14 ms·

Guns are selling out across America

37 points by undefined1 6y ago

Scoundreller 6y ago
Gun sales tend to boom when the democrats are likely to win the next election. Also, more free time for hunting along with so much else closed. I wonder how the increase has compared to canoe sales.
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]
- aerostable_slug 6y ago
  People aren't buying Glocks because they're hunting in their spare time. The shelves aren't empty of .223/5.56 ball ammo because it's coming up on deer season. In fact, I was at a Cabela's a couple of weeks ago and the only ammo they had were hunting rounds (and nothing in 5.56/.223 or 7.62x51/.308, not to mention handgun cartridges) There are three main reasons this is happening: the possibility Biden will win, the canoe effect, and — this is the big one — looting, arson, violent crime, property crime, and societal unrest combined with calls to defund the police. People are realizing that you cannot rely upon the police now or in the future to save the day (TBH, you never could) and arming themselves as a result. There are also people on the left who are armed to protect themselves from the far-right, and PoC who want to effectively protect themselves against racist aggressors.
  - Scoundreller 6y ago
    I wonder how many “first time buyers” are just friends/relatives buying to get around retailers limiting sales per transaction.
    - medium_burrito 6y ago
      From what I've heard, there are a tremendous amount of first time buyers. Any sort of firearm for defense is pretty much gone, along with all ammunition. The shortage is severe enough that the ammunition manufacturers are supposedly switching to only the popular calibers. Everybody who shoots for recreation tries to avoid election year buying and stocked up last year, when prices were historically low. Now it's hard to find my go to 22 ammo :((((((
    - agensaequivocum 6y ago
      I hope not for their sake since that would be a straw purchase---a federal crime.
      - Scoundreller 6y ago
        Straw purchases are only when buying for someone that can’t legally buy a gun/ammo. Lots of shops limiting gun/ammo sales to X/person to maintain stock. There should be no issues with buying a gun and then deciding to sell it to someone eligible after quickly deciding you don’t want it anymore, no? What are the laws about carrying your spouse’s gun? I genuinely don’t know.
        agensaequivocum 6y ago
        > Straw purchases are only when buying for someone that can’t legally buy a gun. Not quite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abramski_v._United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abramski_v._United_States > There should be no issues with buying a gun and then deciding to sell it to someone eligible after quickly deciding you don’t want it anymore, no? Yeah it's confusing because you can buy a gun with the intent to gift it to someone. In your example, it would come down to proving that you lied when filling out the 4473. > What are the laws about carrying your spouse’s gun? Depends on the state. In my home state of Arizona, none. I can carry my gun, my wife's gun, or a friend's gun not even a carry permit required. Aside from prohibited possessors (felons, etc.), I can loan or transfer to anyone who is of age a gun. Moreover since Arizona has no registration and is a community property state, "ownership" is no different than any other piece of property and considered both of ours. In my birth state of California, you can only carry a gun that is on your permit, and as far as I know, you can get a gun on a permit that has been registered to you (either through DROS or self-register when moving to the state---note that possession of an unregistered gun is not a crime). So unless the state prohibits the transfer without a background check through a dealer, you can probably carry your spouse's or friend's gun
  - coffeemaniac 6y ago
    Historically, people of color arming themselves has been the biggest catalyst for gun control measures. I think it's pretty reasonable to assume that's going to be a priority for the next administration. As usual, these measures won't apply to police officers on- or off-duty, for service or personal weapons. They're seeking a monopoly on violence.
  - dmux 6y ago
    I did a quick search for "canoe effect" but didn't find anything that seemed relevant. How's it defined in this context? Spending on outdoors goods are generally increasing?
    - Scoundreller 6y ago
      I guess it’s when something happens across a population that moves them from contemplation into action on the stages of change model. https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/SB/BehavioralChangeTheories/BehavioralChangeTheories6.html https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/SB/BehavioralCha... Like gym memberships after New Years.
- gguevaraa 6y ago
  Citation strongly needed. I did a quick search and found a couple articles from 2008[0], more or less saying the same thing: AFTER Obama was elected (not before the election), gun sales boomed because people believed the govt would enact gun control laws. Also, as another reply pointed out, given the current state of affairs and the purchases being made i.e. riots + first-time gun owners + record-breaking purchases + handguns and other weapons that would fall under self-defense (AR-15, shotguns, etc) being sold out en masse, I think a clearer picture starts to form. I'm not sure your points are indicative of a Democratic win, but to be fair, maybe they don't say much about a Republican win either (although things are looking spicy according to this model[1]). [0]: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27598947/ns/us_news-life/t/democrats-victory-leads-boom-gun-sales/ http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27598947/ns/us_news-life/t/democra... [1]: http://primarymodel.com/ http://primarymodel.com/
