By Peggy Tartaro,
Executive Editor

Every few years we like to take the pulse of our readership via a voluntary survey.

The results are useful for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they help us plan W&G, making sure that issues fit the readers. Of course that does not mean that every feature in W&G has appeal for every reader, but it does help us decide which topics are of most importance to you.

Secondly, the survey allows us to speak to general media outlets with some hard-to-come-by, solid numbers.

And, finally, the survey allows all of our readers, whether they participated by returning a survey or not, to look at what is in effect a group photo of W&G subscribers. As is always the case with such photos, there's immediate recognition of some things and a vaguely familiar sensation about others.

As in years past, surveys were returned by both men and women. I assure the gentlemen that we take their responses to heart. But for the purposes of this particular survey, all responses shown are from women.

As in years past, we're an above-average group in most demographic indicators: income, stability of relationships, civic participation, etc.

Some of the information in the survey is not included in this report but is useful to us for feature planning and discussions with advertisers.

Thanks to all who responded.

AGE
20-30	2.3%
31-40	29.8%
41-50	37.9%
51-64	21.8%
65-up	8.6%
RESIDENCE
Rural	26.4%
Small Town	24.1%
Suburb	11.5%
Small City	8.1%
City<500,000	12.7%
City>500,000	17.2%
RELATIONSHIPS
Married	65.7%
Single	11.5%
Divorced	14.9%
Widowed	2.2%
In long term relationship	5.7%
INCOME (Household)
$10-25,000	1.0%
$26-50,000	13.8%
$51-70,000	17.5%
$71-100,000	39.0%
N/A	28.7%
CHILDREN (under 18)
Yes	13.8%
No	83.9%
N/A	2.3%
HANDGUN OWNERSHIP
Yes	99.0%
No	1.0%
HANDGUN ACQUISITION
Bought for Self	64.0%
Gift	31.0%
Inherited	5.0%
TRAINING (formal training in gun safety or handling)
Yes	89.4%
No	9.6%
FIREARMS KNOWLEDGE
Basic	24.4%
Intermediate	43.3%
Advanced	32.3%
REASON FOR HANDGUN OWNERSHIP*
Crime Commited Against Respondent	6.7%
Crime Against Someone Else	9.3%
General Concern for Personal Safety	84.0%
HANDGUN PREFERENCE
Revolver	35.6%
Semi-Automatic	64.4%
RIFLE OWNERSHIP
Yes	73.5%
No	26.5%
Own more than One rifle	78.3%
SHOTGUN OWNERSHIP
Yes	67.0%
No	33.0%
Own more than One shotgun	73.0%
SELF-DEFENSIVE USE OF FIREARM
Yes	12.7%
No	87.3%
If Yes:
Displayed, Not fired	81.8%
Fired	0.0%
Allude to gun	18.2%
HANDGUN CARRY
All the time	37.5%
Most of the time	26.4%
Expect to be Unsafe	36.1%
CARRY METHOD
Holster	30.0%
Regular Purse/ Briefcase	23.5%
Purse/Briefcase Designed for Carry	28.8%
Fanny Pack	17.7%
OTHER SELF-DEFENSE PRODUCTS (Regularly carry)
Personal Alarm	6.0%
Pepper Spray	61.0%
Kubuton/Persuader	33.0%
UNARMED SELF-DEFENSE COURSE
Yes	46.0%
No	54.0%
REVOLVER CALIBER PREFERENCE
.38	41.2%
.357	32.2%
.32	9.6%
.380	3.4%
Other	13.6%
SEMI-AUTO CALIBER PREFERENCE
9mm	51.0%
.357	24.5%
.40 S&W	16.3%
.38	8.2%
VOTER REGISTRATION
Yes	96.0%
No	4.0%
WRITTEN TO (In Last 6 months)
Letter to Editor	31.0%
To Lawmaker	69.0%
OBTAINED ISSUE
Subscription	88.0%
Newsstand	8.0%
Given a Copy	4.0%
ISSUES READ
1-3	10.3%
4-6	11.7%
7-12	14.8%
13+	63.2%
BOUGHT (In last 6 months)*
Handgun	37.9%
Rifle	11.4%
Shotgun	14.9%
Muzzleloader	2.2%
Airgun	3.4%
Ammunition	58.6%
Holster	20.9%
Trigger Lock	6.9%
Lock Box	7.1%
Holster Purse	16.0%
Fanny Pack	11.6%
Gun Class	12.7%
Non-gun Personal Protection Class	6.8%
Firearms Training Book/Video	33.7%
Political/Sociology Firearms Book	20.9%
T-Shirt/Bumper Sticker	25.6%
PLAN TO BUY (In next 6 months)*
Handgun	33.7%
Rifle	10.4%
Shotgun	9.3%
Muzzleloader	3.4%
Airgun	1.6%
Ammunition	61.6%
Holster	12.7%
Trigger Lock	1.6%
Lock Box	.7%
Fanny Pack	3.4%
Gun Class	16.2%
Non-gun Personal Protection Class	8.1%
Firearms Training Book/Video	15.1%
Political/Sociology Firearms Book	9.3%
T-Shirt/Bumper Sticker	15.1%
* Respondents could make multiple answers; results will not add up to100%.