Increased telecommuting = increased interest in firearms?

George P said:

However, the majority of those who have the ability to work from home are not gun folks.

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You're probably right ... sooooo ... let's MAKE 'em into GUN FOLKS!!

No, seriously ... instead of the new people changing the new place into being like the place they left, shouldn't the natives be changing the new people into being like the natives? One presumes they had good reason to leave where they came from ... give them a little incentive to not bring it with them.

I'm pretty sure the family at my LGS/range that bought the pistol grip 12 gauge at the height of the panic will not become real gun people

Well, then, make friends with them and give them a chance to find out what cool people gun people are.

I tried to get some practice in this evening without exposing my tender bod to the idiotic gun handling of the telecommuters, Winter Texans, and all of the other newbies.
My timing was off.
The train of State Police SUVs were pulling out as I rolled in.
I'm not supposed to shoot when there's no range master, so I just policed up after the State Police.
I won't touch the dozen or so buckets full of brass but anything left on the ground is fair game.
And, of course, I locked up when I left... .

It could be that increased free time on the computer allows for more time for people to read about crime issues locally. This could lead to a greater interest in self protection.

As several have said, about all we can do is speculate as to the motives behind the greater interest in firearms... and try to be welcoming to new shooters in order to keep their gun-interest fire lit.

Stay safe.

Where we are, the new lib neighbors are more likely to call the Sheriff. They are told politely that if you're not in danger, and the sun is up get used to it.

Although with more moving in it wont last forever....

A look at any electoral map quickly reveals the deep divide betwixt rural and urban America. The COVID scare and telecommuting are facilitating a pretty significant migration from places like NYC to the country, and I've read that this is stoking the housing market considerably.

The problem, as I observe it, is that "city critters" who move to the country bring their city values with them and tend to change the places they move to for the worse. It starts as soon as they realize that their small town doesn't offer municipal trash collection and that their expected to either pay for private service or get their hands dirty making dump runs. Then they whine that the schools music program isn't up to snuff. Then they cry for more police, etc...

As soon as there're enough transplants to tip the scale, they vote in people who support all kinds of government services (and the taxes that go along with them) and the next thing you know, they've successfully changed their new environment to be more like the one they ran away from.

SSN Vet said:

A look at any electoral map quickly reveals the deep divide betwixt rural and urban America. The COVID scare and telecommuting are facilitating a pretty significant migration from places like NYC to the country, and I've read that this is stoking the housing market considerably.

The problem, as I observe it, is that "city critters" who move to the country bring their city values with them and tend to change the places they move to for the worse. It starts as soon as they realize that their small town doesn't offer municipal trash collection and that their expected to either pay for private service or get their hands dirty making dump runs. Then they whine that the schools music program isn't up to snuff. Then they cry for more police, etc...

As soon as there're enough transplants to tip the scale, they vote in people who support all kinds of government services (and the taxes that go along with them) and the next thing you know, they've successfully changed their new environment to be more like the one they ran away from.

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2 points that I have personally observed.

1: people from the city are shocked to find coyotes and other critters in the country.

2: people are also shocked that other people hunt/shoot coyotes and other critters, and are upset that human development is encroaching in the country and driving animals out of their habitat.

orpington said:

Then, if a major population shift occurs from rural to suburban, it could shift the electoral votes. Not sure how this would pan out. Decreasing populations in urban areas could decrease that vote but an influx of those not interested in firearms or anti 2A inclinations could turn areas that are pro 2A into the reverse.

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The major urban areas have a huge blue vote advantage that loosing voters won't make a noticeable difference. DC for example voted at least 90% blue in each election.

It came up during the election and was bogged down with race issues, but there is a Federal plan to move low income city dwellers to the burbs and rural areas. I believe it's actual intent is to flip red rural areas blue since it wouldnt take a large population change to make that happen

BlueHeelerFl said:

and are upset that human development is encroaching in the country and driving animals out of their habitat.

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Which would be decreased if the city folk would stop moving to the country--that McMansion they just built was in "habitat" before they built it.
Some relent when the tax bill comes in, and they see what all those acres of "improved" property get billed. Next, they are installing a DC fence around the house and a troop of goats to get that "ag exemption." At which point predators like coyotes start to matter a great deal. Or when the cat or lap dog goes missing in the night.
Sometimes

BlueHeelerFl said:

2 points that I have personally observed.

1: people from the city are shocked to find coyotes and other critters in the country.

2: people are also shocked that other people hunt/shoot coyotes and other critters, and are upset that human development is encroaching in the country and driving animals out of their habitat.

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But they sure do whine about it on the FB community group chat when Fluffy disappears in the night. But hey, a Yotes gots to eat too.

orpington said:

I did not even consider that those moving to more rural areas might not become more interested in rural pursuits and instead might try to change where they move to to become more like where they came from. Unfortunately, that is what is more likely to occur.

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The classic example is the attempt to ban well established and age old bear hunting practices in Maine (i.e. baiting and using dogs to tree a bear). Apparently, the Boston transplants were all up in arms about this.... even when the Maine game wardens went on the record to say that Maine would very quickly lose control of the bear population and there would be unhappy human-bear "interactions" without these hunting practices.

All the animal rights crowd were using stats and arguments that referenced studies done in the west... where you can take a bear with scoped .30-06 from 500+ yds away to justify not needing to use bait and dogs. But in the densely wooded Maine forests, you won't even see a bear until you're within 20 yds, which of course means that you won't see one at all, as they will smell you and go the other way.

I voted with the game wardens and the ban failed to pass. But just the fact that it came up is evidence that there are a lot of transplants in Maine who have no clue about the nature of their environment.... at least not until they wake up to find their screen door broken down and their new "neighbor" rummaging through their fridge.

Bears like more than just honey.... they'll eat anything.

SSN Vet said:

The classic example is the attempt to ban well established and age old bear hunting practices in Maine (i.e. baiting and using dogs to tree a bear). Apparently, the Boston transplants were all up in arms about this.... even when the Maine game wardens went on the record to say that Maine would very quickly lose control of the bear population and there would be unhappy human-bear "interactions" without these hunting practices.

All the animal rights crowd were using stats and arguments that referenced studies done in the west... where you can take a bear with scoped .30-06 from 500+ yds away to justify not needing to use bait and dogs. But in the densely wooded Maine forests, you won't even see a bear until you're within 20 yds, which of course means that you won't see one at all, as they will smell you and go the other way.

I voted with the game wardens and the ban failed to pass. But just the fact that it came up is evidence that there are a lot of transplants in Maine who have no clue about the nature of their environment.... at least not until they wake up to find their screen door broken down and their new "neighbor" rummaging through their fridge.

Bears like more than just honey.... they'll eat anything.

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You are correct. A few times walking on a path in the woods by my old house in PA you would suddenly see a bear come out of no where

Just an idea for all you FFL holders out here. Someone buys there first firearm. Send them over here. A card with www.thehighroad.org or just write it on the receipt. Might get a few interested in more then self-defense.