Ammoland posted a couple of days ago that "
First-Time Gun Buyers Grow to Nearly 5 Million in 2020":
https://www.ammoland.com/2020/08/first- ... lion-2020/ They based that on updated estimates from the NSSF and the conclusion that about "5 million Americans purchased a firearm for the very first time in 2020." The article quoted Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President:
"This is a tectonic shift in the firearm and ammunition industry marketplace and complete transformation of today's gun-owning community. 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."
I do always enjoy the infographics that the NSSF puts together. The two referenced in the article are attached. The 1st-time gun buyer survey was conducted of retailers last May, so given the level of rioting, destruction, and defund police movements continuing in some Deep Blue cities, it wouldn't surprise me at all if the numbers are light, and that we've seen many more new 1st-time buyers May through August. But some highlights from that May survey:
- Percentage of your customers Jan-Apr who were 1st-time gun buyers? 40.2%
- Average purchase transaction for these 1st-time buyers? $594.95
- Type of firearm purchased:
- Semi-auto handgun (the most purchased, 80.3% of those for personal protection)
- Shotgun (2nd-most purchased, 74.2% of those for personal protection)
- Modern sporting rifle (3rd-most purchased, 67.2% of those for personal protection)
- What percent of all 1st-time gun buyers were female? 40.1%
- Percentage of 1st-time buyers who had already taken some form of firearm training course? 24.7%
- Percentage of 1st-time buyers who asked for information about taking a firearm training course? 62.9%
The general NSSF Firearm Retailer Survey was conducted in July, so it covered the first half of the year.
- 86.6% of retailers reported an increase in firearm sales compared to the first half of 2019
- Average increase in firearm sales volume of those reporting an overall increase: 95%
- 92.4% of retailers reported an increase in ammunition sales compared to the first half of 2019
- Average increase in ammunition sales volume of those reporting an overall increase: 139%
- By demographic, increase in sales for Jan-June compared to 2019:
- Black: 58.2%
- White: 51.9%
- Hispanic: 49.4%
- Asian: 42.9%
We can only hope that all those new gun owners do their research for the November election and decide which candidate wants to take that brand new gun away from them.
Here's the January through June infographic: