ABSTRACT

This chapter presents the results from a survey of gun owners on how they use the Internet and social media as relates to guns (e.g., handling of, modifying, and/or cleaning their firearms). Survey respondents were asked specifically about their use of Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. Respondents’ use of social media, particularly Facebook, demonstrated their desire to connect with other like-minded individuals (i.e., other gun owners); in other words, homophily in action. Respondents were also asked about whether they felt the creation of the Internet and social media platforms had changed the debate over gun control in America. Overall, respondents did not feel that the gun control debate had fundamentally changed because of the Internet/social media, although there was variation in answers based on respondents’ level of support for the Second Amendment (i.e., strong vs. conditional support).