One in ten Americans have taken an active shooter defense class

Hoang NguyenData Journalist
February 13, 2018, 4:30 PM GMT+0

Those who want fewer restrictions on the issue of gun control are the most likely to have taken a class

On an average day, 96 Americans are killed with guns. Rather than wait for tragedy to strike, citizens are proactively seeking out instruction through active shooter classes so they can protect themselves and others if caught in a dire situation. According to data from YouGov, one in ten Americans (10%) have already taken an active shooter class.

Research from YouGov Omnibus reveals that 22% of Americans say they would like to take such a class and a third (33%) say they would consider it. Two in ten (21%) say that they wouldn’t consider take an active shooter class.

So far, more men (13%) than women (8%) have taken a class. Younger Americans are slightly keener than others to say they would like to take or at least consider taking an active shooter class (57% for 18 to 24 year-olds, 58% for 25 to 34 year-olds). They are also the least likely age group to say they would not consider taking the class (14%). Americans over 55 are the likeliest to say they would not take a class (28%).

Gun violence in today’s climate is inextricably linked to differing opinions on gun control. Data from YouGov Profiles reveals that over half of Americans (56%) say they want stricter gun control laws, one in five (20%) say laws should be less strict, and one in five (20%) say the current laws in place are sufficient and require “no change”.

The three camps not only differ on gun control but also, it appears, on whether or not they would participate in an active shooter class. Americans who say they want fewer restrictions on gun control report the highest rate of already have taken an active shooter class at 14%, compared to those who want stricter gun control laws (8%) and those who want the laws to remain as they are (9%).



Americans who see no need for gun reform are most interested in taking an active shooter preparedness class.

Read more results from this poll here

Learn more about YouGov Omnibus and YouGov Profiles

Photo: Getty