More than half of first time gun buyers in the country are women
In 2020, while many Americans were confined to their homes due to Covid lockdowns, there was a surge in firearm purchases. A staggering 220 lakh guns were sold that year, a 64 percent increase from 2019. According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, over 7.5 million of these guns were bought by first-time owners. Unfortunately, this trend has contributed to the high rate of gun violence in the US, with 48,830 deaths in 2021 alone, including suicides.
To address this issue, the US government allocated millions of dollars in 2021 for research into gun violence by federal agencies. The results of this research have revealed that over 7.5 million Americans purchased their first firearm between January 2019 and April 2021. Interestingly, these new buyers are not just white males, but include more than half women, 20 percent black, and 20 percent Hispanic.
Organizations such as the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation claim that self-defense is the primary reason for Americans buying guns. During the early days of the pandemic, many first-time buyers believed that the world was a dangerous place and were worried about an uncertain future. Additionally, some people were also scared of Covid, which further fueled their desire to purchase firearms.
However, studies have shown that firearm ownership is associated with an increased risk of suicide. In 2021, 26,328 people in America committed suicide by gun. Dr. Anestis, the author of one such study, found that people who planned to buy a gun were more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who did not own guns.
To address this issue, the US government allocated millions of dollars in 2021 for research into gun violence by federal agencies. The results of this research have revealed that over 7.5 million Americans purchased their first firearm between January 2019 and April 2021. Interestingly, these new buyers are not just white males, but include more than half women, 20 percent black, and 20 percent Hispanic.
Organizations such as the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation claim that self-defense is the primary reason for Americans buying guns. During the early days of the pandemic, many first-time buyers believed that the world was a dangerous place and were worried about an uncertain future. Additionally, some people were also scared of Covid, which further fueled their desire to purchase firearms.
However, studies have shown that firearm ownership is associated with an increased risk of suicide. In 2021, 26,328 people in America committed suicide by gun. Dr. Anestis, the author of one such study, found that people who planned to buy a gun were more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who did not own guns.