The combination of the Coronavirus pandemic shutdowns and the riots which followed have essentially rendered gun control a moot issue for a generation.
We have previously written about the surge in gun sales, but now we have a clearer picture of the numbers.
When it comes to issues of firearms, Stephen Gutowski is one of the most knowledgeable journalists working today.
He writes at the Washington Free Beacon:
Nearly Five Million Americans Became Gun Owners in First Half of 2020Nearly five million Americans became first-time gun owners in 2020, according to a new report.The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the gun industry’s trade group, estimates that 17.1 million guns have been sold between January and August with 4.84 million Americans purchasing their first guns. The sales—especially to new owners—represent a significant shift in American attitudes on gun ownership.”This is a tectonic shift in the firearm and ammunition industry marketplace and complete transformation of today’s gun-owning community,” Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel, said in a statement.Wex Gunworks in Delray Beach, Fla., has been “slammed” with demand from first-time buyers, according to owner Brandon Wexler. Wexler attributed the surge—which threatened to cause supply shortages—to uncertainty fostered by the coronavirus pandemic and rioting in cities across the country.”Since the eruption of Covid-19 and the age of protests new gun owners have flocked to the shop to buy firearms, accessories, and get firearms training,” Wexler told the Washington Free Beacon. “We were slammed up through about six weeks ago, then inventory dried up from a manufacturing standpoint.”
Democrats often bring up the subject of hunting when discussing the Second Amendment, but as we have seen over the last six months, it is self-protection which motivates more people to exercise their constitutional rights.
David Harsanyi of National Review notes that gun sales would probably be even higher right now if gun sellers could keep up with demand. He also ponders the political implications of this:
It’ll be interesting to see the long-term political implications of this surge. The 2020 Democratic ticket is the first in history to feature a candidate that has explicitly called for the confiscation of firearms. One imagines many of these first-time buyers aren’t hobbyists, but rather people who felt the need to arm themselves for self-defense — either because of the coronavirus crisis, the rioting and lawlessness, or the “defund the police” efforts. If Joe Biden wins the presidency, gun sales are sure to keep spiking.
Any Democrat who raises gun control as an issue going forward should be immediately reminded of the surge in gun sales we are seeing today. It proves Americans value their ability to protect themselves and their families.
Featured image via YouTube.
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