There seems to be a lot of first time buyers

[Waldog]

Apparently there where 2.5 million firearms purchased in March. With MANY first time buyers. First time buyers were amazed that it's much harder to purchase than the politicians and media have portrayed. They are completely dumbfounded when they find out you can't purchase online and particularly irritated when they are told about 10 day "waiting periods". Thought this cartoon was appropriate:

 

[AlexanderA]

Just because someone buys a gun, it doesn't mean that he/she will become a "gun person" or a 2nd Amendment activist. A lot of these newly-purchased guns will be forgotten once the crisis is over. Many of them will never even be fired.

 

[SunnySlopes]

Personally, I'm glad to think that people who may have never owned guns, people who may have at one time been anti gun, are now realizing the importance of private ownership of firearms.

 

[Walkalong]

Just because someone buys a gun, it doesn't mean that he/she will become a "gun person" or a 2nd Amendment activist. A lot of these newly-purchased guns will be forgotten once the crisis is over. Many of them will never even be fired.

Unfortunately true, but hopefully we'll get some converts.

 

[mjsdwash]

ironically a lot of the people will be the source for crime use guns. Sure most are stolen, but a lot of those are stolen from their parents. These people, the ones most likely to forget about them aint gonna notice when they go missing in 10 years. These people, many of them hard anti 2A types, are going to be the actual problem of guns on the street. Just a thought.

 

[FFGColorado]

Just because someone buys a gun, it doesn't mean that he/she will become a "gun person" or a 2nd Amendment activist. A lot of these newly-purchased guns will be forgotten once the crisis is over. Many of them will never even be fired.

Correct and this

First time buyers were amazed that it's much harder to purchase than the politicians and media have portrayed.

Is not true at all, at least around here. YES, there is a BGC backlog and delay but before the panic buying..it took all of about 15 minutes to walk out with a gun.

Personally, I'm glad to think that people who may have never owned guns, people who may have at one time been anti gun, are now realizing the importance of private ownership of firearms.

I think they are realizing the importance of protecting their family, and the limitations of LE. I think a lot don't really want to buy a gun but see this as a 'better safe than sorry', or 'just in case'...BUT, ATMO, most are not 'gun people' nor will they be in the future..some will, if they shoot and realize what fun it is, but most won't.

 

[Heir Kommt Die Sonne]

At least they have a gun now. At least they've seen our side of the fence. Maybe it'll at least make them more understanding of us, maybe not.
But my best wishes go out for those who are going to learn more about their firearm, train with their new purchase a little bit, and make it a part of their household.
If they have kids, hope they teach the kids the importance of letting only 'Mommy and daddy' handle the firearm, and maybe when those kids are old enough ,they'll take them out to the range and show the kids how to use it themselves.

But this is just being optimistic.

 

[buddyd157]

Correct and this


Is not true at all, at least around here. YES, there is a BGC backlog and delay but before the panic buying..it took all of about 15 minutes to walk out with a gun.


I think they are realizing the importance of protecting their family, and the limitations of LE. I think a lot don't really want to buy a gun but see this as a 'better safe than sorry', or 'just in case'...BUT, ATMO, most are not 'gun people' nor will they be in the future..some will, if they shoot and realize what fun it is, but most won't.

you are lucky, that you or anyone can walk out that quick, with the gun. here, we HAD a 7 day waiting period,

then the governor bumped that "up to" 30 days.

 

[Speedo66]

Personally, I find this panic buying by new owners to be idiocy. Many have probably never handled a gun before, have no training, don't have the mindset to use it, but somehow convinced themselves that it will make their families safer. Something to ease their minds in a time of unrest.

Panic buying is never a good idea, and no doubt a few months after the panic passes, most will be wondering why they bought it, how do they get rid of it, and how to keep their neighbors from finding out.

 

[Texas10mm]

The number is suspect. There were a record number of checks done. Not every check equals a firearm, some equal multiple firearms.

Also you have the POC states that don't show up in the national background check system. Then you have states like Texas that allow people with a CHL to sidestep the background check.

The number of background checks in March is a very large percentage of the yearly output of the firearms manufacturers in the US. An amazing event for sure.

 

[luzyfuerza]

This surge in new gun owners:

1) creates an opportunity for us to share our knowledge and answer their questions.

2) is a good discussion-starter ("...remember how so many people became concerned about their personal safety during the 2020 virus panic and bought their first gun...").

3) reminds us to ALWAYS be scrupulous examples of following the four rules of gun safety for all to see.

4) is a good opportunity to schedule (after the virus panic subsides) some professional training, or a range day, or SASS/IDPA/Steel Challenge competition, etc., with a new gun owner friend or family member.

We can all be ambassadors if we choose to.

 

[zaitcev]

What I'm a little worried about though is the lack of first-timers at THR and other focused forums. Reddit had a fairly noticeable influx. Just look through the list in General Discussion, and nobody ask what gun she should buy or how to clean them. I don't think that our pinned threads and FAQ are responsible for it. There is always a spill-over.

My wife says that gardening forums saw a wave of novices. There were people who bought pot-less seedings and then planted them upside-down (roots in the air). On asparagus in particular it may be not easy to tell which side goes into the ground. But we aren't seeing members who disassembled their guns for the first time and cannot put them back together.