- DamnYuppie 6y ago
  To hunt legally you would do so during the defined hunting seasons. The only thing open right now, in most states, is varmint hunting which isn't very popular. Hunting season for large ungulates, deer/elk/moose, usually starts in late August early Sept and runs through December. Despite what some media outlets proclaim Pistols and AR's are not generally used for hunting.
  - uncoder0 6y ago
    I don't know. Tons of people in Texas use AR pattern rifles with large cartridges to hunt boar. You're going to want Semi-Auto if you miss or if you get charged, those hogs are mean.
    - DamnYuppie 6y ago
      Texas is its own animal when it comes to hunting. There is little to no public land, so everything is private, and 99% of all hunting is done from a blind or a stand where they "hunt" over bait piles. I am not judging, I have lived and hunted there, I am just sharing how it is different than many people conceptualize of hunting. As for using an AR on hogs that is true. That is technically varmint hunting where there is no limit on the number of animals taken and the goal is to mow down as many as possible.
      - uncoder0 6y ago
        Yeah, I've gone with a buddy. We don't do the bait stuff because it's pest control they're everywhere. 3AM with FLIRs and a spotlight hunting hogs on one of his random neighbors ranches. Gotta keep the pests under control.
  - slowhand09 6y ago
    In bear country where many hunt, the pistol is for protection. I know many hunters that use AR pattern rifles to hunt.
glonq 6y ago
Hunting dangerous and/or delicious animals notwithstanding, a gun is a tool that we invented for killing our fellow man with good efficiency and effectiveness. I'm curious about what aspects of the state of affairs in America has citizens deciding that they now need to improve their ability to kill their neighbors and countrymen.
- skrowl 6y ago
  You're pretending that all killing is OFFENSIVE. If someone comes at you or your family with the intent to harm them, and you kill them for it, that's DEFENSIVE. It's enshrined in the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution for a reason. The founding fathers didn't just get back from some sweet hunting trip when they wrote it; They just overthrew an oppressive tyrannical government to defend their homes and families.
- OnlineCourage 6y ago
  Percieved but not actual danger.
joshstrange 6y ago
I can tell you as someone who identifies as progressive/liberal who thought I would never own a gun (no kids but still, no need to have something deadly like that) that I've seriously been considering it lately. I first thought about when COVID-19 hit but told myself it would be unsafe and stupid for me to buy a gun when I couldn't do what I considered "table-stakes" for owning a gun (train for hours and hours at a range, take classes on gun safety, etc). In the last week I've been considering breaking my own "rules" on that too. Watching the country spiral out of control (in so many ways) is terrifying and I have the financial means to purchase 1-2 guns, a safe, and lots of ammo. I'm quickly running out of good reasons to not "pull the trigger" as it were... This is one community that I'd be interested to hear feedback from on this. I have no desire or want to use a gun on a living thing but I'm increasingly feeling like a baseball bat is no longer acceptable for home defense. When things go bad they go bad quickly, I don't want to be left exposed.
- mrguyorama 6y ago
  What are you afraid of that a gun will help you? You are without child and apparently mildly well off. You can't shoot a virus, and if shit really hits the fan here in America, emigration probably won't be a problem
  - exabrial 6y ago
    The first thing that comes to mind isn't the virus, but defending one's body, home, or business from rioters.
    - jgalt212 6y ago
      seriously. not much looting in open carry states.
      - jolux 6y ago
        Any evidence to back up the implication here? I’m curious.
skrowl 6y ago
What did they think was going to happen when everyone on TV started screaming "DEFUND POLICE!" ? Did they really expect people to just accept that they're now completely defenseless. (Not that dialing 911 and waiting an avg of 15 minutes for a response is much of a defense, of course)
- OnlineCourage 6y ago
  As someone living in Minneapolis and owned a business in St Paul Midway where police have actually been defunded I feel no less "defendful" than last year. The police are pretty useless at keeping me personally safe and keeping my property safe,there has been no sudden spike in crime. Guns are essentially an adult nightlight and are rarely used. Shit is not hitting anything, crime is far below where it was in the 90s when Minneapolis was known as Murderapolis and I see no evidence showing it's going to go that way but I read a massive amount of fear mongering online. People bought a ton of bitcoin and thought the price was going up to $100,000...they were wrong.

