“5 million Americans purchased a firearm for the very first time in 2020…”

Late last summer the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) analyzed retail information and concluded that nearly 5 million Americans purchased a firearm for the very first time in 2020, and gun shops reported 40 percent of total sales were to purchasers who have never previously owned a firearm.

NSSF adjusted National Instant Background Check System (NICS) background checks for January through July 2020 were a record 12.1 million, which is up 71.7 percent from the 7.1 million NSSF-adjusted NICS January through July 2019.  This equates to nearly 5 million first-time gun owners in the first seven months of 2020.

“This is a tectonic shift in the firearm and ammunition industry marketplace and a complete transformation of today’s gun-owning community,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president of general counsel.  “These first-time buyers represent a group of people who, until now, were agnostic regarding firearm ownership. That’s rapidly changing, and these Americans are taking hold of their God-given right to keep and bear arms and protect themselves and their loved ones.”

The foundation’s surveys found that 59 percent of firearm purchases were among African American men and women, the largest increase of any demographic group.  Women comprised 40 percent of the first-time gun purchasers. Retailers noted they are seeing a 95 percent increase in firearm sales and a 139 percent increase in ammunition sales over the same period in 2019.

National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF)
Handguns Magazine
December 2020/January 2021

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The Exeter Sportsman’s Club (ESC) is examining the possibility of offering an afternoon of basic firearm introduction. This class is to be offered for modest fee and will emphasize safe handling of fire arms. ESC recognizes the importance of new gun owners obtaining basic knowledge as it relates to handling, maintaining and storing firearms safely.

If you are interested in participating in this class, let us know using the Contact Us form Here.