With January marking the beginning of 2012, it seems that U.S. citizens have decided to meet the end-of-the-year Mayan calendar conspiracies and Armageddon prophecies head on, with gats. Recent reports show that the end of 2011 was marked with a huge surge in the sale of firearms and ammunition, and sales forecasts show no sign of this trend slowing down. So strap on your Kevlar, holster that piece and get ready for some gunplay.
Forbes.com featured an article from Zacks.com, a contributor to the website, telling investors that money in guns is money well spent. In the article, Strum, Ruger, & Co., a large firearms manufacturer was a No. 1 rank, indicating that it would be a wise investment for anyone looking to make money. Zacks.com wrote that even with December not yet at a close, the FBI had reported there had been 1.5 million background checks for the month. In the final quarter of 2011, Strum, Ruger, & Co. reported that they had sold 315,100 firearms. While the company does sell weapons internationally, United States consumers are the largest purchasers of privately owned weapons in the world. December wasn’t the only month in 2011 with record breaking statistics; the entire year showed spikes in sales.
Despite their constitutional protection, guns can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands. | jolynntech/Flickr.com
An article on pittsburghlive.com, the website of the Pittsburgh Tribune, reached out to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a pro-firearms organization that also collects sales and trend data. Reports from the FBI’s national instant background check system give the NSSF good information about how many people are attempting to purchase weapons, and how sales are doing throughout the nation. The NSSF told the Tribune that “December marked an unprecedented 19th straight month of background check increases when compared to the same month that previous year.” 2011 was not only a huge year for gun sales, but the month of November also saw the record for sales in one day.
While many shoppers waited outside shopping malls to buy that 50 percent off Polo and that oh-so cute Chanel top, thousands of savvy deal-finders visited their local gun store for a “Black Friday” bargain.
On Nov. 25, last year, 129,166 background checks were processed through the FBI system, which, according to the Tribune, was a 32 percent increase from the prior single-day record. Gun sales have, excuse the pun, shot past any projections and are showing no sign of slowing down.
The NSSF reported to the Tribune that along with background checks, federal excise taxes are also a strong indicator of how well gun sales are doing. An excise tax is a tax that is imposed on certain goods, such as alcohol and cigarettes. A similar tax applies to the purchase of firearms and ammunition. The NSSF reported that over the past five years, excise taxes for the sale of guns and ammo has risen 48.3 percent, which communicates a swiftly rising trend. More and more American citizens are feeling the need to “strap” up, even with firearm related crimes showing a decrease.
As a firearms owner, I feel strongly that we do have the right to defend ourselves, or “bear arms” as the founders put it. However, as an experienced gun owner it also makes me nervous to know that so many people are choosing to buy guns. Guns don’t kill people, but gun owners without the proper education can. I love to shoot, it’s a great past time, but I also know that a firearm is a machine that should be handled with care and respect.
Many people who purchase a new gun receive little training on how to use it, or the safety features of the weapon. Not to mention that certain firearms like Glock and Springfield XD models, both very popular models, don’t even have an actual safety.
While I won’t give names out of respect for the individuals, who happen to be personal friends, I will tell you how carelessness can happen no matter how high your level of training. During my time in the military, I developed a great respect for where my armor, pouches and finger were in respect to the trigger of my weapon.
Not all soldiers follow suit. During our first tour, a platoon mate of mine forgot to safety his weapon, and while getting out of the truck during a patrol, he shot himself in the foot. He had to be flown to Germany and was operated on. This soldier was discharged from the military and walks with a permanent limp. Accidents like this happen all of the time, and they happen to people who have training. Another soldier was sent home from Iraq because he was shot in the hand while roughhousing out on patrol. Along with being shot in the hand he received a demotion for his foolishness.
Guns can be a lot of fun to use, but they are also capable of killing whatever they are pointing at.
People need more education than just a bunch of online Call of Duty play and a five minute speech by Joe Schmo behind the desk of some gun shop. They should be mentored on how to properly use and store a gun, as well as be taught what can happen when accidents occur.
Carelessness and stupidity are unfortunate side effects of humanity, but proper education and experience can ensure that from novice to expert, all people who enjoy shooting can have a good time.
David Adams can be reached at davids.adams@spartans.ut.edu.
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“However, as an experienced gun owner it also makes me nervous to know that so many people are choosing to buy guns. Guns don’t kill people, but gun owners without the proper education can.”
Why does that make you nervous? Because you assume that people who are new to the passion are irresponsible? You were a new gun owner once too.
“Many people who purchase a new gun receive little training on how to use it”
That’s a nice opinion but without statistical information, it’s just bad journalism.
I took a CCW class at a gun range, and I highly recommend it for any gun owner, whether you intend to carry your gun with you or not. Good article, by the way.
The Springfield XD and Glock handguns do indeed have safeties built in, our they could not be sold in states like California. The best safety mechanism to use is the one between your ears. To ignore proper handling of any firearm is pure negligence.
No amount of safety training will do anyone any good unless the rules and skills are used every time, every time.
I agree. I think all gun owners should be made to repeat “never point the business end of a weapon at something you aren’t willing to shoot” 1000 times before they are allowed to touch a gun.
And I also hope that picture was taken with a tripod and auto timer. Otherwise I suspect someone stopped at 999 repetitions.