 

[Deus Machina]

I think that may be the current generation, not that they're first-time users.
If you want reviews, or you tweedle-dum that thing apart and can't get it together, you head to Youtube now.
Which isn't bad; the visual aid is a huge help.

 

[HB]

ironically a lot of the people will be the source for crime use guns. Sure most are stolen, but a lot of those are stolen from their parents. These people, the ones most likely to forget about them aint gonna notice when they go missing in 10 years. These people, many of them hard anti 2A types, are going to be the actual problem of guns on the street. Just a thought.

Since when do thieves care about the political leanings of their victims? There was a post on General Discussions less than a week ago about people forgetting or losing their guns.

I would agree with the general premise. A TON of guns used in crimes are stolen from vehicles regardless.

 

[boom boom]

Just because someone buys a gun, it doesn't mean that he/she will become a "gun person" or a 2nd Amendment activist. A lot of these newly-purchased guns will be forgotten once the crisis is over. Many of them will never even be fired.

If enough cops get sick, that might not be true.

 

[buck460XVR]

Personally, I find this panic buying by new owners to be idiocy. Many have probably never handled a gun before, have no training, don't have the mindset to use it, but somehow convinced themselves that it will make their families safer. Something to ease their minds in a time of unrest.

Any more idiocy than the panic buying by long time gun owners in the past and the present? One only has to read the ammo and reloading sections here to see folks that already own guns are in the panic mode too. Look how many whines there are here because 'OMG...It's all gone!". Look back a few years when after the first school mass shooting occurred and there was a rush by long Time gun owners to purchase a AR. Folks that had been happy with what they had for decades suddenly had to have one before they were no longer available. Then came the unfounded panic buying by long term gun owners in 2008. This was both firearms and now ammunition and components. Happened again in 2012, again mostly from folks with long time gun ownership. This raised the price of .22 LR from under 5 cents a round to the average today of about 12 cents. I wonder how much of that .22 ammo bought for 20 cents a round and more during the shortage, is still sittin' on somebodies shelf, unshot and not thought of since the time it was bought. Are those minds eased now? Are they convinced their families are now safer because they have 6 bricks of .22? How many here making fun of those first time buyers running to the LGS, did the same thing, at the same time to make sure they had enough ammo?

I will accept these new folks into our realm, without castigation and hope they become safe and responsible gun owners. I see no reason to alienate them just because they are new, or that they did so out of fear for themselves and their families. Been there done that.

 

[mjsdwash]

Since when do thieves care about the political leanings of their victims? There was a post on General Discussions less than a week ago about people forgetting or losing their guns.

I would agree with the general premise. A TON of guns used in crimes are stolen from vehicles regardless.

Thieves do not care about their victims, but this is a case where victims care about, and will protect the thieves. The point was many of the people we are hoping will turn to support 2A are also going to be starting point of more suburban crime -the biggest driver of long term gun control support among moderates.

 

[Pelo801]

Just because someone buys a gun, it doesn't mean that he/she will become a "gun person" or a 2nd Amendment activist. A lot of these newly-purchased guns will be forgotten once the crisis is over. Many of them will never even be fired.

I figure if we can retain 5-10% of these new gun owners and maybe 3-5% of those retained become a "gun person", collectively we'll be doing really well. Now is the time to be a good ambassador, maybe even on a proactive level.

 

[Old Dog]

^
That's how we should be looking at this recent phenomena ...

 

[Old Dog]

I will accept these new folks into our realm, without castigation and hope they become safe and responsible gun owners. I see no reason to alienate them just because they are new, or that they did so out of fear for themselves and their families. Been there done that.

This as well.

Personally, I'm tired of a lot of folks on the forums heaping scorn on all the new first-time guy buyers. Bunch of hypocrites.

 

[Ernie Bass]

This as well.

Personally, I'm tired of a lot of folks on the forums heaping scorn on all the new first-time guy buyers. Bunch of hypocrites.

The honesty or hypocrisy will be determined inside of a voting booth. .

 

[HB]

The honesty or hypocrisy will be determined inside of a voting booth. .

"I like taking guns away early". "Take the guns first, go through due process second."-President Donald Trump

 

[jjadurbin]

My oldest brother has TWO S&W 44s ...he bought real cheap when he was in high school mowing lawns for spending money. That was caused by fun, not fear, as the first Dirty Harry movie sparked a buying crush. After the big bores went boom in real life, the unsuspecting felt stung. The local pawn shop had rows of them and my brother cut a deal to mow the owner's lawn for a solid season and a few bucks. Let's see what happens when the panic is gone and the TP shelves are flush again.

 

[Jammersix]

I don't see how you can identify a buyer as a first time buyer unless they say so.

Since there's probably no reason for them to identify themselves as a first time buyer, I don't think there's any way to tell what portion of any given set of buyers are first timers.

Therefore, maybe there's more first time buyers now and maybe not. No way to know.

 

[SteadyD]

I would guess that many people who didn’t grow up with guns “panic buy” their first gun. Their house was broken in to. They were mugged. Someone they know was assaulted. A murder occurred too close to home. It just so happens that the event which provoked panic this time was felt on a national level.

The second amendment gives people the right to defend themselves with firearms. It doesn’t say they can only defend themselves after a long period of measured thought and training.