According to the Washington Examiner, gun sales increased following the assassination attempt on former President Trump and the nomination of Kamala Harris.
Reports indicate this phenomenon began gaining momentum last month, following the assault on Trump and Harris's selection as the Democratic party’s pick for president.
Justin Anderson, the marketing director at Hyatt Guns, noticed an uptick in transactions towards late July. "Business picked up a few percentage points at the end of July into early August," Justin Anderson noted, attributing the surge partially to political maneuvers.
Moreover, the choice of Tim Walz, recognized for his strict stance on gun control, as Harris's running mate has potentially alarmed firearms enthusiasts. This selection coincides with Harris's open advocacy for firearm restrictions, further intensifying concerns among individuals fearing for their gun ownership rights.
Specifically, daily FBI background checks for gun ownership showed a noticeable rise. This data mirrors trends reported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, asserting that gun sales in July exceeded one million. This marks a continued pattern met each month for five years.
These political events have significantly influenced the collective outlook regarding firearm accessibility and personal security. Many believe that these changes threaten their right to own guns, exacerbating a rush to purchase firearms while still possible.
Complicating matters further, there is an emergent narrative of obfuscation by the Biden-Harris administration concerning the details of the Trump assassination attempt, which has stirred public mistrust and fear.
Matthew Miller, CEO of CashForArms.com and FirearmLand.com, criticizes the administration’s handling of information. "The Biden-Harris administration’s flagrant stonewalling and lack of transparency smells like a cover-up," he argues.
Adding insight into the public’s perception of Harris’s campaign, Matthew Miller describes a campaign more focused on personal image than policy substance:
While the incident itself triggered widespread anger, we saw relative calm in the days that followed, thanks to an uplifting and unifying Republican National Convention. Since that time, however, our customers have grown more and more suspicious about what took place that day.
According to sellers and market analysts, the confluence of these high-stakes political events has led to heightened public anxiety, reflected directly in the brisk sales of firearms.
"A Kamala Harris presidency will include some sort of ‘assault weapons ban.’ This is the first time in many years I’m confident in saying that," Justin Anderson added, signaling expected policy changes that might restrict certain types of firearms.
As firearm sales continue to escalate, the intertwining of political developments with individual security concerns shows a profound effect on American society. Whether these trends will persist heavily depends on the unfolding political landscape, particularly the outcomes of impending legislative actions proposed by leadership candidates.
The narrative around gun sales is complex, touched by recent national emergencies, forthcoming elections, and public apprehensions about future governance—a situation that keeps evolving as new political chapters unfold.
