The Guns & Ammo Network

Gun Sales Boom: Great, but Why?

by Robert W. Hunnicutt • January 3, 2012 • 51 comments

Few things make for a jolly holiday atmosphere around SGN as much as hearing that gun sales are up. When advertisers are happy, we’re happy. And advertisers should be exceptionally happy this season.

The FBI reported the greatest number of NICS (National Instant Check System) checks on record in December, with more than 1.5 million. Dealers requested 102,222 background checks Dec. 23, the second-busiest day in history. The record went to the day after Thanksgiving, at 129,166 checks. The previous one-day high was set November 28, 2008, when gun dealers requested almost 98,000 background checks.

Since the NICS program began in 1998, more than 130 million checks have been made, with a rejection rate around 1%. Whether it’s cost-effective to investigate 99 law-abiding potential buyers to catch one scofflaw can certainly be debated. But up to now, at least, the NICS check has not been a major bottleneck in gun sales.

Speed apparently hasn’t been much of a problem, either: the FBI claims an average time for a reply at 6.37 seconds in 2010, down from 8.75 in 2008 (www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/nics/reports/2010-operations-report/2010-operations-report-pdf).

So lots of people are buying lots of guns, and getting what appears to be good service from the FBI. Why? What’s driving all these sales?

In the mainstream media, the usual suspects were asked the usual questions, and delivered the usual answers. The most common explanation was fear of crime, even though crime is lower in many categories than it has been in memory.

That was followed up by fear of stiffer gun laws, even though Republicans seem poised to retain control of the House and possibly to retake the Senate. And while the Obama Administration has nibbled around the edges of gun control with executive initiatives like Operation Fast & Furious, it has made no overt moves to restrict firearms.

Anti-gun organizations took a new tack, claiming fewer people are buying more guns, which very well may be true, but so what?

I’m going to propose a different explanation. When have you seen guns more prominently represented in popular culture? A quick look at your cable TV listings shows NRA Guns & Gold, Sons of Guns, Student of the Gun, Top Shot, Triggers, and many more, including Intermedia fare like Guns & Ammo TV and Personal Defense TV.

I think you’d have to go back to the 1950s to find a time when guns were so ubiquitous. And the gun industry is bigger, more aggressive and more creative than it’s ever been in my more than 35 years as part of it.

So if you’ve gotten a gun recently, for yourself or someone else, what was the reason?

1. Fear of crime
2. Fear of Obama
3. No fear at all: just wanted one

In Culture & Politics, Uncategorized • Tagged , ,
  • Russell

    Haven't bought one yet been shopping around still but what motivated me to buying guns was mainly fear of Obama the government should fear its people not the other way around so I figured it was time to purchase some newer weapons got a couple old ones that ain't Much use. Plus I just got a survey from my of so called representatives asking if I thought congress should take steps to restrict guns. If its time to bury your guns its time to dig em up.

    • thomas

      and what has buying or looking at a gun done to lessen your "fear" of Obama?? i dont know ANY responsible gun owner who bought a gun out of fear. key word being responsible. dont use the failed administration of Obama as a reason to buy a gun. Be honest with yourself you are looking at/buying a gun for the same reason that many other gun owners(including me) buy theirs because you want it. same reason my wife buys things that she dosent NEED.

      • Phil

        You're wrong. We need to buy as many as we can, before they outlaw guns, and close the gun shops,
        and take our ammo away. We then will NOT give up what we already have, because to do so would be
        a clear violation of our Constitutional rights. Should they try, we will resist to the last. Our Forefathers
        not only said that owning a gun for the protection of ourselves was a RIGHT..but they said it was an
        OBLIGATION !!! It syas so in the Federalist Papers, when the Constitution was being formed, and ratified by the various states. It is against tyranny that we arm ourselves, as well as for crime.

  • mike

    3

  • Cliff

    just wanted to get a bigger safe, so….need more guns.

  • Antonio

    Fear of Obama is not a valid answer. Concern over stricter government firearms restrictions is, and this continues to happen at the State level.

  • Michael Schilfries

    4. Concern for the alarming number of propaganda-feuled idiots that are arming themselves to the teeth in irrational fear of "President Obama", "the spread of socialism", "Muslims", "religious persecution", "immigrants", "NWO", "economic collapse", "TBTF", "the Mayan calendar", "TEOTWAWKI", "foreign/alien invasion", or whatever other fabricated and/or asinine reason they feel threatened.

  • Anonymoose

    I love to shoot, and the more the merrier right?

