After a steady decline in gun ownership in recent years, more homes are reporting having a weapon inside, according to a new survey.

Pew Research Center, in a poll on guns released Friday, showed that 44 percent of the country has a gun in the house. Some 51 percent don't.

The survey firm didn't break those numbers out for special attention in reviewing American attitudes about background checks, an assault weapon ban or other gun issues, but it shows a jump in ownership from the mid-30 percent found in other recent polls.

CBS, for example, had gun ownership to a low of 36 percent. Gun sales have been on a tear over the past year, giving support for growing household ownership.

Interesting, those with guns and those without don't have major differences on some of the issues Pew surveyed, such as allowing gun ownership by those on no-fly lists.

Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com