Soaring Gun Sales Continue; Are Police Cuts Motivating Factor?

Gun sales continue to roar as many cities consider cutting police budgets.

U.S.A.-(AmmoLand.com)- The National Shooting Sports Foundation reported an increase of 45.2 percent in the NSSF-adjusted background checks initiated with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) over November of 2019, as gun sales continue to soar.

According to the industry umbrella group, “The year-to-date total of 19.1 million adjusted background checks continues to add to a record-setting year for firearm sales. The previous complete annual record of 15.7 million background checks was set in 2016. NSSF retailer surveys estimate that nearly 7.7 million people purchased a firearm for the first time in 2020.”

Gun sales started climbing dramatically with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in late February and early March, and they became stronger as several major cities erupted in violent protests following the May death of George Floyd while under Minneapolis police restraint. Those protests were quickly exploited by Antifa anarchists, turning into riots in several cases, with demands that police departments lose funding and have their manpower reduced.

Even former President Barack Obama criticized the movement to “de-fund” police, according to Fox News.

Speaking to proponents of reducing police budgets and manpower, Obama observed, “You lost a big audience the minute you say it.”

According to NSSF data, Thanksgiving Day saw 47,706 NICS checks, down from the 58,478 on the same day in 2019. Black Friday sales were also down, from 202,465 last year to 186,645 this year.

However, on Saturday following Thanksgiving, there were 117,508 NICS checks (the NSSF-adjusted figure), far ahead of last year’s 94,814 checks. Sunday the pattern continued, with 65,606 checks as opposed to last year’s 44,924 checks. This year’s total NSSF-adjusted NICS checks for the Thanksgiving weekend were up 4.2 percent over last year, NSSF said in a release.

While all this was happening, the Minneapolis City Council was proposing cuts to that city’s police department under the guise of a new “Safety for All” budget plan, according to KSTP News.

The Chicago City Council was being flooded with demands for huge cuts in the police department budget. According to Injustice Watch, Mayor Lori Lightfoot has declared there be no massive cuts “or policy changes that inhibit the core mission of the police department, which is to serve and protect us all.”

Seattle’s far-left city council okayed an 18 percent cut to that city’s police budget, virtually at the same time Fox News was reporting a spike in homicides that is one killing shy of doubling the entire murder count for 2019. Last year, 28 people were murdered in the city, while this year’s body count is 55 with a month remaining in the year.

Mark Oliva, NSSF director of Public Affairs, “November background checks are in line with what we’ve seen all year long. Americans continue to purchase firearms at a record pace for a variety of reasons, including concerns for personal safety, onerous gun control plans by a Biden-Harris administration, and for lawful purposes including recreational shooting, hunting, and self-defense.

“The fact that the pace of these sales hasn’t slowed since March shows Americans value their Second Amendment freedoms and will exercise the right to keep and bear arms at their choosing,” Oliva added. “Politicians looking for a mandate on firearms should examine the record setting figures Americans are posting every month with firearm sales. Americans have told their elected representatives more than 19 million times exactly where their voters stand when it comes to their rights, more than 7.5 million making that declaration publicly for the first time in their lives.”

With perennial anti-gun Democrat, Joe Biden poised to assume the presidency in January, gun owners and run rights organizations are bracing for battle. Indeed, they are already taking the fight to gun control governments in Maryland, New York City, and New Jersey.

Last month, the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) and Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC) joined forces in federal lawsuits challenging Maryland’s restrictive concealed carry laws and that state’s ban on commonly-owned semi-auto rifles. SAF and FPC are also suing New York City and the state of New Jersey over restrictive concealed carry laws in those jurisdictions.

And the SAF-CCRKBA-FPC triumvirate is also challenging California’s expansion of its restrictive “handgun roster” law that prevents the sale of many handgun models in the Golden State.

The National Rifle Association just filed its own lawsuit challenging New Jersey’s carry restrictions as well.

As noted in these columns previously, perhaps Donald Trump’s greatest legacy will be how he feverishly filled federal court vacancies and added three constitutional justices to the Supreme Court, perhaps breaking the logjam to bring more Second Amendment cases up for high court consideration. Time will tell.

NSSF NICS Graphs

RELATED:

SAF Rising as 2A Warrior, Challenging Restrictive Carry Laws

 


About Dave Workman

Dave Workman is a senior editor at TheGunMag.com and Liberty Park Press, author of multiple books on the Right to Keep & Bear Arms, and formerly an NRA-certified firearms instructor.

