Latest Poll: Concealed Carry Jumps Sharply As Support For More Gun Control Tumbles
Mark Chesnut -
July 1, 2026
NRA Pushes for National Concealed Carry Bill as Crime Spikes
While the battle for gun rights continues as strongly as ever at both the federal and state levels, gun-rights advocates are edging ahead in both practice and perception, according to recent polling.
The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) recently partnered with the polling firm McLaughlin & Associates, and their efforts revealed that Americans are significantly more likely to support and exercise their Second Amendment rights now than they were just 18 months ago. At the same time, they are less likely to support increased gun control restrictions pushed by anti-gun activists.
Concealed carry is up nearly six points in 18 months
First, let’s look at the increase in practice. According to the responses, the percent of Americans carrying a firearm for self-defense jumped from 24.3 percent in December 2024 to 29.8 percent in May 2026. Breaking it down a little more, the poll report stated: “13.2% carry all/most of the time, with another 16.6% carrying sometimes/rarely. The percent who carry all or most the time is virtually the same as the percent who carried similarly in December 2024. But the percent who carry at least some of the time or rarely has increased by 5.4 percentage points (from 11.2% to 16.6%).”
That’s a pretty significant increase. Especially considering anti-gun states continue to pass or defend in court new laws aimed at reducing the opportunity to legally carry. The trend tracks with the broader expansion of concealed carry licensing nationally, where there are now over 21.46 million adult permit-holders in the United States — with women, Asians, and African-Americans representing the fastest-growing demographic segments.
63 percent of voters want criminals prosecuted, not more gun laws
https://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/new-poll-shows-gun-rights-gaining-support/
