As extreme measures to limit the spread Wuhan coronavirus continue across the country, Americans are flocking to guns stores in record and unprecedented numbers.
According the National Shooting Sports Foundation the federal background check system, known as NICS, has seen a 300 percent increase in firearms purchases over the past week. The demand is so high, a backlog has been created.
"As we’ve seen in the past with other national events, our citizens often seek to exercise their Second Amendment rights during times of uncertainty," NSSF says. "According to NICS, there are delays in the system due to an astronomical volume of transactions over the last several days."
If you thought the lines at the grocery store are long... good morning from Los Angeles ?? pic.twitter.com/NudGqwW4I2
— CJ Johnson (@cjjohnsonjr) March 14, 2020
The world's largest gun store, in metro Atlanta, has had lines that are six and eight people deep https://t.co/CUVFvkJ9Xz
— TIME (@TIME) March 17, 2020
"First, they came for hand sanitizer and bleach wipes. Then it was the toilet paper. Now, its guns and ammunition," NSSF Senior vice president Larry Keane writes. "Americans are lining up at local gun shops taking stock of their safety concerns and stocking up on guns and ammunition. It’s showing that firearms continue to be a desired item and Americans are serious about providing for their safety – especially during times of uncertainty."
In Philadelphia this week, police announced they will no longer be making arrests for "non-violent" crimes like car jacking, retail theft, theft from an individual and much more.
BREAKING: @phillypolice officers instructed to stop making arrests for following list of what are consider non-violent crimes. Here is the email sent to city police officers telling them to just obtain arrest warrants for now. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/GYl13T67uK
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) March 17, 2020