
Hunting
12%
Second Amendment/
It's my right/
Because I can
12%
Used in military/
Use as police
officer/
For work
4%
Like the way it looks/
Like it/
Because I want to
9%
Easy to use/Simple/
Accurate
6%
Customizable
platform/
Versatile
4%
Other reason
5%
In case of chaos/
Government tyranny
3%
Collection/
Collector
2%
Was a gift/
Inherited it
2%
No answer
2%
Total does not equal 100 because up to two answers were accepted.
Angers liberals/
People want to ban them/
They make other people afraid
Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington Post-Ipsos poll of 399 AR-15-style rifle owners with an error margin of +/- 5.5 percentage points.
Why people own AR-15-style rifles
Q: In a few words, what are the main reasons you own an AR-15-style rifle?
(Open-ended responses coded into categories.)
Self-defense/ Protect home/ self/family
33%
Target shooting/
Take to range/
Competition
15%
Fun/Recreation/Sport
15%
Hunting
12%
Second Amendment/
It's my right/
Because I can
12%
Like the way it looks/
Like it/
Because I want to
9%
Easy to use/
Simple/
Accurate
6%
Total does not equal 100 because up
to two answers were accepted.
Customizable platform/
Versatile
4%
Other reason
5%
Used in military
Use as police officer/
For work
4%
Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington
Post-Ipsos poll of 399 AR-15-style rifle owners
with an error margin of +/- 5.5 percentage points.
Collection/
Collector
2%
In case of chaos/
Government tyranny
3%
Angers liberals/
People want to ban them/
They make other people afraid
2%
Was a gift/
Inherited it
2%
No answer
2%
Why people own AR-15-style rifles
Q: In a few words, what are the main reasons you own an AR-15-style rifle? (Open-ended responses coded into categories.)
Self-defense/
Protect home/
self/family
33%
Target shooting/
Take to range/
Competition
15%
Recreation/
Fun/Sport
15%
Second Amendment/
It's my right/
Because I can
12%
Hunting
12%
Easy to use/Simple/
Accurate
6%
Angers liberals/
People want to ban them/
They make other people afraid
2%
In case of chaos/
Government tyranny
3%
Used in military/Used
as police officer/
For work
4%
Other
reason
5%
Like the way it looks/
Like it/
Because I want to
9%
Customizable platform/
Versatile
4%
Was a gift/
Inherited it
2%
Collection/
Collector
2%
Total does not equal 100 because up to two answers were accepted.
Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington Post-Ipsos poll of 399 AR-15-style rifle owners with an error margin of +/- 5.5 percentage points.
No answer
2%
The Post-Ipsos poll is one of the most detailed nationally representative surveys to date focused on the opinions of AR-15 owners.
The gun industry estimates there are about 20 million AR-15s in circulation. There is no way to independently confirm that number, but polling can estimate how many Americans own them.
Demographics of AR-15 owners
Male
Female
AR-15 owners
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
Rural
Suburban
Urban
AR-15 owners
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
South
West
Midwest
Northeast
AR-15 owners
47%
23%
20%
10%
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
White
Hispanic
Black
Other
AR-15 owners
74%
11%
9%
5%
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
Under $50K
$50K-$99K
$100K+
AR-15 owners
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
Age 18-39
Age 40-64
Age 65+
AR-15 owners
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
No college degree
College degree
AR-15 owners
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
Political party
Republican
Democratic
Independent
Other/None
AR-15 owners
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
Military service
Served in military
Did not serve in military
AR-15 owners
Other gun owners
U.S. adults overall
Note: Totals may not equal 100 because of rounding.
Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington Post-Ipsos poll of 2,104 gun owners including 399 AR-15-style rifle owners with an overall error margin of +/- 2.5 percentage points and 5.5 points among AR-15 owners. Most U.S. adult demographics based on Census Bureau's 2022 Annual Social and Economic Supplement; Urban/Suburban/Rural from Ipsos KnowledgePanel estimate; party identification from November 2022 Washington Post-ABC News poll.
National surveys by Ipsos in 2022 found that 31 percent of adults own guns. The Post-Ipsos survey of AR-15 owners estimates that 20 percent of gun owners own an AR-15-style rifle. Taken together, the polls find that 6 percent of Americans own an AR-15, about 1 in 20.
The data suggests that with a U.S. population of 260.8 million adults, about 16 million Americans own an AR-15.
Videos by Jon Gerberg
Is each of the following a reason why you own an AR-15?
Major reason
Minor reason
Not a reason
Protect self, family and property
It is fun to shoot
Target shooting
In case law and order breaks down
It is important to who I am as an American
Ease of customizing or modifying the rifle
Potential for new laws restricting AR-15 sales
Note: “No opinion” indicated in gray. Totals may not equal 100 because of rounding.
Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington Post-Ipsos poll of 399 AR-15-style rifle owners with an error margin of +/- 5.5 percentage points.
“To ensure I would not be outgunned if I had to defend my family and property with the rate that society is going.” A 52-year-old man
AR-15 owners are not firing their weapons frequently
Q: How often do you fire your AR-15(s)?
Less than once a year
Once or twice a year
A few times a year
About once a month
More than once a month
Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington Post-Ipsos poll of 399 AR-15-style rifle owners with an error margin of +/- 5.5 percentage points.
“I own it to protect my family members.” A 52-year-old woman
Military training and AR-15 usage
Q: In military training or combat, did you ever fire an M4 or M16?
28% served in the military
Fired M4 or M16
Did not fire M4 or M16
Never served in military
Source: Sept. 30-Oct. 11, 2022, Washington Post-Ipsos poll of 399 AR-15-style rifle owners with an error margin of +/- 5.5 percentage points.
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