37 points by undefined1 6y ago

Gun sales tend to boom when the democrats are likely to win the next election. Also, more free time for hunting along with so much else closed. I wonder how the increase has compared to canoe sales.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
aerostable_slug 6y ago
People aren't buying Glocks because they're hunting in their spare time. The shelves aren't empty of .223/5.56 ball ammo because it's coming up on deer season. In fact, I was at a Cabela's a couple of weeks ago and the only ammo they had were hunting rounds (and nothing in 5.56/.223 or 7.62x51/.308, not to mention handgun cartridges) There are three main reasons this is happening: the possibility Biden will win, the canoe effect, and — this is the big one — looting, arson, violent crime, property crime, and societal unrest combined with calls to defund the police. People are realizing that you cannot rely upon the police now or in the future to save the day (TBH, you never could) and arming themselves as a result. There are also people on the left who are armed to protect themselves from the far-right, and PoC who want to effectively protect themselves against racist aggressors.
- Scoundreller 6y ago
  I wonder how many “first time buyers” are just friends/relatives buying to get around retailers limiting sales per transaction.
  - medium_burrito 6y ago
    From what I've heard, there are a tremendous amount of first time buyers. Any sort of firearm for defense is pretty much gone, along with all ammunition. The shortage is severe enough that the ammunition manufacturers are supposedly switching to only the popular calibers. Everybody who shoots for recreation tries to avoid election year buying and stocked up last year, when prices were historically low. Now it's hard to find my go to 22 ammo :((((((
  - agensaequivocum 6y ago
    I hope not for their sake since that would be a straw purchase---a federal crime.
    - Scoundreller 6y ago
      Straw purchases are only when buying for someone that can’t legally buy a gun/ammo. Lots of shops limiting gun/ammo sales to X/person to maintain stock. There should be no issues with buying a gun and then deciding to sell it to someone eligible after quickly deciding you don’t want it anymore, no? What are the laws about carrying your spouse’s gun? I genuinely don’t know.
      - agensaequivocum 6y ago
        > Straw purchases are only when buying for someone that can’t legally buy a gun. Not quite https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abramski_v._United_States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abramski_v._United_States > There should be no issues with buying a gun and then deciding to sell it to someone eligible after quickly deciding you don’t want it anymore, no? Yeah it's confusing because you can buy a gun with the intent to gift it to someone. In your example, it would come down to proving that you lied when filling out the 4473. > What are the laws about carrying your spouse’s gun? Depends on the state. In my home state of Arizona, none. I can carry my gun, my wife's gun, or a friend's gun not even a carry permit required. Aside from prohibited possessors (felons, etc.), I can loan or transfer to anyone who is of age a gun. Moreover since Arizona has no registration and is a community property state, "ownership" is no different than any other piece of property and considered both of ours. In my birth state of California, you can only carry a gun that is on your permit, and as far as I know, you can get a gun on a permit that has been registered to you (either through DROS or self-register when moving to the state---note that possession of an unregistered gun is not a crime). So unless the state prohibits the transfer without a background check through a dealer, you can probably carry your spouse's or friend's gun
- coffeemaniac 6y ago
  Historically, people of color arming themselves has been the biggest catalyst for gun control measures. I think it's pretty reasonable to assume that's going to be a priority for the next administration. As usual, these measures won't apply to police officers on- or off-duty, for service or personal weapons. They're seeking a monopoly on violence.
- dmux 6y ago
  I did a quick search for "canoe effect" but didn't find anything that seemed relevant. How's it defined in this context? Spending on outdoors goods are generally increasing?
  - Scoundreller 6y ago
    I guess it’s when something happens across a population that moves them from contemplation into action on the stages of change model. https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/SB/BehavioralChangeTheories/BehavioralChangeTheories6.html https://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/MPH-Modules/SB/BehavioralCha... Like gym memberships after New Years.
gguevaraa 6y ago
Citation strongly needed. I did a quick search and found a couple articles from 2008[0], more or less saying the same thing: AFTER Obama was elected (not before the election), gun sales boomed because people believed the govt would enact gun control laws. Also, as another reply pointed out, given the current state of affairs and the purchases being made i.e. riots + first-time gun owners + record-breaking purchases + handguns and other weapons that would fall under self-defense (AR-15, shotguns, etc) being sold out en masse, I think a clearer picture starts to form. I'm not sure your points are indicative of a Democratic win, but to be fair, maybe they don't say much about a Republican win either (although things are looking spicy according to this model[1]). [0]: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27598947/ns/us_news-life/t/democrats-victory-leads-boom-gun-sales/ http://www.nbcnews.com/id/27598947/ns/us_news-life/t/democra... [1]: http://primarymodel.com/ http://primarymodel.com/
DamnYuppie 6y ago
To hunt legally you would do so during the defined hunting seasons. The only thing open right now, in most states, is varmint hunting which isn't very popular. Hunting season for large ungulates, deer/elk/moose, usually starts in late August early Sept and runs through December. Despite what some media outlets proclaim Pistols and AR's are not generally used for hunting.
- uncoder0 6y ago
  I don't know. Tons of people in Texas use AR pattern rifles with large cartridges to hunt boar. You're going to want Semi-Auto if you miss or if you get charged, those hogs are mean.
  - DamnYuppie 6y ago
    Texas is its own animal when it comes to hunting. There is little to no public land, so everything is private, and 99% of all hunting is done from a blind or a stand where they "hunt" over bait piles. I am not judging, I have lived and hunted there, I am just sharing how it is different than many people conceptualize of hunting. As for using an AR on hogs that is true. That is technically varmint hunting where there is no limit on the number of animals taken and the goal is to mow down as many as possible.
    - uncoder0 6y ago
      Yeah, I've gone with a buddy. We don't do the bait stuff because it's pest control they're everywhere. 3AM with FLIRs and a spotlight hunting hogs on one of his random neighbors ranches. Gotta keep the pests under control.
- slowhand09 6y ago
  In bear country where many hunt, the pistol is for protection. I know many hunters that use AR pattern rifles to hunt.

