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Gun-Toting Liberals??

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Have you ever heard of a gun-toting liberal?

The stereotype of gun owners is that they tend to be Republicans with American flags flying in the backs of their pickup trucks. But 2020 has turned a lot of things upside down and changed people’s minds about a lot of things — gun ownership included.

What’s going on in the gun shops in 2020? Why do there seem to be more liberals becoming gun owners? Let’s take a look.

Soaring Numbers of Background Checks

Of the top 10 highest weeks for firearm background checks with the NICS between November 30, 1998 and September 30, 2020, 8 of those record weeks were set in 2020.

Which week leads the pack?

As you might imagine, March 16-22, when the Coronavirus crap really started to hit the fan. During this week a whopping 1,197,788 background checks were run. March 20 holds the distinction of being the single day with the highest number of background checks at 210,308.

It’s important to note that the NICS makes the distinction that not every one of these background checks represents a firearm being sold — there is not a 1 to 1 correlation. However, these numbers do tell us that interest in gun ownership appears to be on the rise.

Why?

Unrest in the Country

With all that’s been going on, it certainly does seem like a time to be interested in buying a gun for self-protection.

The Coronavirus spurred the biggest surge in background checks in March. The next surge comes in June after George Floyd was killed in Minneapolis. Three weeks in June make the NICS’s top ten list. Gun sellers say that unrest about the upcoming election is another reason fueling the sales.

Of course, in election years or periods of time when gun control legislation is up for debate there are traditionally surges in buying guns. However, these sales are usually among the typical white, male, conservative gun owner base who already own guns and are adding to their collection before “it’s too late”.

This time it’s a little different.

Who Is Buying Up the Guns?

Industry experts and gun sellers are reporting that many of the people buying guns this year are first-time gun owners. Women, minorities, and buyers with politically liberal leanings are among the people turning out to buy guns.

Local gun clubs membership ranks are exploding and there are reports of businesses like Walmart always being out of ammunition.

Smith and Wesson reports that sales have skyrocketed this year. By July, sales were up 141% from the year before and the company reports that as many as 40% of their sales were to new gun owners. According to the company, the fastest-growing groups of new gun owners are African Americans and women.

Furthermore, the Brookings Institution took a closer look at the effect that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on gun sales. What they found was quite interesting.

In states that voted Republican in 2016 there is a 37% higher gun ownership rate than in states that voted Democrat. Republican states on the high end of the scale have a gun ownership rate nearing 55% whereas Democrat states on the low end have a mere 6%.

What’s interesting is the positive relationship between liberal leaning states and a rise in gun permit applications between February and April of 2020. In other words, more liberal states are seeing large increases in gun permit applications.

It’s almost like the whole COVID situation is changing people’s opinions on whether guns are a useful tool for defence.

Why Are Liberals Becoming Gun Owners

Many new gun owners cite the state of current events as their reason for buying a gun. With riots, looting, and burning happening in many cities across America, it’s no wonder that people feel unsafe.

We think it is interesting, however, that people who have liberal leanings are making up a large portion of the surge in gun sales. Typically, these people have always said there is no need for guns. There are other, more civilized ways of resolving disputes. And if you feel that you are in a dangerous situation, you can simply call the police.

To that end, they have often wanted to pass legislation limiting people’s Second Amendment rights. Limiting magazine capacities, banning certain types of guns and accessories, requiring stricter background checks and more have been among the rules they wish to implement.

However, when push comes to shove and they’re starting to feel unsafe, it is interesting that they turn to the very weapons they have so long demonized. It’s almost like what gun owners have been saving for years is true — the best way to defend yourself is by having a weapon and knowing how to use it. Picking up the phone and calling the police simply takes too long.

The Defund the Police Movement

Another factor that could be affecting the push is the whole “defund the police” idea. Proponents are saying that with the “high rates” of police brutality it would be better to disband the police or greatly reduce their numbers, instead relying on social workers to handle charged situations “more humanely”.

They may not yet understand that violent individuals must be confronted by trained officers with guns in order to keep innocent people safe — and sometimes that means the bad guy gets shot. However, they do seem to understand that if someone is breaking into their house in the middle of the night, they don’t have time to wait for the social worker to get there and defuse the situation.

Becoming a Responsible Gun Owner

What are your thoughts on the subject? Do you already have guns? Do you plan to buy your first one soon?

If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s that we can’t be too certain of what is going to happen. Having a bit of extra security in your own home isn’t a bad idea.

So, buy a gun, take some classes and learn how to use it so that if you ever need it, you’ll know what to do!  Defensive Tactical Training (DTT) offers great beginner classes for anyone wanting to learn the basics of gun ownership… the responsibilities, safety and most of all how to use it in a defensive manner. Classes are as non-threating as training the basics with simulators and ‘training’ guns which are inert, through tactical training at an outdoor range to enable teaching you to be the best defender you can be. DTT also offers Arizona Concealed Carry Courses!

Trainging Simulators - Are they Good?

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