America’s gun culture by the numbers

Editor's note

In 2016, more than 10 million guns were produced in the U.S. Close to half were pistols. That’s telling, says Michael Siegel of Boston University. More and more Americans are in the market for guns designed for self-defense and concealed carry, thanks in part to a focused marketing effort by the gun industry. Siegel explores what else the data says about our nation’s changing gun culture.

Four decades ago, the National Rifle Association transformed from a group that mainly focused on hunting and other recreational gun-related activities into a conservative powerhouse apt to reject all restrictions on firearms. Although the group has gotten its way most of the time since that turning point, “the NRA does not always win” gun control battles, writes political scientist Robert Spitzer. And no matter how loudly it rejects the calls from the Florida teens who survived their high school’s tragedy for new limits on gun ownership, this might be one of those losing battles.

Aviva Rutkin

Big Data + Applied Mathematics Editor

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