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FBI Data Reveals Americans Are Buying More Guns Than Ever Before Following Sandy Hook

Mar. 21, 2013 10:45am
FBI Data Reveals Americans Are Buying More Guns Than Ever Before Following Sandy Hook Shooting

Credit: Getty Images

Pinning down the numbers and statistics surrounding gun purchases is a monumentally-difficult task. While the General Social Survey claims that gun ownership has declined, Gallup has come to starkly different findings, as we’ve noted. But sales and ownership are two very different indicators, as we’ll explore.

Regardless of overall trends that span the past few decades, FBI numbers show that, over the past three months, Americans have potentially been purchasing more guns than ever.

Now, the word “ever” should be qualified, as the FBI has only been tracking background checks since 1998, thus the numbers before that time are not as available and uniform. However, the recent spike very well may be the biggest in U.S. history.

Here’s how The Atlantic Wire’s Philip Bump explains the current dynamic:

Since the school shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary, America has gone on an unprecedented gun-buying binge, the numbers of which are staggering. Nine of the ten days with the most daily requested FBI background checks in history have occurred since Newtown — including the day of the tragedy itself. And the home of the tragedy has seen gun permits more than double.

Background checks are one of the best ways to gauge gun sales, since federal law mandates gun stores conduct one for each purchase. It’s more unclear than ever how many gun purchases get a check, but the number of background checks is far higher now than in previous years. 2011 and 2012 were both significantly above the 1998 – 2010 monthly average; 2013 was higher still.

Bump then shows how this translates into line-graph form. The result? A shocking graphic that showcases the increases that have been observed of late:

FBI Data Reveals Americans Are Buying More Guns Than Ever Before Following Sandy Hook Shooting

Photo Credit: The Atlantic

As Bump notes, since the FBI started tracking background checks, the number has increased monumentally. To showcase how the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting might have impacted Americans’ gun purchases, consider this: The tragedy unfolded on Dec. 14, 2012. Eight of the 10 days with the most background check requests since tracking began in 1998 unfolded on or following the day of the shooting.

The other two dates preceded the event, but came at the end of November, just weeks before it unfolded.

And it doesn’t end there. Bump goes on to note that one can also analyze weeks to look at cumulative background check patterns. When this investigation is conducted, the 10 weeks with the highest number of checks have all occurred since the Sandy Hook massacre.

Here’s how these time intervals are mapped out in The Atlantic article (again, these are the weeks with the highest background check requests since the FBI began tracking in 1998):

  1. 12/17/2012 – 12/23/2012, 953,613 checks
  2. 01/14/2013 – 01/20/2013, 641,501 checks
  3. 02/11/2013 – 02/17/2013, 618,361 checks
  4. 01/07/2013 – 01/13/2013, 603,882 checks
  5. 12/10/2012 – 12/16/2012, 602,003 checks
  6. 02/04/2013 – 02/10/2013, 592,542 checks
  7. 02/25/2013 – 03/03/2013, 565,699 checks
  8. 02/18/2013 – 02/24/2013, 543,259 checks
  9. 01/21/2013 – 01/27/2013, 541,822 checks
  10. 12/03/2012 – 12/09/2012, 527,095 checks

Bump concludes his article by noting that “America is buying guns at a rate that we’ve never seen before.” What’s perhaps most interesting here, though, is who, exactly, is buying. While it may be true that sales are through the roof, some experts have contended that those buying are not new gun owners. If this is true, then, despite a rise in guns, the rate of ownership wouldn’t be impacted profoundly.

As TheBlaze previously reported, Daniel Webster, director of John Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research, explained this dynamic in a recent New York Times article.

“There are all these claims that gun ownership is going through the roof,” Webster said “But I suspect the increase in gun sales has been limited mostly to current gun owners. The most reputable surveys show a decline over time in the share of households with guns.”

While the numbers remain difficult to pin down, the nation’s gun control discussion has seemingly had an unintended consequence — a spark that has ignited an increased interest in buying. Who, exactly, is heading out to the stores to purchase, though, remains a mystery.

