Gun Appreciation Day Date in the current year: January 19, 2026

Gun politics are among the most contentious and polarizing issues in American society. They are shaped by deep ideological divisions, constitutional interpretation, and recurring debates following incidents of gun violence. The right to keep and bear arms is a fundamental right in the United States, protected by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Debates about gun ownership primarily center on different interpretations of this amendment.

There are two primary opposing ideologies concerning private firearm ownership in the United States: gun control and gun rights. Supporters of gun control favor stricter regulations on gun ownership, while gun rights advocates oppose these measures and often argue for liberalizing firearm ownership. Opinions on gun control tend to fluctuate in response to major events, especially mass shootings. These events usually produce short-term increases in public support for stricter gun laws, followed by gradual declines as attention fades.

Gun Appreciation Day originated from the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on December 14, 2012. The perpetrator, a 20-year-old armed with several guns that had been legally purchased by his mother, shot and killed 26 people at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut. Twenty of the victims were children between six and seven years old, and the rest were adult staff members.

The shooting reignited the debate over gun control in the United States. Calls were made for universal background checks, as well as for new federal and state laws that would prohibit the sale and manufacture of certain semi-automatic firearms and magazines capable of holding more than ten rounds of ammunition. Those advocating for stricter gun control included President Barack Obama, who had just been reelected for a second term.

In response, a coalition of gun rights and conservative groups designated January 19, 2013 as Gun Appreciation Day. The date was chosen to send a message two days before Obama’s inauguration. Gun Appreciation Day was modeled after Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day, which was held on August 1, 2012 to counter a boycott of the chain launched by same-sex marriage activists after the CEO voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage.

Gun rights groups that backed Gun Appreciation Day urged Americans to show up at gun stores, shows, and ranges on January 19 to demonstrate their support for gun ownership. Although Gun Appreciation Day was more of a one-time campaign than an annual holiday, some gun rights supporters still observe it by posting on social media on January 19.

Gun Appreciation Day is not the only pro-gun rights holiday in the United States. There is also Second Amendment Day, which is celebrated on June 28 in Oklahoma and on December 15 in South Carolina.