  • Buck

    As I WALK through the garden of good and evil — I will fear no – bama , for I am the meanest sob in thy whole damn valley …..

  • Peter A

    Why isn't protection in the coming economic collapse a choice? As soon as you go outside of the feel-good pages of the newspaper, you realize that the economy is showing now signs of recovery and a 14% GDP decline (once you remove the government stimulus payments) is something few countries have ever survived…

  • Manny

    I Love Guns! Plain and simple. I collect and shoot for fun and I don't give a sh!t what anybody says!

    • BOB McComish

      right on good for the 2nd amendment

  • Rnh

    Economic collapse and the resulting lawlessness is the reason I hear the the most. I'm in the firearms industry and it's a common topic. Guns are both for protection and investment, as they retain value unlike our increasingly worthless fiat money.

  • Curtis

    I sell them and people buy for many reasons, collectors, shooters, self defense, concern over the extra-legal slant of the current administration.

  • A. Nonymous

    Fear of regulation if Obama gets a second term

  • teatimer

    Look at violent crime statistics. Whatever the reasons for buying guns the deterent works!

  • john

    In current times, there are more reasons to own firearms than not. As a firearms enthusiast, I enjoy shooting sports & collecting firearms. __The only reason we have not ended up like many other countries in history to be controlled by our gov't is because we have the right to keep & bear arms.__Our current administration is definitely the reason for the current rise in gun sales. Weather one cares to admit it or not, I know, at least from the people I've run across, that they fear our out of control gov't. __GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!

  • Allen Crowder

    Luckily only 5 of my 16 came from licensed dealers brand new. The secret is having plenty of ammunition. It is my belief that a person should have at least 1000 rounds of each caliber of weapon they have

    • JIM Q

      ALLEN..I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YR PHILOSPHY..AND HAVE TRIED TO DO JUST THAT…AND I HAVE JUST A SINGLE STAGE LEE PRESS.! SO FAR I HAVE HIT MY GOAL ON .223'S….AND 9MM…AND SOON 7.62X 39MM…

      I ALSO FEEL THAT THERE WILL BE CIVIL UNREST FORTHCOMING AND A TOTAL BREAK DOWN OF SOCIETY…

      I DON'T EVEN THINK THERE WILL BE AN ELECTION IN NOV….WATCH FOR A DECREE AND ENSUING MARTIAL LAW..

  • Donna

    I wish I could afford to buy another gun as well as ammo. I fear a breakdown in this country and with the tendency to try to restrict gun ownership it appears to be more than likely that we could have another Revolution. I want to be able to protect what I have and not have the rabble steal it.

    • Pete

      Donna, your reply struck a nerve. You are obviously well educated in the language of our country and of our fundamental rights. I hope good fortune allows you to purchase another gun. If you have limited means then consider a good quality 22 such as a Ruger Mark 2 or 3. Ammunition is cheap and plentiful. Another good choice in larger caliber guns are Taurus revolvers and semi autos. The key is to buy a gun you are comfortable with and that you have the opportunity to shoot regularly. My wife has the opportunity, when she can find time, to shoot nearly every gun available to the public. Her choice is usually a Ruger 22 or her favorite Taurus 357 revolver. In case anyone thinks I am pushing only cheap guns my wife has a choice of over 200 guns including several (legal) full automatic weapons.
      Enjoy your guns, shoot them safely, responsibly, and often.

  • A V Tracy

    The main reason that I'm buying guns is that the money in the bank gets.05% interest. I think that I will be able to sell my guns and ammo in the future for a nice profit. At least I think that I will make more than what my savings are making now.
    Vern

  • rob

    New FNAR for when the SHTF.

  • MrBlackCat

    Not so interesting article, and the choices are biased and silly, but I'll bite…

    How many people have insurance on their home or car out of fear?
    One reason to own firearms is for protection of yourself and property. Which is insurance conceptually.
    Interesting the government requires us to have insurance on other things, but not our personal safety.

    Fear is for sheep… be a collie and protect yourself within the limits of the current laws. And should you choose not to protect yourself, that is fine, but don't push your choice on others by force.
    In other words… Don't be afraid, be prepared. Don't try to keep others from protecting themselves and their families because you don't care enough about yourself and your family to do so.
    —————————————
    How many people own guns just because they enjoy shooting without fear or even metaphoric insurance reasons?
    Probably most.
    —————————————
    Relative to "breakdowns" of society… situations like in New Orleans after Katrina show a strong need to protect yourself from criminals. I hope for the sake of large numbers of criminal "law enforcement", there is never an attempt to remove firearms from my property by the government. The New Orleans firearms confiscations were completely illegal by the way. Making those individuals not only wrong, but criminals. I choose to shoot criminals who threaten me at gun point on my property or home and don't leave when instructed to do so. And again, if you don't, that is fine also, but don't try to tell me that I can't protect myself and my family.