(H/T: Atlantic Wire)

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Other Must Read Stories:

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Comments (86)

1 2
  • ozchambers
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:25am

    ACTUALLY, this story should read:

    “More Americans Than Ever Are Buying Guns Following The Political Assault On The 2nd Amendment”

    Report this comment

    ozchambers  
    • rangerskippy
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 12:18pm

      oz

      you my friend just hit a home run, and knocked it slam out of the park

      Report this comment

      rangerskippy  
    • rangerskippy
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 12:31pm

      ENCINOM

      Check it out dude! Folks in America know history.

      Socialist throughout history that redistribute wealth also take guns. Once they have the guns, the take the Bible, and they also murder millions of their own people (Stalin, Mao, Castro, Hitler…)

      It just so happens that our politicians preaching redistribution of wealth, gov healthcare, and socialist programs are the same ones clamoring about taking the guns. Go figure.

      Last year in America less than 4% of murders were done with a rifle. Obama, Feinstein, and Hillary want our rifles though. Why?

      Last year in our major cities like Chicago, LA, and Detroit, as high as 70% of our murders were done by gangs. Obama, Feinstein, and crew have not uttered a word about these anti American domestic enemies that are armed and killing. Why do you suppose they ignore the gangs, but hate the peaceful, non criminal NRA members?

      Our crime is intrinsically tied to our welfare population. Do you know who the welfare crowd votes for? Thus the reason democrats are not really looking to do anything about violent criminals. They do not want to imprison their voter base.

      America owns 88 guns per 100 people, but there are 27 nations with higher murder rates. Honduras owns 6.6 guns per 100 people and leads the world in murder. Fewer guns do not equal less murder.

      Blacks in America do 50% of the murder. If we lower their murder rate to same as whites, we drop murder by 40% and save black lives. Do you

      Report this comment

      rangerskippy  
    • det45
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 12:42pm

      Like I said the other day there are billions of guns in America being purchased privately to avoid government knowledge of transactions. That’s why the government is trying to mandate background checks for all private purchases because they know people are bypassing the system. I for one always buy my guns privately and tell no one what I have and own. Never trust anyone with information on what guns and ammo you have. Make no mistake, your neighbor will turn you in and sell you out, even the ones you think are your friends. Buy your guns privately and keep them private NO MATTER WHAT!

      Report this comment

      det45  
    • Grey Eagle
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 2:16pm

      Yep, Obama and the Gun Grabbing Democrats are the best salesmen ever!

      Report this comment

      Grey Eagle  
    • SendTheMeteors
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 3:24pm

      As I’ve said before, every time innocent people get slaughtered, there is one beneficiary: gun manufacturers. And their servants, the NRA leadership (not membership).

      Skippy helpfully points out that “America owns 88 guns per 100 people, but there are 27 nations with higher murder rates.” Yes Skippy, that’s correct (Wiki says we’re around the 15th from the bottom, but not matter).

      What Skippy fails to mention is there are about 200 countries in the world. So at least 85% of the countries in the world have fewer gun deaths per person than the US. And he sees that as a positive thing.

      What Skippy also fails to mention is that those countries worse than us are all third world countries and often lawless ones at that. Yes, skippy, we have fewer murders per capita than Honduras and Nicaragua.

      Actually the United States has far, far more murders than countries that are actually like the US, those other wealthy, industrialized nations. You know, the “socialist” countries with welfare and universal healthcare and all those other programs for the poor. You know the programs that Skippy blames for gun violence.

      Report this comment

      SendTheMeteors  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 3:33pm

      Hey Send The JZS….

      You are aware that it’s progressive liberals that are doing all the killing you are referring to right?

      Without them we would be a much more peaceful Country.

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
    • 762x51
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 4:10pm

      You are correct sir.

      Report this comment

      762x51  
    • rangerskippy
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 5:09pm

      send the meat balls

      your comment – “Actually the United States has far, far more murders than countries that are actually like the US, those other wealthy, industrialized nations.”

      Dude, we have been down this road, but thaks again for bringing up this topic, so we can enlighten the readers to reality.

      So what makes us differnet than those other indusctirazed nations with lower murder rates????

