There is a reason why more Americans are becoming gun owners, and it is not hard to figure out – even without data.

But I’m going to give you data anyway because numbers are fun.

A recent LendingTree survey reveals that a sizeable chunk of the American public is concerned about violent crime. While the Biden-Harris administration and their lapdogs in the activist media claim that crime is not as big an issue as people think, people are relying more on their personal experiences to make that assessment.

The survey showed that almost a quarter of Americans (23 percent) report that they or a neighbor has been the victim of break-ins. This has led many to question whether local or state law enforcement agencies can protect them.

About 46 percent of respondents believe that neither local government nor police are doing enough to shield their communities from violent and property crimes. This has prompted many to take matters into their own hands, with 29 percent having beefed up their home security systems in the past year and 25 percent planning to do so in the future.

The increased worries over home security have also brought about behavioral changes. Researchers found that 26 percent of Americans have considered relocating because of safety concerns. Gen Zers (49 percent) and urban dwellers (39 percent) being among the most likely to entertain this idea.

However, one aspect the report did not discuss was how fears over crime have driven sharp increases in gun ownership, with many Americans becoming first-time gun owners. A University of Michigan study showed that 79 percent of gun owners cited personal protection as the main reason for owning guns.

The surge in gun ownership spans several demographics and political affiliations. I recently wrote about a report showing that liberal Democrats are increasingly becoming gun owners, including black and Asian women.

As more Americans take it upon themselves to protect themselves, whether by enhancing home security or purchasing firearms, this data suggests that a sense of personal responsibility is driving these decisions. My hope is that people are finally waking up to the reality that the government cannot always be there to shield them from danger. People are realizing that they are their own first line of defense against bad actors seeking to victimize them.

The rise in gun ownership, particularly among groups that have historically refrained from it, seems to suggest a growing skepticism in the state – especially when it comes to protection. This is another topic I’ve written about recently.

America faces a slew of problems unrelated to crime. Inflation, immigration, healthcare, education are all issues that voters are concerned about. Over recent years, it has become apparent to many that the government is unwilling or unable to address these problems, which could be prompting a shift in America’s mindset regarding self-sufficiency.

It might be a pie-in-the-sky hope, but maybe we are at the beginning of an era in which more Americans realize that the state is not their savior and that they can no longer rely on a state that has exploited them for years. Sure, we still have quite a ways to go, but perhaps liberty might be making a comeback.