NSSF Study of First Time Gun Onwers Finds Women Motivated by Personal Defens

A study commissioned by NSSF reveals that first-time gun buyers are active in one or more shooting activities and that women are motivated to purchase their first firearm predominately for personal defense. The online research study was conducted InfoManiacs Inc. in March and April and involved consumers aged 22 to 65 who bought their first firearm during 2012.

Key findings included:

• The majority of first-time buyers (60.3 percent) tend to be active, using their gun once per month, with one in five reporting usage of once a week or more;
• Target shooting is by far the most popular shooting activity among first-time gun owners (84.3 percent said they used their firearm for that purpose), followed by hunting (37.7 percent) and plinking (27.4 percent).

Fox Business reported on the soaring retail sales of firearms, and quoted NSSF Director, Public Affairs, Michael Bazinet. The report notes the significant boost first-time buyers are giving to these record sales.

You can read today's NSSF press release on the NSSF study here, and the Fox Business report here.

Hat tip to NSSF Bullet Points.