      I can tell you. We have 12.5% of our population (African American) doing 50% of our murders. Half of those killed in the US are black. If we lower black murder rates to the same as whites, then we lower the national murder per capita rate by just about 40%, making us one of the safest countries in the world, and saving a whole lot of black lives. I want to save black lives, do you?

      Meatballs never wants to talk about this subject, because like me, he knows crime is not atavistic. Murder is not genetic. It is however environmental. Those committing the crime are intrinsically tied to welfare. If we seal the border, and systematically end welfare, those doing crime will go back to work, and have less time for violence. Hunger is a motivator. Meat does not want that, because when folks go back to work, and see their taxes being taken by a socialist gov, they will not vote democrat.

      So, meatballs and dems are just fine keeping the black on black murder high, and then clamoring about taking guns from the law abiding. He knows less than 4% of murder is done wit

      Report this comment

      rangerskippy  
    • Proverbs17-12NLT
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 9:13pm

      Meteor- what would the good little democrat gang bangers be killing each other with in Gun laws central Chicago if there were no Guns?

      Also I have many guns with bigass mags and drums that I’m not out killing people with, but when your socialist democrat party runs out of other peoples money you and your system milking ilk that will be lawlessly roaming our streets will have a very rude awakening when you are starving and need to break into homes like mine looking for food, the bodies piled up out front will be your warning sign to stay away, very far away.

      Report this comment

      Proverbs17-12NLT  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:22am

    Gun purchases are increasing for one simple reason – people are now fearing the government more than ever before.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • AboveMyPayGrade
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:22am

    HUEY6367 posted: “People are not buying guns because of Sandy Hook. They are buying them because this administration is threatening to take our guns because of Sandy Hook.”

    There’s also one OTHER major reason people are buying guns: because with a president who seems intent on starting a full-fledged racial war in this country and who is trying to bankrupt this country, a la Cloward-Piven, to bring about a social maelstrom, a lot of people in this country see the all-too-uncomfortably high probability of a SHTF developing in this country in the near future – and are preparing for it.

    Depending on how events unfold in Cyprus in the next few days, we may soon be seeing right before our very eyes how a SHTF situation looks when a country has run out of money – and whatever such situation, if any, happens in Cyprus is likely to be many orders of magnitude WORSE here in the U.S.

    GHOSTOFJEFFERSON posted: “There will be no U.N. nor U.S. gun confiscation.”

    As I’ve posted before on this, any U.N. troops foolish enough to come to America at Obama’s behest will discover first-hand what Japan’s Admiral Yamomoto said about why no foreign army would ever invade the U.S.: because they’d encounter an armed American behind every blade of grass. Once they made this discovery, it wouldn’t take long before U.N. troops would refuse to venture out of America’s hard-blue enclaves, where to pass their time, as they’ve done in the Third World, they’d be raping the local women

    Report this comment

    AboveMyPayGrade  
  • Cavallo
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:20am

    This doesn’t include the private unregistered non-background checked sales.

    Report this comment

    Cavallo  
  • NILAP
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:14am

    The killer chose this location because of the high concentration of children who could offer the least resistance and the fact that it was a gun free zone where he would not meet resistance. He was out to be the number one mass killer. A liberal looks at this and says oh get rid of guns. A person with common sense says if only there were someone there with a gun to offer resistance. Folks are now assessing their own lives and what they would do. The answer, buy a gun like an AR-15 with a large clip to make sure to hit the bad guy or guys without having to be a crack shooter.

    Report this comment

    NILAP  
  • Skeeterhawk
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:13am

    “some experts have contended that those buying are not new gun owners.”
    I would say that these are not so called experts. They are certainly not in the shooting sports industry.

    Report this comment

    Skeeterhawk  
  • woodyee
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:11am

    Where’s Beckett and word on the banks opening in Cyprus?!?

    Report this comment

    woodyee  
  • mikem1969
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:08am

    Gun and ammo sales started going up when little hitler was elected his first term, and then when WE THE PEOPLE saw him get frauded into a second term, gun and ammo sales went up even more. Then after Sandy hook and the quick to not waste a tragedy libs and progressives started their anti-gun rant within an hour of it happening gun and ammo sales went through the roof. We have seen what is happening in NY, Ca, Colorado, and the rest of the progressive states where guns are concerned and we are not about to let them go without a fight. We know from history it is coming, it is just a matter of when.

