Following weeks of frantic gun buying by lots of people who have never before owned a firearm, thanks to the coronavirus panic, the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms has bid welcome to all of those new gun owners—or would-be gun owners—noting they’ve just discovered why so many Americans oppose all the red tape.
According to the FBI National Instant Check System (NICS) report for the month of March, a new record for initiated background checks was set. That report reveals there were 3,740,688 background checks last month, the highest number ever, surpassing the 3,314,594 NICS checks done in December 2015.
Not all of those checks translate to completed gun sales, of course, but it’s a strong indicator for the renewed interest in buying guns. Anecdotal reports from gun stores all over the country indicate many if not most of their March customers were first-time buyers.
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
BULLETIN: The Democratic National Convention has been postponed one month, to begin Aug. 17 in Milwaukee, Wis., according to breaking news reports.
The Democratic National Committee has cited concerns over the Coronavirus outbreak, and whether it will be lingering into the summer months.
According to Axios, “the sudden change in plans reflects the severity of this public health crisis.”
The convention had originally been scheduled July 13-16 but the re-scheduling puts it just one week ahead of the Republican National Convention, Aug. 24-27
Democrats are expected to nominate former Vice President Joe Biden to challenge President Donald Trump in November. The party platform will likely once again include a gun control plank.
“Over the past few weeks,” said CCRKBA Chairman Alan Gottlieb in a prepared statement, “we’ve witnessed thousands upon thousands of people, many of whom are Democrats and may have previously supported strict gun policies, get an education on gun control and how bad laws make it hard for good people to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
“They’re learning firsthand about waiting periods, possible registration requirements and problems sometimes involved with background checks,” he observed, “and how their rights might be delayed or even denied because some criminal has the same or similar name. In most states, they are discovering they need a license or permit to carry outside of their home, and there may be a whole additional set of requirements involved.
“They’re also hearing gun control groups demanding that gun shops be closed, while officials in some states are opening jail cells and releasing convicted criminals,” he noted. “It’s absurd, and new gun owners realize it.”
The jail release situation was discussed by CFL here earlier in the week.
Gottlieb, whose grassroots organization has some 650,000 members and supporters across the country, said he is encouraged by the renewed interest in gun ownership. It could translate to increased resistance to new gun control laws.
“The irony,” he observed, “is that these good people have suddenly discovered how cumbersome the laws have become. We’re confident they’ll learn from the experience. In some states, where gun shops have been closed, would-be gun owners are figuring out that restricting gun ownership doesn’t cure a deadly virus.”
Gottlieb encouraged all new gun owners to seek competent instruction.
“Learn to handle your new firearms safely, and remember it’s up to all of you to protect your rights. It’s sad and at the same time uplifting that so many Americans will no longer be fence-sitters. They’re joining the ranks of gun owners and will soon understand, if they don’t already, why so many of their friends, neighbors and even family members have remained so zealous in their efforts to protect the rights you now hope to exercise and enjoy.”
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