    No person or government can do anything to us that we don't allow… as long as we are armed. A large part of Freedom is the ability to defend ourselves… without a way to equalize ourselves with others, we don't "have" choices, we are "allowed" choices.

    Directly on Topic:
    I haven't bought any firearms this season, and I would not begin to speculate on what the motivations behind increased sales are. I would find it hard to believe "fear" is such a big motivator in this case however. Most gun owners I know don't arm themselves out of fear, but out of responsibility… responsibility to the safety of themselves, their families, and even the occasional stranger who gets caught in a bad situation.

    MrBlackCat

    • JIM

      BRAVO! THE 1ST RESPONSE THAT I'M TOTALLY IN ACCORD WITH ..

  • DDJ

    I am an avid hunter, shooter and collecter of firearms. Haven't bought any weapons lately but would advise all to have a nice supply of ammunition for each weapon and invest in some reloading equipment. You might as well protect yourself with a knife or bat if you don't have ammo! The best home protection weapon is a shotgun with buckshot.Also potect yourself and your family while commuting with a pistol, this will give you peace of mind to protect yourself against carjackers and other crazies out there!

  • Jim Westbrook

    FEAR, I fear no one, I buy guns because I can, guns n gold you just cant go wrong, I have had to slow Dow because my 2 safes are full and so is my dads old gun cabinet. Ammo n bullets are another story, I've collected over 1,400 loaded rounds stored in my dehumidified gun room, always looking for more…….

  • Antonio

    Better to have one and not need it… you know the rest.

  • vishnu

    Based on the ridiculous ads for accessories, magazine and online articles, chat room discussions and the like, I'd have to say: "Forget Obama…fear ZOMBIES!"

  • Rancott

    I just like guns !!!!

  • redc1c4

    "because we don't have one of those… "

    that's what i always tell HRH when we see something new. %-)

  • Aaron L. Peck Sr.

    MrBlackCat: you truly hit the nail on the head, it's nice to read intelligent responses that are absolutely correct. thank you.

  • Brud

    Obama will never collect peoples guns, a gun ( rifle- pistol-shotgun ) is a personal item, many have historal, family, & private values.. Obama did say the only way he could collect guns is to have the military pick them up, because Americans would not shoot or harm there own service personal —- The best way is to stop all sales and manufactuering of ammunition and reloading parts. A gun is nothing but a play toy without ammunition —- I must say he is right !!!!!! If Clinton gets this global gun ban passed — we surely will be in a mess then ———- God help us then !!!!!!! That is serious trouble then !!!!!!

  • The Patriot

    This country is safe from our enemies because of guns, Obama cant say NO to that ———> Obama leave us alone

  • Barry Cockinos

    Here in Australia we have anything up to three or four drive by shootings a week since we were subjected to the Howard Governments gun by-back. Over 500 million dollars spent in the by-back to make our streets safe but the streets are not as safe as they were before John Howard's gun laws were enacted.

    We lost our castle doctrine and if were are accosted by an intruder in our own home we have to retreat because to engage in a scuffle to defend self and property we are subject to a charge of affray and end up in court where we have to prove we used reasonable force in self defending ourselves.

    If we win or loose we cannot claim court costs.

  • chris an andy

    tax us to poverty support every other country cut our miltary take 9 of our ten away still have one left (RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS) protect our own plus they dont pay for gas

  • Andy

    Mostly 3, but I will give Obama credit for attempting to precipitate a societal breakdown. I've decided I want to learn how to fix S&W revolvers so I bought a couple of the used police surplus K frame magnums in December, so you can put me down for 2 of the 1.5 million checks.

  • Michael

    why are gun sales booming? you have got to be kidding.in a world filled with drug heads.home invaders. car jackers.depressed wackos who did not get their government check this month. 15 million illegal aliens sucking our nation dry financially and every other discontented fruitcake.who needs a gun? a rocket launcher would do better.or maybe a m60.anti gunners never go away.their names and methods change but basically they want you and me disarmed so they can control and make you a government slave. beware of hillary and bill clinton. and their comrads.although billy boy got his ass handed to him in the 1994 elections because of his gun grabbing tactics he now has his wife taking his place working with obama and the u.n. to grab and destroy guns around the world. liberal congressmen and senators and the united nations drools aided by osama obama are actively going after guns and ammunition every day.if you are not aware of this you are in trouble.buying guns and ammunition is right up there with food and medical supplies.and yes toliet paper. dont get caught without it.when.it all comes down you must be prepared.place an order today.its right up there with GOLD. have a nutty day. Michael.

