2020 has been a brutal year on the economy. But one industry is having the bull run of a lifetime. Smith & Wesson just announced that eight million Americans bought their first gun this year. Guns and ammo are flying off the shelves and many places can’t even keep stock.
Smith & Wesson is booming
During a phone call with investors last Thursday, Smith & Wesson CEO Mark Smith told the group that nearly eight million Americans have decided to “exercise their Second Amendment rights for the first time.”
Smith was reporting on the record number of background checks that were run in 2020.
Of the eight million first time buyers, 40% have been women. So that’s approximately 3.2 million women who became gun owners this year alone. Incredible.
Smith also said purchases by Black Americans were up 58% in the first half of 2020. He believes the growing number of minorities and women buying firearms is good for the industry and for the Second Amendment.
“This expanded consumer base of new firearm owners represents a healthy long-term opportunity for the industry as a whole, but specifically for Smith & Wesson,” he added.
These numbers only tell part of the story. Smith is basing his statements off the 19 million NICS checks that were done in 2020.
These are FBI background checks that must be done by gun shops prior to selling a firearm. Anybody who has a concealed carry permit has already passed a background check and the shop doesn’t need to run another one.
Customers can just show their carry permit when purchasing a firearm and they’re good to go. Also, a single NICS check can be used to purchase multiple firearms.
Thirdly, a background check is not required for a private sale between two individuals in most states. When you consider all these variables, gun sales have hit an all time high in 2020, even beating the massive spike in sales running up to the 2016 election.
Gun sales in America 2020
The reasons for the boom are obvious. 2020 has been the perfect storm for gun sales. The COVID-19 pandemic tanked the economy. Crime spiked.
Americans watched months of rioting and looting take place in cities across the country. Politically motivated violence is on the rise.
Plus a presidential election where one candidate has declared war on the Second Amendment. It’s better late than never, so stock up if you can.