Fewer Guns in American Homes | Washington D.C.

Violence Policy Center (VPC) released a study this week showing that household gun ownership in America has reached an all-time low. They site some reasons for the decline, including an aging population of gun enthusiasts and a lack of interest from youth; the end of our military draft; decreasing popularity of hunting; land use issues that limit hunting; and more single parent households led by women.

Just as the NRA is beginning its annual convention in Pittsburgh, where they will most likely puff up the case for more guns in America, our nation is losing interest in guns. This is good news for American families, bad news for the gun industry. And it is always important to remember that gun advocacy, although typically housed under the 2nd Amendment, supports an industry more than it supports a principle.

The idea that there is a declining interest in guns among youth in our country is optimistic, and although guns continue to be a major issue for young people in New York City and elsewhere, hopefully with this trend of disinterest we'll start to see new generations of people living gun-free.