Gun ownership and usage are on the upswing. A Gallup poll shows that 44% of American households own at least one firearm; a 10% increase since 2005. Gun rights are no longer just for red states—Democrats are increasingly voicing support for gun ownership. The data shows that 5.1 million Americans bought their first guns in the past two years, following 2.4 million who did so in 2019.

“We are seeing more non-traditional first-time buyers in the past 2 years. About half of the first-timers are women. We love it!” says Kenneth Ong, the co-owner of Damage Factory, a defensive firearm training center in Greenwood Village, Colorado. 

Kenneth understands both sides of the argument as someone who grew up and immigrated from a country with very restrictive gun control. He wastes no time in cutting to the chase. “If gun control works, we would have zero gun crime where I came from.”

Many first-time buyers cited many different reasons for the purchase. “Everyone has their own personal purpose. Some are very intimate.”

Here are the most common reasons mentioned:

The Police Do Not Have a Constitutional Duty to Protect You.

“Cops cannot be everywhere at once. When a threat happens, it will take an extended period to respond. Furthermore, The Supreme Court ruled that the police do not have a constitutional duty to protect a person from harm.” He continues, “People who have been victims understand this very well.” 

High Crime Rates. 

“Crime rates are now at their highest point since the 1990s. The best way to protect yourself from crime is to be prepared mentally and physically.”

Studies suggest a positive correlation between gun ownership and crime rates. Even if there isn’t a significant correlation between gun ownership and crime rates, there is one between gun ownership and your safety.

“I believe gun laws actually increase crime. The most well-known example of this is Chicago and its strictest gun control laws. It consistently has some of the highest crime rates.” 

Having a firearm is the best way to not need one.

“There are several things you can do to keep yourself safe and minimize being victimized by violent crimes. You should be aware of your surroundings and be ready.” Kenneth explains that self-defense is more effective when you do not need it than when you do. “There is no way to track how many lives are saved by gun ownership. People who use a gun for defense rarely harm criminals. This is because bad guys often back off when they discover their targets are not easy victims.”

Don’t be an easy target.

“These criminals, they always look for soft targets. They don’t hit a police station; they are cowards. As American citizens, it is our right—and our responsibility—to keep and bear arms and protect ourselves and others.”

To learn about Damage Factory and to take defensive classes, click here.