Is there a lack of urgency because Donald Trump is in office? Is it because the Republicans expanded their majority Senate? Those are two good ramparts when it comes to defending our Second Amendment rights. While Republicans didn’t have the majority in the Senate for most of the Obama era, there were enough conservative Democrats from the Midwest and West who defected to block some of the worst policy items from the anti-gun Left post-Newtown. While ammunition prices spiked and gun sales went through the roof for most of Obama’s presidency, nothing much really happened in terms of gun control legislation. Now, under Trump, there will be no federal threat to the Second Amendment, but at the state-level, anti-gunners have been scoring wins. One of Gov. Rick Scott’s (R-FL) last bills was increasing the age to purchase long guns to 21, which is grossly unconstitutional. Vermont did the same thing under Republican Gov. Phil Scott. Both governors were A-rated by the National Rifle Association. And yet, gun sales, while strong, have not seen the same intensity as they did under Obama. Perhaps it’s fatigue, or maybe not. Black Friday sales are usually for gun sales, but there was a 10 percent dip this year. In fact, it fell to its lowest levels since 2014 (via USA Today):
The number of background checks run by the FBI for firearm purchases this Black Friday saw a 10 percent drop after last year's shopping day set a new single-day record.
The bureau told USA TODAY it ran 182,093 background checks for firearms, the lowest number since 2014. Last year, the FBI fielded 203,086 requests on Black Friday, up from the previous single-day highs of 185,713 in 2016 and 185,345 in 2015.
The checks, run through the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System, are not a measure of actual gun sales. The number of firearms sold Friday is likely higher because multiple firearms can be included in one transaction by a single buyer.
The background checks are required at all federally licensed firearm stores.
So, still, a lot of guns were sold on Black Friday. Hey, this is America—and gun ownership is as American as apple pie. I’m happy new shooters exercised their constitutional right last week, while current gun owners expanded their collections. Maybe some folks are waiting on other things. Who knows? But I expect a spike in gun sales when the new Democratic House, with a vocal and feisty far left contingent begins peddling their gun grabbing insanity. Let’s revisit these numbers in the first quarter of 2019.