Dave Workman

Dave Workman
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nrringlee

Excellent work, Dave. The analysis of the issue is hampered by a complete lack of credible public opinion polling on the specific issues of gun ownership and gun rights elimination efforts by radical leftists. That being said it is difficult to attribute any on public policy measure as a key influence. My guess is the influence is much broader, much harder to attribute to a specific measure or trend but is what I call a herd sense about danger. People hear messages from nutcase anti-constitutionalists and react in more generalized ways. If you are a liberty loving American the forces… Read more »

Justin Case

Safety for all-hmmm…what’s going to happen when one of their “moderators ” or psychologists gets shot down like a dog? What will the enlightened leaders say then?

Watch um

Police don’t serve and sure don’t protect. Never have and never will. Everyone needs to learn they are on their own when it comes to protection.

hoss

It’s good I suppose that gun sales are up, the problem is ammo. We’re told that ammo production is running 27/7. Ammo used to be readily available, but not anymore, and what is available costs 3 times as much, or more.
The Commie Rat Bastards have been telling us what they were going to do, and low, and behold look what they’re doing!

Arny

yeah we are told they’re running 24/7. I would like to see the spread sheets on where the ammo is actually going. I would also be intrigued to just see how many stock options each politician actually owns. How many have options set up in a relatives name.

Finnky

@wjd – That would be nice, but falls into category of wishful thinking. Sometimes I think I’m seeing movement toward availability, but only because prices have moved even higher. Our local Academy Sports has repurposed 50-75% of shelf space which used to devoted to ammo. Retained ammo space is lightly stocked with birdshot. Online and traditional retailers all seem to be in the same boat. Ammo prices continue to creep up. It seems our willingness to pay these inflated prices is creeping up as well. Probably because many of us fear the situation getting worse if we lose Georgia –… Read more »

FORD Will

Just let the FOOLISH ones DEFUND the POLICE. THEN they will find what police REALLY DO!

Dee

Reform Police!! Not necessarily defund.

JSNMGC

I believe their should be police reform.

Daniel Shaver – say his name.

MSG L

When there is nobody left to defend you, you must defend yourself. YOU are your own first responder, be prepared.

Dee

Actually gun sales increased after that racist MLB umpire said that if Trump lose he’s gonna get his AR and start a Civil War. Well the fascists have scared the shit out the left so the antiFascist decided to buy all the guns and ammo up. There you have it!!

Dee

And we know Trump lost miserably. Lol

Dave in Fairfax

Dee,
YOU know that, people who watch cemeteries vote Dem aren’t so sure.

Dee

Ummm not sure what you actually mean. Give more details. Not sure if you believe in zombies or not

Dave in Fairfax

Dee,
You ARE joking, right? There aren’t any zombies in this.

The Dem political machines in a variety of cities, Tammany Hall is a classic, were well known for stuffing the ballot box by having people who had died vote. It would have been a meme if those had existed at the time.

Dee

Our guy Bill Barr says you a liar. Stop spreading false narratives!

Dee

I’m actually pissed Trump lost and I’m from GA!! We should write Trump in on the ballot for senator in GA on January 5th. Who’s with me?

moe mensale

Only a fool would be with you. You do understand Jan 5 is a RUNOFF election here in Georgia, don’t you? There are no write-in candidates in a runoff election.

But even if write-ins were allowed, why would you do that and possibly throw the election to the democrat candidates (assuming you’re a republican)? Idiot.

robgc1

Who is we? Speak for yourself. The election outcome is unclear amid pending recounts and legal challenges that’s a fact.

Dee

Look we all wasn’t A students in school. So I get it some are not clear who won including the actual dictator who lost.

robgc1

So you weren’t an “A” student and you’re unclear of who won, got it Dee…Trouble your heart not, I’m here to help, no actual winner has been determined as of yet…but if that changes I’ll let you know

Arny

C’mon Man you know Biden Pervertis carried Obama to two election wins. LMAO

Tionico

you wanna see a dick tater, wait until Biden ascends the throine and is kicked quickly to the side to make qay for the Camel Queen. I watched her sideshow in California for far too long. SHE will be a raving Oh Bammy on steroids, with the snarl of Pugliugly AND Die Fie as frosting on top. As to the “election”, if you were really theA student you make your sorry self out to be, yuo’d be current on the details about those Dominion voting machines whcih are programmed to NOT COUNT actual votes, but to “weight” the votes, fraudulanetly… Read more »

Dee

I know. That’s exactly what Trump says. We all should write in Trump’s name for senator on the Jan 5th senate runoff election in GA. Let’s shoot down these flying votes!!

