NYT - A fifth of gun buyers during pandemic 'banic' first time gun owners

From my personal experience, I'd have guessed it to be a bit higher than that.

Of course, my suspicion is tweaked by it being NYTs.

Never have I known them to publish without agenda either in selection or editing.
Todd.

ApacheCoTodd said:

Never have I known them to publish without agenda either in selection or editing.

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It's in the article.
Quote:
In cities across the country, gun homicides were climbing. Democrats and Republicans argued over the causes. President Biden said enough.

But beneath the timeworn political cycle on guns in the United States, the country’s appetite for firearms has only been increasing, with more being bought by more Americans than ever before.
/Quote

They're obviously sounding an alarm. "Gun homicides increasing! Politicians panicking! Yet more people are buying yet more guns! Woe is us! Let us work together to solve this epidemic! Let us force DC to abolish guns!"

So to speak.

That's "reported" sales only. Can't imagine unreported sales numbers but would guess 5 or 10 to 1. Some say after pot was legalized in CA gangs are moving into arms and ammunition to supplement their lost income. Wonder if thefts are up?

No surprise here I thought it’d be more.

They also don’t know what ammo prices used to be and are bending over backwards to dish out a king’s ransom for every box of shells in sight.

My favorite LGS salesmen say at least half of their sales in the past year have been first time buyers.

Stories like this are a good thing. While they are 'hair on fire' for antigun folks in Congress, those in purple districts may decide to subtlety tell their leadership to cool it on drastic legislation.

I know that at my local range they have had record numbers for new shooter training classes as well as CCW classes.

I read the entire article. The point being made by the author is that the upsurge in homicides is because there's more guns in the general population. No mention of defunding the cops or the lawlessness all summer long in the big cities. Nope, the author's message is, "more guns being bought directly correlates to more homicides."

The comments are esp enlightening. The short form is, "We're all living in fear but what we should be fearing are white supremacists."

Reading some of the comments after the article is quite enlightening.

If you study history is seems that as govts becomes more restrictive/corrupt citizens obeying laws declines

Pat Riot said:

I know that at my local range they have had record numbers for new shooter training classes as well as CCW classes.

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I could NOT get into any CCW class due to panic and fauxvid bs. I opted for an online class instead and got a permit in a week.

I quit reading newspapers decades ago because the newspapers were not responsible for what they said. It is no different on the internet. Facts are not drama. And if it's not drama the US masses don't want anything to do with it. So we have these strange names, whom we don't know, and unsubstantiated numbers that no one is accountable for. And we proclaim it to be the truth because we read it on the internet.

And maybe we will be won over to the dark side. Be wary of large groups of stupid people.

20% increase in new gun owners does not equate to 20% increase in intellectually enlightened voters.

JERRY said:

20% increase in new gun owners does not equate to 20% increase in intellectually enlightened voters.

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When the threat of illegally/forcibly removing valuable personal property (like firearms) from someone they may become immediately "enlightened".

When people ask what I do for a living I tell 'em "I sell guns to little old ladies." Seeing's how the guns most gun people want aren't available first time buyers are a big part of our business. Shield EZs are top sellers.

vintovka said:

When the threat of illegally/forcibly removing valuable personal property (like firearms) from someone they may become immediately "enlightened".

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too late by then. their apathy and/or political ignorance has already allowed a certain element against the 2nd Amendment to become entrenched.

JERRY said:

too late by then. their apathy and/or political ignorance has already allowed a certain element against the 2nd Amendment to become entrenched.

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You would be astounded how fast folks change to the 2a side when fear or feeling ripped off sets in. Some call it the "empty shelf syndrome" or the "canned pumpkin" response. The second they see, read or even hear about empty shelves at the market they tend to abandon liberal ideas instantaneously. Others will buy the last of anything available and consider a gun to protect it.

vintovka said:

When the threat of illegally/forcibly removing valuable personal property (like firearms) from someone they may become immediately "enlightened".

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Enlightening sounds like a great new hobby for me......

Funny how the the word "intellectually enlightened" is used in conjunction with humans. At least cattle and sheep require some sort of physical stimulus to be redirected. Humans, especially those unfamiliar with reality, require only words.

vintovka said:

You would be astounded how fast folks change to the 2a side when fear or feeling ripped off sets in. Some call it the "empty shelf syndrome" or the "canned pumpkin" response. The second they see, read or even hear about empty shelves at the market they tend to abandon liberal ideas instantaneously. Others will buy the last of anything available and consider a gun to protect it.

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again, it's too late at that point, the anti 2nd Amendment folks are in office now, and dolts abandoning liberal ideas won't stop the wheel from rolling.

JERRY said:

too late by then. their apathy and/or political ignorance has already allowed a certain element against the 2nd Amendment to become entrenched.

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Until that soccer mom Karen gets raped or viciously assaulted; then the attitude changes

Off topic - with little related to the article.