Gun sales have surged in California along with a spike in concealed carry permits.
Firearms instructors and local gun store owners say, in addition to an increase in the number of people applying to carry a concealed weapon, they are seeing a shift in clientele including more women, senior citizens and people who are politically more liberal. They cite a combination of catalysts for the increase including civil unrest, home defense, and fear that it could be harder to get a gun following the election.
A recent study found an estimated 110,000 Californians purchased new firearms since the start of the pandemic, 47,000 of them were first-time gun buyers.
'They go out as fast as I can bring them in,' said Eddie Ford, co-owner of the NorCal Gun Vault. '[We’ve seen] 160% demand over last year.'
Ford tells KOVR that the violent protests during the summer kicked off a rush on gun purchases, and that was followed by a recent spike before the election. Ford claims it is due to fears of the possibility of new, stricter gun laws being passed.