Tionico

your intent is clear.. sure, throw away votes and let the dem candidate win, thus losing our R advantage in the Senate.
Can’t wirte in Trimp for a Georgia state positioin, anyway, one of the requiremems is to be a resident of Georgia. And you’re an A student? Come back when you really HAVE something signficant.

Dave in Fairfax
Dave in Fairfax

Dee,
We have stats on how many weapons are sold, where are yours on who is buying them? I’m sure we’d all really like to know. Share.

Dee

Well there has been tons of new gun owners this year right?

JSNMGC

Of course no one knows the specifics, but I suspect:

  • Some people* are afraid violence will come to them;
  • Some people are afraid the Democrats will honor their promise to ban the sale of broad categories of semi-automatic rifles; and
  • Others are just interested in target shooting or hunting

*Antifa, people concerned about Antifa, people who have concluded the police can’t protect them from street criminals, etc.

Dave in Fairfax

Dee,

THAT’S exactly my point. We know that a pile of guns have been sold and the people selling them say that almost half are to people who’ve never owned one before. The question is, “How do you know that a lot of them are Antifa?” A dealer doesn’t HAVE to sell to anyone they consider suspect. I’ve seen some refuse sales. If someone came in dressed in black with a Red fist T-shirt or something else that suggested that they were Antifa, I’d wouldn’t be surprised if the sale was refused.

To recap, HOW DO YOU KNOW.

Dee

Or if the Poor Boys with them Fred Perry shirts on could possibly get rejected as well. Liberals sells guns too you know. Lots of them. I know because I own several firearms. Probably more than just several. What we need to do is separate gun rights from this political football and make our gun rights non political!!

Dave in Fairfax

Dee,

I’m less concerned with the Proud Boys. They tend to do counter punching.

That doesn’t change the question though.The people I’ve seen buying guns aren’t Antifa. Many have been Moms worried about protecting their kids. That’s the point that the politicians are missing, and the one that will eventually bite them in the butt.
When Mom’s no longer trust the authorities to keep their families safe and are ready to go out and spend their hard earned on guns, a reckoning can’t be far away.

Dave in Fairfax

Will,

Believe it or not, I’m hoping to get Dee to do more critical thinking and break free from the stories that she’s been told. I’d prefer to convince someone rather than dismiss them. I know, it’s a failing on my part. Hope springs eternal…

Last edited 3 years ago by Dave in Fairfax
JSNMGC

Interesting analysis.

Dee, are you against all forms of Totalitarianism, or just Fascism?

Dee

Obviously I reject all form of totalitarian thoughts or motives but in this country we have a problem fascism and that has to be snuff out. So anyone who’s against Antifascism must be for fascism right?? If not, stop using the term antifa. Remember hitler stood for fascism.

JSNMGC

Well, no. If you look at the behaviors of Antifa and many others who are helping Democrats grow in power, you will see typical Totalitarian methods: Create class warfare Promise to take from the “rich” and give to the “poor” Manipulate information – cable news, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Google, etc. Make people dependent on the government Control what is taught in schools Silence (“cancel” in today’s culture) anyone who speaks up Severely control, or remove, the ability of non-government employees to own firearms Hitler was an evil Totalitarian, as were: Mao, Stalin, Chavez, Castro, Mussolini, etc. They all used the… Read more »

Tionico

I see you have been reading Alinsky. Good. I wish more would.
What we see going on in this country this past three decades is word-for-word Alinsky being played out right before our eyes. Including the results of implementing his rules…..

Dee

What’s the real problem that is killing many blacks in urban areas?

JSNMGC

The dysfunctional micro-culture that results in low impulse control.

I think you are familiar with the details, but let me know if you would like me to elaborate.

Tionico

Dee, pop hisotry/civics quiz:

can you DEFNIE FASCISM?

Dee

fas·cism
/ˈfaSHˌizəm/
noun
1.
an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.

Arny

fas·cism  (făsh′ĭz′əm)
n.
1. often Fascism
a. A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, a capitalist economy subject to stringent governmental controls, violent suppression of the opposition, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.
b. A political philosophy or movement based on or advocating such a system of government.
2. Oppressive, dictatorial control.
https://www.thefreedictionary.com/fascism

Now can you give me an example of Trump fitting this definition ?

Get Out

B.S., The run on guns and ammo were already up into the millions long before that incident, pull up the FBI stats for yourself.