Survey Spells Bad News For Anti-Gunners
Americans own tens of millions of modern semiautomatic firearms that are the subject of a pending Supreme Court case, a Georgetown University professor estimated in a study released in August.
The study, which came five years after an initial effort in 2021, includes new data on the popularity of modern semiautomatic firearms that could influence Viramontes v. Cook County, a lawsuit seeking to invalidate a local ban on so-called “assault weapons” first passed by the Illinois county in 2006. The data suggests these modern firearms could be found to be “in common use,” making them protected under the Supreme Court’s Second Amendment precedents in Heller and Bruen.
We have not yet had a chance to review the change in methodologies for the 2026 second wave but the changes in the summary outcomes are of interest.
The 2026 second wave was executed in part to address the criticisms of the original research. If the criticisms were adequately… pic.twitter.com/p4mIdYlEVF
— Gun Facts (@gunfacts) August 30, 2026
William English, an assistant professor of strategy, economics, ethics, and public policy at Georgetown University, surveyed 51,398 U.S. residents aged 18 and older for the study, identifying 16,688 gun owners who provided detailed responses about firearm ownership and use, including the use of firearms for self-defense. English estimated that at least 88 million Americans own over 460 million firearms, including 60 million modern semiautomatic rifles and 539 million detachable magazines holding more than 10 rounds.
“In general, firearms ownership continued to diversify, both with regard to minorities and women in particular,” English told the Daily Caller News Foundation when reached for comment.
In May, Virginia Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed a ban on modern semiautomatic firearms, which drew immediate legal challenges from pro-Second Amendment organizations. Prior to the law taking effect, purchasers raced to buy the banned firearms. (Read more from “Survey Spells Bad News For Anti-Gunners” HERE)
