Georgetown Survey: 37.6% of Gun Owners Report Using Firearm in Self-Defense

A new survey from Georgetown University researcher William English indicates that more than one-third of American gun owners have used a firearm in self-defense, a finding that adds fresh data to the ongoing debate over the practical role of guns in American life.

The survey, based on a “nationally representative sample of 51,398 individuals” conducted during July and August 2026, found that “37.6 percent of gun owners, or approximately 33.1 million adult Americans, have used a gun in defense of themselves, their property, a family member, or a member of their household.” The findings appear in the survey’s section on “Defensive Use of Firearms.”

That figure translates to roughly one in three gun owners, a substantial share that could reshape how policymakers and the public understand defensive gun use. Importantly, the survey notes that “in most cases (76.3 percent) the gun is not fired.” The mere presence of a firearm, brandished in the face of a threat, was often enough to end the encounter, a pattern consistent with other research on defensive gun use.

The Georgetown survey also breaks down the circumstances of these defensive encounters. According to the data, about three-quarters of defensive gun uses occurred outside the home. In slightly more than half of the cases—50.8 percent—the gun owner reported facing multiple assailants.

These details paint a picture of defensive gun use that is more common and more varied than often assumed, extending beyond the classic home-invasion scenario.

Public Carrying and the “Assault Weapon” Debate

The survey also provides insight into the prevalence of public carrying. It estimates that over 33 million Americans “are ‘public carriers’ who hold a permit and carry a handgun at least sometimes.” That figure represents a significant portion of the adult population and underscores the extent to which concealed and open carry have become mainstream practices.

In a related finding, Breitbart News highlighted another portion of the survey showing that Americans own approximately 60 million firearms that Democrats often refer to as “assault weapons.” The survey indicates the number one reason for owning these firearms is home defense, a point that resonates with the broader defensive use data.

The confluence of these findings—high rates of defensive use, the prevalence of public carry, and the stated importance of home defense—offers a more nuanced view of why Americans own guns and how they use them in moments of perceived danger.

Context and Implications

The Georgetown survey adds to a growing body of research on defensive gun use, though experts often note the difficulty of measuring such incidents with precision. The 37.6 percent figure is notably higher than some previous estimates, which have ranged widely depending on methodology and survey design.

That the gun was not fired in more than three-quarters of the reported incidents aligns with long-standing observations from law enforcement and gun-rights advocates: brandishing a firearm can de-escalate a situation without lethal force. This dynamic is frequently cited in debates over the effectiveness of gun ownership as a deterrent.

Breitbart News, which first reported on the survey, framed the findings as evidence that guns are used far more often for protection than for crime. The outlet’s Second Amendment columnist, AWR Hawkins, noted that the survey’s large sample size lends credibility to its results.

The survey’s revelations come at a time when gun policy remains a contentious issue in Washington and state capitals. Proponents of stricter gun laws may point to the high number of firearms in circulation, while advocates for gun rights may emphasize the defensive uses documented in the survey.

For gun owners, the findings may validate their personal experiences of feeling threatened and responding with a firearm. For skeptics, the reliance on self-reported data could raise questions about recall bias or overstatement. Still, the sheer scale of the Georgetown survey—over 51,000 respondents—makes it one of the largest recent efforts to quantify defensive gun use.

As the debate over gun policy continues, the Georgetown survey provides a fresh set of numbers that both sides will likely cite in the months ahead. Whether the 37.6 percent figure becomes a new benchmark or a contested statistic, it has already added a significant data point to the national conversation about the role of firearms in self-defense.

Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/2nd-amendment/2026/09/01/survey-over-1-3-of-gun-owners-have-used-a-firearm-in-self-defense/