Do police officers who fire their weapons support gun rights?

The analysis finds that officers who have fired their weapon are more supportive of gun rights than those who have not. About eight-in-ten officers who have fired their service weapon (82\%) say protecting the right of Americans to own a gun is more important than controlling gun ownership.

How many police officers in your community have discharged their guns?

While 23\% of officers in communities with fewer than 400,000 residents have discharged their gun, 30\% of officers in areas with populations of 400,000 or more say they have done so.

How often do male police officers fire their weapons?

Male officers are more than twice as likely as female officers to have fired their weapon (30\% vs. 11\%). This relationship remains significant even after accounting for gender differences in job assignment, length of service, race, age, the size of the city and department they work for, and other factors.

Why is there so much disagreement over laws on gun ownership?

Public disagreement over laws of firearm ownership has stemmed from the high number of firearm-related crimes, accidental deaths and the proliferation of mass shootings. More than 72 percent of homicides in the United States in 2017 involved the use of a firearm.

How many police officers have discharged their weapons?

Veteran status also differentiates those who have discharged their weapons from those who have not. Veterans make up 28\% of all police officers, the survey finds, and among this group, about three-in-ten (32\%) have fired their gun, compared with 26\% of those who have not served in the military.

Which gender is the best for police officers?

Gender is one of the best, this analysis finds. Male officers are more than twice as likely as female officers to have fired their weapon (30\% vs. 11\%).

Who is most likely to fire a service weapon?

To start, male officers, white officers, those working in larger cities and those who are military veterans are more likely than female officers, racial and ethnic minorities, those in smaller communities and non-veterans to have ever fired their service weapon while on duty.