Washington CeaseFire

The number of firearms in civilian hands in the United States far exceeds any other nation in the world. The Small Arms Survey, published in the summer of 2007, estimates that there are 270,000,000 firearms in the United States or approximately 90 firearms for every 100 people. The number of firearms in the hands of law enforcement and military personnel globally is estimated at 245,000,000. When you total the estimated number of firearms owned by individuals in the United States, Canada, England and Wales, Australia and Sweden, the United States accounts for 93% of the total number of firearms owned.

India is our closest neighbor in terms of firearm availability, weighing in with an estimated 46,000,000 firearms. Both internationally and domestically high levels of firearm availability is associated with high levels of firearm death and injury.

Locally, here's what firearm ownership looks like:

• Washington State: 32% of Households with Children Under the Age of 18 have firearms -- 39,000 of those households leave their firearms out unlocked and loaded. (Source: Washington State Department of Health)
• King County: 149,000 households own firearms and 19,000 of those households leave their firearms out unlocked and loaded. (Source King County Department of Public Health)

Within the United States, Professor David Hemenway studied the accidental firearm mortality levels in states with high numbers of available firearms and low numbers of available firearms. With populations roughly equal, here's what he found:

Internationally, firearm availability is correlated with firearm homicide.

Two of our greatest challenges to reducing gun violence are keeping firearms out of the hands of those who should not have them (criminals, domestic violence offenders, the chronically mentally ill) and ensuring that firearm owners keep their firearms responsibly. Learn more about firearm safety on our firearm safety page.