A Rutgers Health study reveals that the 2024 presidential election prompted increased firearm interest among Black adults and liberals. Fearing for their safety, these groups reported greater urges to purchase, carry, and store weapons more easily
A new study from Rutgers Health reveals that the 2024 presidential election significantly altered how certain groups approach firearm ownership and safety. The research, published in the journal Injury Epidemiology on January 30, 2026, found an increased drive among certain populations to purchase, carry, and store firearms more readily following the election results.
The study utilised a nationally representative sample of 1,530 adults. Researchers assessed participants’ intentions and behaviours in the two weeks leading up to the election and again during the first two weeks of 2025. This timeline enabled the team to isolate the election results as the primary driver of the observed behavioural changes.
Demographic shifts in ownership intent
The findings indicate that individuals who felt directly threatened by the incoming administration’s policies reported a greater urge to arm themselves. Specifically, participants who identified themselves as Black showed a notable increase in their intention to purchase firearms within the coming year. This group also reported a higher desire to carry firearms outside the home for self-defence.
Similarly, individuals with liberal political beliefs were more likely to report an increased impulse to carry firearms. The study also found that this group was more likely to move toward “quick access” storage methods, which often involve keeping firearms loaded and unlocked. Michael Anestis, executive director of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Centre and lead author of the study, noted that these shifts appear to stem from a feeling that the government may no longer ensure their safety.
Perceptions of safety and democracy
Conversely, the study found that those who viewed the election results as a positive step for community safety reported a decreased urge to carry firearms. Participants who perceived less of a threat to democracy and viewed crime as a more pressing national issue felt a reduced need to be armed in public spaces.
These results suggest that firearm behaviour is increasingly tied to political identity and perceptions of state protection. When individuals believe the federal government represents a threat to their personal safety rather than a safeguard, they are more likely to seek out independent means of defence.
American firearm behaviour: Public health risks and safety concerns
While the drive for firearm acquisition is rooted in a desire for safety, the researchers warned of the associated public health risks. Carrying firearms in public and using unsecure storage methods are historically linked to higher rates of unintentional injury and suicide.
“Firearm acquisition, carrying, and unsecure storage are all associated with the risk for suicide and unintentional injury,” Anestis stated. He expressed concern that the current political environment might be inadvertently increasing the risk of harm by encouraging less secure firearm practices among new or concerned owners.
The researchers concluded that understanding these shifting motivations is essential for developing effective public safety messaging. As the profile of the American gun owner evolves to include more diverse groups, traditional safety interventions may need to be adapted to address these new political and social anxieties.