    Report this comment

    mikem1969  
    • rawmilker
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 12:13pm

      The mystery man, his thugs & thieves in our OUR WHITE HOUSE best be paying attention.

      III%

      Report this comment

      rawmilker  
  • carhouse
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:08am

    The Red Coats are coming the Red Coats are coming
    er rather
    The Reds are coming the Reds are coming.
    and they are led by husien obomo

    Report this comment

    carhouse  
  • carhouse
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:06am

    Add your comments

    Report this comment

    carhouse  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:14am

      There once was a man named Cass
      Who’s bullocks were made out of brass
      When they tinkled together
      They played “Stormy Weather”
      And lightening shot out of his @$$.

      Report this comment

      AmericanStrega  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:03am

    An oppressive regime that’s intent on disarming the citizenry tends to affect firearms sales because we know what their agenda is and it’s decidedly anti-freedom.

    Report this comment

    progressiveslayer  
  • sinner-saint
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:02am

    Striped lower receiver forgings unmachined are going for $36.00. High powered pellet rifles work pretty good too – they can put the serious hurt to someone with a good head or facial shot. My personal favorite is a flare gun. hit a person with a round from a flare gun and it burn a hole right thru them. Garunteed dead and a very painful death too. And guess what….they aren’t illegal to own/possess and any adult can purchase one – they aren’t a firearm. Do your next burglar or rapist a big favor – light their a$$ up with a flare gun and burn a hole right thru their chest.

    Report this comment

    sinner-saint  
  • huey6367
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:02am

    People are not buying guns because of Sandy Hook. They are buying them because this administration is threatening to take our guns because of Sandy Hook.

    Report this comment

    huey6367  
  • Silvertruth
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:02am

    Um, shouldn’t the previous years line end align with the next years line start or is there a saw-tooth in there? 2010-2011 are the closest to lining up. The chart is a poor way to visualize things when stacking years atop each other. It’s really only useful for seeing a year to year comparison.

    Within the context of the story, it would’ve been better to see this as a longer chart or a bar graph with stacked years.

    Nitpicking the poor chart aside, I think this is a wonderfully positive trend. A firearm is responsibility and it shows people are taking it on. Hopefully it will blossom into additional personal responsibility all around.

    Report this comment

    Silvertruth  
  • DadRocked
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:00am

    After Sandy Hook? How about after this administration’s bypassings of the Constitution, then the Constitutional Amendments. Heading straight to the Bill of Rights then specifics like the 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Amendments. But when he and they went for the 2nd…

    Nothing about Sandy Hook… Everything to do about the CONSTITUTION as a whole.

    Report this comment

    DadRocked  
  • critterbait
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:58am

    The American people have spoken on gun control… Kinda say’s it all….

    Report this comment

    critterbait  
  • 509Ptrooper
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:57am

    They can twist and speculate all they want. The fact of the matter is the American people are arming themselves to the teeth because they fear the tyrany of this government. That my friends is the bottom line. They are not buying ammo and guns to hoard because they want to shoot and are afraid they are going to run out. They are buying because they know the commies are going to go for the guns; whether through the UN treaty or just plain old vanilla legislation. Nuff said.

    Report this comment

    509Ptrooper  
  • Steve28
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:57am

    Go in any Bass Pro and you will see their gun case pretty empty. They are going through those cheap plastic AR clips like candy and you ammo shelves are also bare. It looks more like a revolution is about to happen than anything to me.

    Report this comment

    Steve28  
  • elosogrande
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:54am

    Can’t they find someone competent to investigate, rather than have The U.N. do it?

    Report this comment

    elosogrande  
  • Sargeking
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:54am

    Since the first big Obama scare on guns in 2010, ammo sales skyrocketed and many store shelves were quickly wiped out of the most common calibers (.22, 9mm, and .380). Now in 2013 Mr. Obama has earned the added moniker of “the greatest gun salesman in world history”! That wasn’t how the Libs had it figured but there it is. Now we need to keep the crazy idea of the U.N. from coming in here and riding the big pony. You’ll know they’ve arrived in a town near you when you see their blue helmets.