  • Michael

    .

  • Michael

    helo brud. do you really beleive obama or any of his gun grabbing comrads cares about your personal belongings especially firearms or wether they have historical value.as far as sending in the miliary to get our guns. you can forget that. do you think our corrupted government wants a full scale armed resistance?please do not give these drools any more ideas about stopping the manufacure of ammunition or reloading suppll ies.senator patrick moynihan said years ago that we do not need to ban ammnition. we will tax it out of existance.remember any american politician supporting and voting for a u.n. gun ban is guilty of treason plain and simple.the u.n. is a corrupted organization funded by our tax dollars and aided by ultra liberal congressmen and senators headed by hillary clinton and her band of anti gunners.thank you for your comments. Michael.

  • Michael

    hello barry cockinos. feel sorry for you aussies.dominated by the brits. do you really beleive that the gun buy back cost 500 million dollars. hogwash. they stole the money.stuffed it in their crusty pockets and stole your freedom and your guns. what a scheme. do you know that when world war 2 broke out england had less than 1 million rounds of ammunition to defend their homeland. if it werent for the united states of america supplying them with those nasty guns and tons of barberous ammunitin hitler would have killed every man. woman and child. they have never trusted their people with guns and they dont trust you aussies or anyone else (ecxcept their chosen ones) with guns in case they have a plugged up bore. this is how they control.you stated you have to retreat if your home is invaded.I wonder if that also applies to your corrupted politicians? round up your family and come to america. we need stout hearted men and women.hold it. not so fast.we only accept illegal aliens now. we cannot accept you if you do not climb over a fence or crawl through a tunnel. thanks for your comments barry. Michael.

    • Barry Cockinos

      Michael if it were not for the US we would have been taken over by the jap invaders. Our politicians are in denial and we are cutting our defence budget again? The Australian politicians rely on the UN and the new world order or world government to tell them what to do. Remember the league of Nations after the second world war where England and France dissarmed and Germany asked to buld a self defence force . Wow what a mistake was that but nothing is learned from these mistakes and history will repeate itself.
      I am afraid our US brothers have a lot more common sense than we have because we allowed our government to infiltrate our gun clubs with what we call (white ants) to destroy from within and see that we never support any other shooting clubs or unite to defend our rights.

    • Barry Cockinos

      Michael there have been 74 drive by shootings in Sydney alone so far this year.
      Not bad for a country that passed stiff gun laws to curb gun crime.
      When crime statistics were given two months ago they stated that car theft was down by 2 percent, break and enter of homes up by 7 percent and gun crime was steady. What do you make out of this hogwash?

  • Bill F.

    My answer is multi-layered.
    1. Fear of crime. Even though some REPORTED crimes are down, I don't see a noticable dip in crime. Also, crimes have been trending toward more violent at least where I worked. Violent organized gangs keeping growing in size and they are a real concern. Reporting methodology used by agencies can change and this will have an effect on the stats.

    2. The variety of guns is the best its ever been. We have so many more choices these days compared to say the 1970's. This piques the interest of potential buyers/first time buyers and The Judge is a good example.

