A new national study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that approximately 19.3 million American adults, roughly the combined population of New York City and Los Angeles, have seriously thought about shooting someone at some point in their lives. Conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan between late May and early September 2025, the survey of 7,034 adults found that 7.3% of them reported having such thoughts. Men were more likely than women to report these thoughts, as were younger individuals compared to older ones. Black participants and urban residents also reported higher rates. Notably, political affiliation and gun ownership showed no statistically significant correlation with these thoughts. An estimated 4 million adults reported specifically thinking about acquiring a firearm to shoot someone. Specific targets included government employees (13.6%), police or military personnel (6.6%), family members (10%), and current or romantic partners (8.6%). Furthermore, about 1.5 million people admitted they had already brought a gun to a place with the intent to shoot someone. 'These thoughts are not politically polarized,' the researchers noted. 'They affect people of all ages, backgrounds, and regions, from cities to rural areas.'
