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Gun Sales Surge As First-Time Owners Snap Up Firearms
Driven by uncertainty, fear, and a need to feel safe, first-time gun owners across the country are snapping up firearms in record numbers. As a result, gun sales surged across the United States.
RELATED: Biden To Announce Extreme Gun Control Executive Orders
Gun Sales Projected to Set New Records in 2021
The National Sports Shooting Foundation reported that Americans bought nearly 5.5 million guns during the first quarter of 2021.
This means that sales are up 13% from a year ago. In addition, the 5.5 million guns are the most the United States managed to sell since 1999. If the first quarter’s pace continues, 2021 can obliterate the record set in 2020, when the US sold 21 million. In contrast, Americans purchased only 8.5 million guns in 2008.
Among manufacturers, Smith & Wesson sold more than 600,000 guns and accessories in its late fiscal quarter that ended in January.
This is also double the number sold the previous year. Since 2020, shares of Smith & Wesson also more than doubled to nearly $18. Prior to the pandemic, S&W stocks traded under $8.
Political Uncertainty Is Driving Gun Sales Up
Wellesley economist Phillip Levine said political uncertainty often spurs gun sales. He believes that the widespread discussion about the need for gun access restrictions likely pushed up gun purchases this year.
Also, the pandemic acted as a tailwind. “I don't think we are in an environment where gun sales are going to fall anytime soon,” Levine said.
Eric Wallace owns and manages Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, Georgia, “We expect to sell more guns this April than any other April we've ever had,” he said. Adventure Outdoor is the country’s largest gun store with 80,000 square feet of selling space.
Stimulus Payments Helped Americans Purchase Guns
Wallace also thinks that the latest stimulus payment also helped increase gun sales. He noted that Adventure Outdoors reported an increase in sales last March.
In addition, the temporary shortage in 2020 also forced many Americans to hold off buying guns until this year.
Wallace reported that the biggest sellers consist of concealed-carry handguns. Guns purchased for personal defense accounted for 70%. In addition, hunting rifles also went up as well.
“The conditions are different this year,” said Mark Oliva, director of the National Sports Shooting Foundation. “There are a lot of concerns about personal safety, but the talk of gun control in Congress is undeniably a factor that drives sales,” he added.
Federal Background Check Confirms Gun Sales
Federal background check records support the report of an uptick in gun sales. FBI data revealed that six of the top 10 days for instant background checks happened in March 2021 alone.
Buyers need to undergo background checks before getting handed a gun. The FBI completed 1,218,002 total firearm checks in the week of March 15-21, a new record.
January posted more than 4 million background checks, compared with January 2020s 2.7 million. The FBI reported 3.4 million checks in February 2021 compared to 2.8 million in February last year.
Meanwhile, March 2021 completed 4.7 million background checks compared to 3.7 million in the same period last year.
First Time Gun Buyers Driving Up Gun Sales
An NSSF 2020 survey reported that 40% of customers consist of first-time gun buyers. Confirming what Wallace said, many first-time buyers preferred a semiautomatic handgun. It outsells the second most popular product, shotguns two to one.
In addition, shooting incidents often result in lawmakers calling for increased gun control. This also created an unintended effect.
“We see this trend often. Whenever high-profile mass shootings occur, people begin stockpiling weapons out of fear that the government will restrict gun rights,” said James Densley, co-founder of The Violence Project. The Violence Project is a nonprofit, nonpartisan research center that tracks public mass shootings in the US.
Watch the Fox 4 Now news video reporting that first-time gun ownership continues to climb:
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13 Comments
This always happens they talk about gun reform and gum sales skyrocket. I remember when they banned assault weapons price went thru the roof just before it went into effect. I believe in gun control we need to limit accessibility to them hopefully it won’t just be criminals who have guns. Maybe to own a handgun u should have to have a permit to carry along with the training to go with it. If we had more responsible citizens on the streets criminals wouldn’t be so quick and bold enough to commit these crimes.
Every gun law that has been written since our founding fathers wrote the 2nd amendment, is nothing but a violation of the 2nd amendment. Mr. Farley seems to be no different than Washington politicians, as none of them understand what it means to infringe.
Shall not be infringed! What the fuck dont you understand about it!? ATF should be defunded not the police
Once the government can get the guns away from all the criminals. Then I might agree with some gun control. Any sort of gun control will only effect those of us who do not go around committing crimes & killings. The criminal or someone that wants to kill someone will find a way to get a gun. Do Not make victims out of all of us which is what the government wants to do. Let the police do their jobs & stop treating the criminals like they are the victim. Don’t act guilty & you won’t be treated like you are.
Yes I bought a gun this year. We the people can let the government take rights away. Take to much all ready.
I let the government by guns for me…took every penny from stimulus checks and bought guns and ammo. Headed to pick up the last one right now. I hope they try to get Beto to confiscate them…I won’t shuut😭him, but when I get done wiping his A$$ all over the yard he’ll probably wish I had.
It’s not the new gun that’s needed, it’s the ammunition. Even reloading supplies are scarce.
Infringed: actively break the terms of (a law, agreement, etc.) and, act so as to limit or undermine (something); encroach on. Ex. “his legal rights were being infringed”. Every law enacted on gun control since the 2nd amendment (Which is ABSOLUTE by the way) became law of the land, has explicitly been written to infringe on the 2nd amendment rights of Law Abiding “American” Citizens. Apparently, Mr. Farley doesn’t seem to grasp that concept. No worry, we WON’T let it happen.
Bought a brand new S & W 357 with my stimulus, since it was my money anyway. I love when the Government pretends it did something for you. It’s our money to begin with! Oh, and Beto can’t take guns. As a felon, he’s restricted from being in the same room as a firearm. Next. Just remember the 2nd is ABSOLUTE! Communist Presidents can’t executive order anything regarding the Constitution.
It’s truly brilliant of our founding fathers to write such an intelligent, forward thinking article, knowing at such a young age that we would be faced with a tyrannical government like we have now. Many of them were in their early 20’s at the time. Far smarter and patriotic than what wxists in government today!
Our politicians are a bunch of morons. It’s the Criminals that need their guns removed. Period.
BTW – why is it OK for them to have armed guards many times in public. POTUS and our esteemed VP don’t go anywhere near us plain old Americans without their “Security Teams” armed to the teeth. They are all a bunch of hypocrites. Democraps just feel they know everything and want to tell us how to live? Not going to happen. Just let them try & come for my guns.
The Democrats that cheated their way into Congress and the Presidency are trying to get American killed. First they want to defund the Police. Second, they want to take our guns away and make it even harder to get ammo. This total bullshit because criminals do nt care about the law and there are not enough Police officers and the laws that are passed ham string the Police. Me, I am 76 yo and a Vietnam vet and still can take out assholes with one to the body and one to the head! Double tap!
The day is coming, and probably not too far down the road, when patriots will again rise to defend the Constitution.
You can buy a gun BUT the Gov knows about it and will came knocking on your door.