Boom in legal gun sales as crime increases in cities across America
The United States May 6 2021
While mass shootings dropped out of the headlines last year, the guns never went away. In fact, the legal sale of firearms across the country reached a record level. And as the U.S. inches toward a post-pandemic future, gun and gun violence continue to increase.
More than 21 million people completed a background check to buy a gun last year, shattering all previous records, and a survey found that 40% identified as new gun owners – many of whom belong to demographics not normally associated with firearms, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a firearm industry trade association.
According to gun analysts, sales are up for the 13th straight month, and demand is still high. Mark Oliva, with the National Shooting Sports Foundation, says inventory is moving so fast, store shelves are often empty.
While responsible gun ownership is prevalent, so is an increase in gun-related crimes. In Los Angeles, police stats show shootings are up by 67% and homicides are up by more than 26%. For law enforcement across the country, stolen guns remain a significant problem.
In Los Angeles and other major cities, much of the increased gun violence is attributed to gang activity. Mental health experts cite more stress and anxiety due to the pandemic. In New Orleans, police say they’ve seen more minor disputes escalate. In one incident over the weekend, five people were shot and two killed.
At the same time, gun-related homicides in midsized and big cities in America have skyrocketed during coronavirus, and criminologists believe the pandemic and the socioeconomic loss in many communities are factors driving that trend.
A study by the Council on Criminal Justice tracked a 30% increase in homicides overall in a sample of 34 U.S. cities in 2020 as well as an 8% increase in gun assaults.
