Data released this week by the nonprofit research organization KFF, formerly known as the Kaiser Family Foundation, found that about 1 in 5 adults — 21 percent — have been threatened with a firearm in the U.S.
The organization says a similar proportion - 19 percent - say a family member has been killed with a gun - including death by suicide - and nearly the same number - 17 percent - have witnessed someone being shot.
The survey The report also found that a small proportion of people - 4 percent - have fired a gun in self-defense or been injured in a shooting - 4 percent. Overall, about half - 54 percent - of all American adults say they or a family member has had one of these experiences.
Firearm-related injuries and deaths, as well as concerns about gun violence, disproportionately affect people of color in the U.S., according to KFF.
In this regard, he stressed that one third of African-descendant adults - 34 percent - have a family member who died with a firearm, double the proportion of white adults who say the same - 17 percent.
In addition, one-third of African-American adults (32 percent) and Hispanic adults (33 percent) said they are concerned