    Report this comment

    Sargeking  
    • GhostOfJefferson
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:00am

      They could send the entire Chinese military, combine them with the entire U.S. military, combine those two with all law enforcement in this nation, and we’d still outnumber them 50:1, and we’d look like any other person on the street.

      There will be no U.N. nor U.S. gun confiscation.

      Report this comment

      GhostOfJefferson  
    • AmericanStrega
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:03am

      My husband was just looking for .22 LR’s on Cheaper Than Dirt. They have a brick priced at $149 and change. Used to be one could buy a brick of the same ammo for $7 (this was some years ago, but not that long ago). Guess we’re in the wrong business.

      Report this comment

      AmericanStrega  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:19am

      Blue helmets look like bullseyes to me. Bet a 30-06 round would punch right through like it was tin foil.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
    • Sargeking
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 12:12pm

      AMERICAN: I had to look up that price on a .22 rimfire brick (500 rounds) on Cheaper Than Dirt and you are right, $149.50! That being a given, the manufacturer ARMSCOR, is out of their mind. Here’s the skinny in one word, GREED. Before “Sandy Hook Line and Sinker” a .22 brick was commonly around $19.00 and you can now buy it for around $30.00. That’s bad enough but ARMSCOR are as bad as an inner city pawn broker. plain and simple. The best advice I ever read on ammo is “Bullets Are Money”. That’s an e-book on Amazon. It’s everything you ever wanted to know about ammo.

      Report this comment

      Sargeking  
    • Sargeking
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 2:09pm

      AMERICAN: One more aside on ammo prices. You know it’s odd when the good old days were just so very long ago in 2007. You could buy a 550 round bulk pack of .22LR Remington at Bass Brother’s for $8.88 (plus tax).

      Report this comment

      Sargeking  
    • firearm
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 2:55pm

      Rsnk and file blue helmets would cut and run because many of them would be fighting for a cause they didn’t believe in. They wouldn’t be fighting to defend their homeland or to over throw a dictator to free the people.Why would they care if American citizens had firearms. Only the “leaders” in the UN would benefit on their quest to control the world

      Report this comment

      firearm  
  • galaxie_man
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:53am

    I don’t own a single firearm.

    BATFE & FBI, are you paying attention? Not a single one.

    Report this comment

    galaxie_man  
  • moreteaplease
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:53am

    Gotta love it when the liberal’s agendas blow up in their face. Yeah, keep pushing more gun control legislation…it’s doing wonders for the firearms industry.

    My wife ( who was strictly against guns when we met ) informed me just this morning that she wants me to take her to the range, take a firearms safety class AND….get her CCP. Love it I do!

    Report this comment

    moreteaplease  
  • SteelJewel
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:53am

    This is GREAT news and will aid in dealing with evil in the world. If the federal government is watching this post, I have NO guns or ammo but these guys do http://www.kmharms.com

    Report this comment

    SteelJewel  
  • OKCguy
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:50am

    We don’t need FBI data to know this. I can’t find a reasonably priced, name-brand AR stripped lower anywhere.

    Report this comment

    OKCguy  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:52am

      Agree .. imagine what the sales would be if the manufacturers were keeping up with demand. Imagine what the ammo sales would be .. if you could just go in and buy it.

      Report this comment

      CatB  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:03am

      I have been to a couple of gun shows recently with completed lowers with stock for 250.00.

      Report this comment

      mikem1969  
    • OKCguy
      Posted on March 21, 2013 at 11:31am

      MikeM, we’ve got a show here this weekend. I would gladly jump on 2-3 of those if they have anything close to price point. Don’t get me wrong, I have no problem with retailers and manufacturers raising prices due to increased demand. I’m just mad that I didn’t buy 5 of them 2-years ago when you could get one for $130.00.

      Report this comment

      OKCguy  
  • AmericanStrega
    Posted on March 21, 2013 at 10:47am

    I thought gun ownership was on the decline.

    Report this comment

    AmericanStrega  
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