Global terrorism could be influencing gun sales stateside

By Christen Smith

Police officers on duty stand next to floral tributes on Southwark Street in London, Sunday, June 4, 2017, near the scene of Saturday’s attack. A series of attacks described as terrorism killed several people and injured dozens on Saturday. (Photo: Yui Mok/PA via AP)
Estimated gun sales last month defied expectations when background checks came in higher than any other May in the federal system’s 19-year history.
This time, however, it wasn’t anything stateside driving increased demand, but rather terrorist attacks in the UK and beyond stirring up old fears, according to industry experts.
Larry Keane, general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, told the Washington Times the May 22 Manchester suicide bombing and the London Bridge attack over the weekend could translate into more gun sales nationally.
“It was more pronounced after, for example, San Bernardino and Orlando,” he said Monday. “But we saw increases after the attack in Paris, so that can be a factor. It’s more pronounced when something occurs domestically.”
Retailers processed just under 1.9 million applications through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System last month. Checks amounted to about 927,000 estimated gun transfers, with more than 512,000 handguns and nearly 316,000 long guns flying off the shelves.
It’s a

Source: Guns.com