Gun Ownership In Texas Soars: Trends And Statistics Revealed

More guns have been purchased in the Lone Star State in the past two years than in any other year in the past century. What I find most interesting is that while Texas has more gun ownership per capita than any other state in America, our gun crime rate is one of the lowest in the United States.

The states with the highest gun crime rate per 100,000 people are Mississippi at 33.9%, then Louisiana at 29.1%, New Mexico at 27.8%, Alabama at 26.4%, and Wyoming rounding out the top five at 26.1%. According to the Pew Research.org group, Texas was in the Top 30 with a 13.44% per 100,000.

When it comes to what type of firearms are sold in Texas, more shotguns and rifles than handguns are being sold. The most popular shotguns are the 12 gauge followed by the 20 gauge and then the .410 gauge.

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When it comes to rifles the .22 LR caliber is the most popular sold. Keep in mind that hunting any large game with a .22 caliber rifle is against the law in Texas. The most popular hunting caliber at #1 is still the .223 and/or 5.56 caliber, then the 6.5 Creedmoor, and then the good ole reliable (and grandpa's favorite) the .308.

The only thing that is still struggling to keep up with the growing sales rate is the ammunition. When it comes to finding ammo or the supplies to reload your own, you will have to do some shopping around. However, the Texas Gun & Knife Show has been very successful at bringing in the ammunition dealers and the reload supply dealers.

The Texas Gun & Knife Show will be here in the Big Country at the Abilene Convention Center on Saturday, March 16th from 9 AM - 5 PM, and Sunday, March 17th from 10 AM - 4 PM. The cost to get in is $10 for persons ages 13 and up. Under 12 get in free. If you are a vendor and would like to set up, contact Janice Hill at (803) 285-0575.