I'd agree with @Cicero above.
Down here, hunting is also very popular so that is one of the largest reasons why gun owners are so popular in my area. Personally, I've never hunted nor held a gun, but a lot of people I live near have some pretty serious stock piles.
I know that after the previous election, a few of my neighbors stocked up on guns and ammunition because their is a massive fear that the current administration will take those guns away and so they want to be better prepared to defend their right to 'bear arms', provided to all American citizens in the 2nd Amendment.