President Obama probably doesn’t want to be thought of as one who encourages a gun and ammo buying spree. In reality this surge in sales isn’t personal. Media outlets suggest that election years tend to see increases in firearms sales. In turn, sales of gun safes increase as well.
Once again, fear sells. Folks all across the country are already afraid of what’s happening with the economy. As we approach the election that is compounded with a fear of the “what if”. What if, Obama is reelected and we loose our gun rights?
Already gun retailers are reporting sky high gun sales.
According to Time, a Detroit gun shop owner who usually sells 10 guns a day has sold an average of 30 guns a day in 2012. An owner of a gun store in Gainsville, GA told FoxNews.com that his sales are up by 30%. Instead of selling ammo 3-4 boxes at a time folks are looking for deals to buy by the case. Americans across the country are stocking up before their rights can be taken away. This translates to a huge business boom for gun industry. As the gun industry sees growth, gun safe and pistol safe sales track close behind.
The FBI reports that background checks, a key indicator of gun sales, were up 21% this May over last. Smith & Wesson indicates that their backlog of firearm orders has more than doubled from the prior quarter and year over year. Sturm Ruger has stopped accepting new gun orders because they have such a heavy back load they can’t keep up. Olin Corp, a bullet manufacturer, reported a major rise in ammunition sales during first quarter 2012. Time reports that analysts are predicting the demand for firearms and ammunition will continue to grow as the election approaches. All those new gun owners need gun safes to protect their weapons!
This isn’t the first time we have seen a jump in gun sales around election time. According to The Wall Street Journal, following the 2008 presidential election gun companies saw their stock soar. Sturm Ruger’s shares increased by over 80% and Smith & Wesson witnessed their stock triple within six months of the election. Back in 2008 many Americans feared that their new President and Democratic control of Congress would lead to even stricter gun control legislation. With the increase in sales of firearms there was also a similar growth in gun safe sales.
Gun and ammunition sales stalled in 2010 when the fear of new firearms regulations relaxed. Now we see a renewal. There are concerns that a second term Obama will use his influence to ban weapons. Why not? As a lame-duck he wouldn’t have the political concerns that may very well be all that is holding him back now.
To learn about ways to protect your guns from getting into the wrong hands check out our gun safes for sale.