- US gun sales have skyrocketed during the pandemic, as shown by federal background checks hitting a record 1 million per week in March (2020) before recently eclipsing 1.2 million.
- American’s “arms race” has been driven by lockdown safety concerns and last year’s social unrest (protests).
- 6.5% of adults (17 million Americans) bought guns in 2020, up from 5.3% in 2019; 20% were first-time buyers.
- 63% of gun owners are men, 73% white, 10% Black and 12% Hispanic.
- 400 million guns are in circulation (estimate).