glonq 6y ago

Hunting dangerous and/or delicious animals notwithstanding, a gun is a tool that we invented for killing our fellow man with good efficiency and effectiveness. I'm curious about what aspects of the state of affairs in America has citizens deciding that they now need to improve their ability to kill their neighbors and countrymen.

skrowl 6y ago
You're pretending that all killing is OFFENSIVE. If someone comes at you or your family with the intent to harm them, and you kill them for it, that's DEFENSIVE. It's enshrined in the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution for a reason. The founding fathers didn't just get back from some sweet hunting trip when they wrote it; They just overthrew an oppressive tyrannical government to defend their homes and families.
OnlineCourage 6y ago
Percieved but not actual danger.

joshstrange 6y ago

I can tell you as someone who identifies as progressive/liberal who thought I would never own a gun (no kids but still, no need to have something deadly like that) that I've seriously been considering it lately. I first thought about when COVID-19 hit but told myself it would be unsafe and stupid for me to buy a gun when I couldn't do what I considered "table-stakes" for owning a gun (train for hours and hours at a range, take classes on gun safety, etc). In the last week I've been considering breaking my own "rules" on that too. Watching the country spiral out of control (in so many ways) is terrifying and I have the financial means to purchase 1-2 guns, a safe, and lots of ammo. I'm quickly running out of good reasons to not "pull the trigger" as it were... This is one community that I'd be interested to hear feedback from on this. I have no desire or want to use a gun on a living thing but I'm increasingly feeling like a baseball bat is no longer acceptable for home defense. When things go bad they go bad quickly, I don't want to be left exposed.

mrguyorama 6y ago
What are you afraid of that a gun will help you? You are without child and apparently mildly well off. You can't shoot a virus, and if shit really hits the fan here in America, emigration probably won't be a problem
- exabrial 6y ago
  The first thing that comes to mind isn't the virus, but defending one's body, home, or business from rioters.
  - jgalt212 6y ago
    seriously. not much looting in open carry states.
    - jolux 6y ago
      Any evidence to back up the implication here? I’m curious.

skrowl 6y ago

What did they think was going to happen when everyone on TV started screaming "DEFUND POLICE!" ? Did they really expect people to just accept that they're now completely defenseless. (Not that dialing 911 and waiting an avg of 15 minutes for a response is much of a defense, of course)

OnlineCourage 6y ago
As someone living in Minneapolis and owned a business in St Paul Midway where police have actually been defunded I feel no less "defendful" than last year. The police are pretty useless at keeping me personally safe and keeping my property safe,there has been no sudden spike in crime. Guns are essentially an adult nightlight and are rarely used. Shit is not hitting anything, crime is far below where it was in the 90s when Minneapolis was known as Murderapolis and I see no evidence showing it's going to go that way but I read a massive amount of fear mongering online. People bought a ton of bitcoin and thought the price was going up to $100,000...they were wrong.