Study Finds Bump In Gun Sales Following Mass Shootings As Well As Why

By Tom Knighton

Have you gone to the gun store following a high-profile mass shooting and notice it might be a little more crowded than normal? I know I have. More than once I’ve had to wait a little longer than usual to take a look at a handgun or a background check might have taken a little longer than is typical in the timeframe shortly after a shooting.

Well, it seems someone conducted a study and found that yes, more people buy guns after mass shootings.

Wallace used data from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to approximate the number of gun sales in the U.S between 2000 and 2010.

She found that mass shootings were associated with an increase in the number of monthly background checks. This was true even after controlling for monthly violent crime counts, state demographics, the election of President Obama, and the relative frequency of Google searches for gun control and related terms.

But the effects of mass shootings on gun acquisition appeared to fade after about 3 to 4 months.

“After a mass shooting, fear can lead people to purchase firearms. Some people are afraid of being a victim themselves, or fear for the safety of those …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms