According to a report posted on the website of the Association of Health Care Journalists, A new survey conducted by the Violence Prevention Research Program at the University of California, Davis, found that Americans who have recently purchased guns are more willing than other gun owners to kill for political ends and are more active in forming violent groups.

The survey, which involved nearly 13,000 Americans from across the country, including gun owners and those without guns, examined the link between gun ownership and support or willingness to engage in political violence. The results show that the rate of gun violence and gun purchases in the United States are at or near historic highs, which is undoubtedly a wake-up call.

A survey of nearly 6,000 of these gun owners and a comparison of the types of guns they own, when they recently purchased them, and how often they carry loaded guns in public found clear differences between gun owners, non-gun owners, and recent gun buyers, with recent gun buyers more likely to be willing to engage in political violence.

Overall, about 39 percent of gun owners say political violence is usually or always justified, compared with about 30 percent of those who don't own guns, according to the study. Among all gun owners, 42.3 percent of assault-rifle owners believe political violence is justified, along with 43.9 percent of those who recently purchased a gun and 55.9 percent of those who regularly carry a gun.

"Recent gun buyers and those who almost always carry guns are more likely to view political violence as justified and to be more willing to engage in it, to kill for political ends, and to form violent groups," the study notes.

When asked what they would do in a situation in which they felt justified resorting to political violence? Sixty-two percent of those who regularly carry guns and more than 30 percent of assault rifle owners said they were likely to carry their own guns, and 9 percent of those who often carry guns said they were "very or extremely likely" to shoot.

The survey also asked respondents if they thought a civil war would break out in the United States in the next few years. Among those who chose the "strongly agree" option, 30 percent frequently carry a gun, 21 percent recently purchased a gun, 20 percent owned an assault rifle, 16 percent owned a gun and 12 percent did not own a gun.

"Based on our findings, some individuals who have recently purchased firearms are preparing for a possible conflict within the United States... Our findings strongly suggest that there are large numbers of gunmen who are at least likely to engage in political violence in public places across the United States every day."