According to the FBI, background checks for firearms reached 144.4 million through the end of May under President Obama, with 52,600 sales daily. The Bureau conducted 23 million background checks last year alone.
Gun manufacturers have reported producing 21,000 guns each day, amounting to roughly 46 million in Obama’s first six years as President. Some believe the trend will escalate if former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton wins the November presidential election.
"The recent surge in gun buying is based on two variables: fear of government intrusion on Second Amendment rights, and, more importantly, people interested in personal protection," said Justin Anderson, marketing director for Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, North Carolina.
He added that the increased transactions don’t center on any particular kind of weapon.
"Our sales have doubled across the board, not just in AR-style rifles, but also in small frame handguns and home defense shotguns," he said. "We saw this just after the San Bernardino shooting, as well. More and more people are coming to realize that their personal safety is at risk and their government cannot protect them."
"This is likely the beginning of a long rise in gun sales leading up the election. Should Hillary Clinton take a significant lead, it will only boost these sales."
Just One week after 49 people were killed in Pulse nightclub in Orlando, an online gun store called Hunter’s Warehouse sold 30,000 AR-15 assault rifles, the same kind of weapon originally thought to have been used in the shooting, as well as the Sandy Hook and San Bernardino incidents.
The gun used in Orlando was later identified as a Sim Sauer MCX.
"In particular the AR-15 has been selling very, very well. Shootings don’t push up gun sales,” said Tom Enge, owner of the Bellevue, Pennsylvania-based shop. “It’s when the government starts talking about banning particular guns and up go gun sales. When people lose their right to buy a particular gun or a particular type of gun, they go after them and they want them then."
"We have always been known to be an LGBT-friendly gun shop, and we've seen a huge spike in LGBT folks buying guns," Anderson said. "The LGBT community has long been a staple of the gun business. These folks are targeted every day and they know it. Those that didn't get a wakeup call after the Orlando shooting. In the end, people are afraid."Men aren’t the only demographic buying guns. Women, young adults, and the LGBTQ community are also buying in greater numbers.