    • caviar

      You are absolutely correct, Bill F. The reporting, -or more precisely "non-reporting" of crime is behind the grossly misleading statistics that the government is putting out. Crime is NOT diminishing, but in fact is increasing exponentially in several of the erroneously claimed "reduced" categories. I have spent nearly 50 years in law enforcement, both in municipal, state and federal arenas. When I was a young police officer, MANY crimes were felonies ( resulting in prison terms as punishment), that now are only misdemeanors or non-crimes altogether. Believe it or not, rape, armed robbery, bank robbery and murder were ALL capital crimes (which could result in the death penalty). A death caused by drunk driving, was murder. Today DUI is virtually a misdemeanor, for which we see drunk-driver/killers with a dozen prior convictions for driving under the influence, being sentenced to short (or no) jail terms for murder by auto.
      The simplest way to "reduce" crime statistics is to de-criminalize the act itself; e.g.-change "burglary" ( a felony), to "trespass", a misdemeanor ticket-able or citation offense in many states. Even the trespass may be a non-crime if you cannot prove intent to commit a crime; (disregard the fact that the offender broke into your home and carried your valuables outside and staged them for his escape).
      As Obama did when first in office, one can simply re-name any act by giving it a "warm fuzzy" title that is less offensive or explicit; thus minimizing or obfuscating what occurred. If it doesn't exist; it didn't occur. All of this is and has been done in the name of political correctness. I live in a very large metropolis. Every day, I observe non-enforcement of many criminal laws, by law enforcement. Crimes are ignored by cops. Not because they are derelict or malfeasant. We/they have been directed to look the other way and/or simply not respond, even to what was actually witnessed by law-enforcement.
      We have thousands of illegals in our area, but are directed to ignore crimes committed by them, even that cops have witnessed. Of course the "catch-and-release" policies with illegals is a disgrace and makes us the laughing stock of the world. Other classes of criminals are "protected" by non-enforcement, either by "affirmative action" or political status. Much of this is relative to Obama's plans to ingratiate them as potential voters for him and his ilk. It doesn't seem possible that our Federal Justice Department has deteriorated to the point that Obama's lackeys would actually rule that it is "illegal" for local police to enforce already existing federal immigration laws! And then there is the omni-present pressure to keep crime reporting; crime statistics, to a minimum. There are other "reasons" for ignoring crime. Police Chiefs and mayors can claim a "good job" for keeping crime down".
      Budget cuts; staff reductions; etc, but NONE are excusable, justifiable or acceptable. And manipulation of crime statistics for political purposes (as Hillary is doing), is a crime within itself. But then, if she does it, it isn't a "crime" is it! She and Obama know that an attempt to disarm America would cause an insurrection or revolution, so in true gutless form, they circumvent the laws and manipulate the UN or other system.
      I have travelled the globe in performance of my law-enforcement duties, and unlike what we are led to believe, our legal system is NOT the envy of the free world. I have found it to be the subject of ridicule worldwide.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=646331426 Bill Mc

    Looks like Obama will be the NRA "Salesman of the Year," AGAIN during this election year! What a guy! Well, at least he actually stimulated ONE part of the economy.
    Aside from that, buying and owning firearms is an American tradition for SPORT (hunting and/or target); and for personal/home security. On the other hand, if they're bought simply out of fear, they shouldn't have been obtained; at least not without some serious training both in firearms and legal issues. I just read an article recently, that said something like, "… every bullet fired, has an attorney attached to it."

  • Gary

    I used to belong to a club we refered to as the gun of the month club. We were a small group of gun nuts who once a month each one of us would buy a different gun. We would all meet at my home and show each other our gun purchases, we would clean our guns, have snacks, and discuss reloading and other gun topics. We never got drunk or hurt anyone. I have moved to a new town, had to sell off most of my gun colection ,due to my wifes passing , to pay for her final expences. I hope to be able to go back to buying a gun each month, when I can afford it. I have bought guns simply because I love to shoot.

  • DownChild

    You Can Not Afford NOT To Have A Shotgun/Rifle. If You Do Not Have Funds, Then Decide FAST On Caliber
    Or Gauge. And Start Amassing Ammo; Big Time!! I Would Suggest 12Ga Shotgun&Ammo[12 Ga Shotguns
    Are Plentiful And Ammo Is Best Buy eg Walmart]. Buy Clay Shot #8/#71/2 Or Field Shot By Federal. Do Not
    Worry About Buckshot For Now But Keep Your Radar On For 12Ga Ammo Deals! As For Rifles Start Reading And Asking Questions. Once You Decide On A Caliber Start Amassing Ammo As Much You Can Afford. Soon A Deal On The Shotgun Or Rifle Of Your Choice Will Appear. !!Go To Gun Shows!! Remember:: "Ammunition-The Currency Of The New Millennium" NOTE: Good Clay And Field Shot Makes Good Home
    Defense For 7 Yard Kill[Gun Digest Article].

  • Barry Cockinos

    The latest here in NSW Australia is that Parliament has tabled a new bill to control the sale of ammunition with the recording purchase and sale of ammo only to people who have firearms that take that type of ammunition.
    This is in an attempt to stop the rise of drive by shootings that have got out of control.
    By spending $500 million in the gun by back Police, Customs and other government projects suffered cash shortfalls thus allowing crime to establish.

    Our politicians cannot see the forest for the trees.

  • Alberto_Knox

    Dec 23??? Really? and those forms were all filled out: "No siree, I'm not buyin' this gun for Nobody else, no sir!"

    Sure

  • MIKE

    I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMINISTRATION AND THEIR THUGS… BUT I MOSTLY LIKE SHOOTING DIFFERANT GUNS . I LIKE RELOADING AND THE KABOOM THEY MAKE…