A new survey from Rasmussen Reports shows that support for greater gun control in the U.S. has dropped from last year’s all-time high. As the country deals with race riots and a surge in crime, not to mention the coronavirus crisis, just 52 percent of Americans now say that they support stricter gun control laws.
When the same poll was carried out in 2019, 64 percent of Americans said they supported stricter gun control. This means that 12 percent have changed their view in light of recent events. Meanwhile, 42 percent say they are opposed to additional gun control. The survey questioned 1,000 likely voters on August 5.
In addition, the poll showed that those Americans who already own guns are increasing their supply. A full 27 percent of Americans who owned guns have bought at least one more during the last six months.
That isn’t surprising as 2020 has already been a banner year for the firearms industry. Sales continue to climb, especially among first-time gun buyers, and much of this is coming in response to the rioting being seen throughout the country and widespread calls to defund the police.
Firearms sales have already topped last year's figures thanks to uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In some cases, they've outnumbered sales from the previous year by as much is 85 percent. The recent unrest has only fueled even more sales.
New gun owners accounting for a large percentage of sales
Statistics from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) show that 40 percent of total sales are to new gun owners. In addition, women are accounting for 40 percent of first-time gun owners this year, and many of them are coming from states that lean to the left, like California.
The NSSF's Mark Olivia said: “You’re seeing a reaction to people’s concerns about being able to provide safety for themselves and the ones that they love.”
The preferred firearm among panic buyers this year appears to be semi-automatic handguns, with shotguns coming in second place.
The owner of Coliseum Gun Traders in Uniondale, New York, Andy Chernoff, told Fox 5 New York they’ve been having trouble keeping up with demand since the coronavirus crisis began, and another spike was seen after the riots began. He said his shop’s phones have been ringing nonstop and lines sometimes wrap around the building. “We’re running out. Literally running out,” he said.
Meanwhile, PRK Arms in Clovis, California, is reporting a rise in first-time gun buyers since the start of the pandemic. Many of these buyers are opting for personal defense weapons.
After four police officers were shot in St. Louis County, Missouri, a similar spike was seen. Many gun stores are reporting that people are buying guns out of fear for their safety and that they are having trouble keeping ammunition in stock.
According to Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting, 1.7 million guns were sold in the U.S. in May, which was an 80 percent rise over the same time last year.
The effects of the unrest have also been seen in the stock market, with the stocks of prominent firearms companies like Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger & Co. climbing. Law enforcement product manufacturer Axon Enterprises, who makes products like tasers, has seen increases of as much as 21 percent.
It won't be surprising to see these numbers continue to rise as cities across the nation actually move forward with their poorly conceived plans to defund their police departments while left-wing mobs continue to terrorize communities. People are starting to realize that if they cannot rely on the police to protect them, they will have to take matters into their own hands if they wish to keep their family safe.
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