The FBI’s NICS gnomes were awfully busy in June. Televised nationwide rioting and looting tend to motivate people who don’t already own a firearm to tool up. And tool up they apparently did.
The FBI just released its monthly report of the number of National Instant Check System background checks performed last month and June set another new all-time record. The Bureau performed 3,931,607 background checks last month. That’s 5% over the previous record set in March of this year and a whopping 70% over last June’s total.
The FBI has performed over 19 million background checks in the first half of this year. That’s about the same total for all of 2012.
Here’s the regular monthly caveat: this number does not represent the number of guns sold. Many background checks are performed for other reasons such as permit renewals, etc. The NSSF will be out with their monthly adjusted NICS total that corrects for that in a day or two. Keep in mind also that many states don’t require a background check for gun buyers with carry permits.
All of that said, it’s safe to say that gun sales were through the roof last month. Retailers report they are struggling to keep up, reporting land office business. They’re selling guns and ammunition faster than they’ve ever seen at any time in the past.
Unless you’re Shannon Watts, it’s not hard to understand why. Americans who have watched a month or so of civil unrest while police departments largely stood back and let it happen have decided that they want want — no need — the ability to protect themselves. They’ve come to the realization that they truly are their own first responders. Maybe their only responders in some cases.
It’s difficult in many areas to get range time for new purchasers to get in a little practice with their shiny new gats. Many ranges are reporting wait times for a lane of an hour or more and some are taking appointments.
My gun range is JAM PACKED with new gun owners, former Democrats, single women, hipster guys, families with kids. 1 hour wait list. Inventory all sold out.
Owner said it’s been like this every day since shutdown started.
Congrats tyrants, you cemented #2A for the next century.
— Randy Savage Never Shuts Down (@_hublette) June 30, 2020
These are dark days indeed for the Civilian Disarmament Industrial Complex. They’ve desperately tried to piggyback their anti-gun message onto the push for police reform, but as today’s numbers clearly show, American’s simply aren’t listening any more.