Coronavirus is spurring a sharp spike in the sales of guns and ammunition.A.J. Stagg is buying a 22 caliber rifle for his kids, but also holds a concealed carry permit.He understands why stores like Shoot Straight are busier than usual, with coronavirus, and fear, spreading.“People start realizing that they’re really responsible for themselves,” Stagg said.“A couple weeks ago we were up 500% to 600%,” Robert Geilser, the general manager at Shoot Straight, said. Geilser said sales are still up, with some customers believing they may need to protect themselves as the crisis worsens.“With all the madness with Costco and Publix, I think people are starting to get a little bit worried,” Geilser said. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the peak day for processing firearms background checks was on March 18 with more than 10,500. FDLE reports gun purchase background checks went from less than 27,000 the second week of March to nearly 67,000 the following week.Last week, those background checks were still above normal. Records also show concealed carry applications up a bit.The League of Women Voters and Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence point to the NRA’s website, calling COVID-19 a threat to the second amendment, showing an “emergency status of gun dealers” including what states have ordered them closed.The League says stay-at-home orders and guns are a dangerous mix.The NRA tells said: “We will take any action necessary to ensure the American people can defend their families.”
Coronavirus is spurring a sharp spike in the sales of guns and ammunition.
A.J. Stagg is buying a 22 caliber rifle for his kids, but also holds a concealed carry permit.
He understands why stores like Shoot Straight are busier than usual, with coronavirus, and fear, spreading.
“People start realizing that they’re really responsible for themselves,” Stagg said.
“A couple weeks ago we were up 500% to 600%,” Robert Geilser, the general manager at Shoot Straight, said.
Geilser said sales are still up, with some customers believing they may need to protect themselves as the crisis worsens.
“With all the madness with Costco and Publix, I think people are starting to get a little bit worried,” Geilser said.
According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the peak day for processing firearms background checks was on March 18 with more than 10,500.
FDLE reports gun purchase background checks went from less than 27,000 the second week of March to nearly 67,000 the following week.
Last week, those background checks were still above normal. Records also show concealed carry applications up a bit.
The League of Women Voters and Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence point to the NRA’s website, calling COVID-19 a threat to the second amendment, showing an “emergency status of gun dealers” including what states have ordered them closed.
The League says stay-at-home orders and guns are a dangerous mix.
The NRA tells said: “We will take any action necessary to ensure the American people can defend their families.”