Growing up right next to Lake Ellsworth in southwest Oklahoma, it was never a big deal to hear gunshots in the nearby hunting areas or catch the neighbors in the pasture doing some target practice.

Even living in the outskirts of teeny-tiny Tipton, Oklahoma, guns were never a big deal in rural communities. In fact, it was weird if you didn't have a gun on your person or in your home.

@firefighter1186 #oklahomacheck #opencarry #2ndadmendment #cowboybutts ♬ original sound - Mary

Rural Oklahoma Among The Most Armed?

Usually they're used for hunting, shooting for fun, or carrying for self defense; no matter what, you can bet that one of Oklahoma's "good ol' boys" has a firearm.

@semperflyhelicopters Bookings are open for fall 2023 and spring 2024! Come get some hogs with us! 580-915-9080 @SkyhunterOutfitters #helihoghunting #helicopterhunting #veteranowned #femaleveteran ♬ American Bad Ass (2018 Remaster) - Kid Rock

Surprisingly, though, it isn't any of the small farm towns that stacks up against the rest of the state. When you see which county in Oklahoma is apparently the most heavily armed, you're definitely going to be thrown for a loop.

Oklahoma's Most Heavily Armed County

The most heavily armed area in Oklahoma sits in the south-central Cleveland County, including Norman, Moore and and North Cleveland. According to citydata.com, 46% of Cleveland County's population keep firearms in their homes.

@tami_750 #oklahoma #oklahomacheck #shoutout #moore #okietribe #foryou #oklahomatowns ♬ OKLAHOMA - World Wide Kingz

It's even more surprising that this area is even more armed than Oklahoma's most populated cities, which are also on the list. Tulsa County, including Owasso and Broken Arrow, sit at #56. Oklahoma City and other towns in Oklahoma County fall on #78 with 32.7% of their population keeping firearms in their homes.

More Weapons Than Many Others

The Norman area, apparently, is heavier armed than areas of Arkansas, Louisiana, the Carolinas and so many more places.

Maybe it's because of the heavy police and law enforcement presence in central Oklahoma, or other reasons.

Does this statistic sound right to you? Tell us your thoughts on the app now.

1073 Popcrush logo
Get our free mobile app

Top 10 safest towns & cities in Oklahoma

These 10 Oklahoma towns and cities have been ranked and named as the safest in the entire Sooner State. If you're looking for someplace to move, retire or visit and are worried about crime, these are the safest places. They have some of the lowest crime rates in the state, some have the lowest in the Nation according to FBI crime statistics. Most of the cities and towns that made the top 10 safest places year are located in the southwest central portion of the state. One town made it to the top of the list at #1 for its 5th or 6th time.

Gallery Credit: Don "Critter" Brown

The Safest College Campuses in Oklahoma

As parents, there's more to worry about than just the future when it comes to their babies leaving the nest for the first time. Will they survive on their own? Will they make good decisions? Are they safe while they're away from home? These are legitimate questions every parent thinks about as their kids grow. If you have a student headed to college, here's the list of Oklahoma's safest college campuses - granted, there's a trend... The smaller the campus, the safer it tends to be.

Gallery Credit: Kelso

More From 1073 Popcrush