Just How Heavily Armed are Coloradans? You May Be Surprised

Colorado's reputation as an outdoor playground lends itself to activities such as camping, hiking, skiing, fishing, and hunting.

Each year, countless hunters head into the mountains equipped with things like bows, rifles, and various other types of gear hoping to bring home something big.

Read More: What are the 10 Big-Game Species You Can Hunt in Colorado? |

However, there are also plenty of sportsmen and women who simply enjoy the hobby of target practice and enjoy shooting firearms as more of a sport.

On the other hand, infamous crimes also link the state to firearms as such tragedies as the Columbine Massacre and the Aurora Theater Shooting made headlines worldwide.

With all of this considered, it may come as a surprise that the state of Colorado as a whole probably isn't as heavily armed as one might expect.

Just How Heavily Armed are Colorado Residents?

Recent data suggests that Coloradans may not be as armed as one would expect. For example, only three Colorado counties were listed as the top 100 for gun ownership in the country.

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The Colorado county with the most gun ownership is Teller County, which is listed as number eight in the nation. In case you're not familiar, Teller County is primarily a rural area with the exception of places like Cripple Creek, Divide, and Woodland Park.

Colorado doesn't make another appearance on the list until number 76 with El Paso County. El Paso County is most well-known for being home to Colorado Springs, the second-largest city in the state with a large demographic of current and former members of the U.S. Military.

The third and final Colorado county on the list of the 100 most armed counties in the nation is another of the most heavily populated, Jefferson County. Jefferson County encompasses suburbs west of Denver including Lakewood and Arvada, and sits just below El Paso County on the list at number 79.

Check out the full list here.