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Privately owned firearms surpass 500 million in US after third-highest October for gun sales on record
The Blaze ^ | November 15, 2023 | Andrew Chapados

Posted on 11/23/2023 7:24:06 AM PST by Twotone

The total of privately owned guns in the United States is estimated to have passed 500 million after gun sales for the month of October were the third-highest on record.

A year-over-year increase in gun sales for October 2023 signaled a new landmark for private gun sales in the United States. Ammoland reported approximately 1.33 million firearm sales, an 8.3% increase from October 2022, which has pushed the total number of privately owned guns in the country over the 500 million mark.

As well, October 2023 was the third-highest October on record in terms of gun sales.

Sales for 2023 have surpassed 12 million, and after correcting for resales, the number of total new purchases comes to about 10.4 million firearms. With an estimated 490 million firearms in possession at the end of 2022, this pushes private ownership past the half-billion mark. Sign up for the Blaze newsletter By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, and agree to receive content that may sometimes include advertisements. You may opt out at any time.

The data comes from the FBI's National Instant Background Check System that saw roughly 2.26 million background checks in October 2023.

However, background checks do not equal the number of guns sold. Many more checks are done than sales, and one check can be used to sell multiple guns, as well.

Gun sales reportedly spiked after both the Hamas attack on Israel and the mass shooting in Maine.

"We are seeing a spike in sales of concealed carry handguns, as well as tactical shotguns and AR-15s; very similar to what happened during COVID, but on a smaller scale," said Justin Anderson, marketing director for Hyatt Guns of Charlotte, North Carolina.

"We expect this bubble to continue to grow, along with our regular bump in sales going into the holidays," he added, according to the Washington Examiner.

Firearm sales have exceeded one million per month for over four years, Ammoland noted. The number of privately owned firearms has also nearly doubled since 1996.

Personal protection has historically been the reason Americans give for owning guns, with a Gallup poll from 2013 showcasing that as the top reason at a response rate of 60%. Hunting was second at 36%, while recreation or sport was third at 13%.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 500million; banglist; firearms
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1 posted on 11/23/2023 7:24:06 AM PST by Twotone
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To: Twotone

Hmmmmm! Does that include those lost while boating? ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿ‘

๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‘


2 posted on 11/23/2023 7:25:55 AM PST by rktman (Destroy America from within? Check! WTH? Enlisted USN 1967 to end up with this๐Ÿ’ฉ? ๐Ÿšซ๐Ÿ’‰! ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‘!)
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To: Twotone

All those “refugees” buying guns?

All they need is a drivers licence and a work permit?If that?

So when do we have the Big Turkey choot? Has Biden set a date?


3 posted on 11/23/2023 7:26:40 AM PST by Candor7 (He trolls for thee!)<img src=""width=500></img>)
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To: Twotone

YES!


4 posted on 11/23/2023 7:27:48 AM PST by frogjerk (More people have died trusting the government than not trusting the government.)
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To: All

Should we celebrate or mourn? I’m cornfused.


5 posted on 11/23/2023 7:28:43 AM PST by BipolarBob (I never grew up, I just learned how to act around grownups.)
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To: Twotone

Personal protection has historically been the reason Americans give for owning guns, with a Gallup poll from 2013 showcasing that as the top reason at a response rate of 60%. Hunting was second at 36%, while recreation or sport was third at 13%.
—————————————————\
When will the survey show the intended purpose of the 2A?

Of course, those people don’t answer the survey.


6 posted on 11/23/2023 7:28:57 AM PST by PeterPrinciple (Thinking Caps are no longer being issued but there must be a warehouse full of them somewhere.)
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To: rktman

BLOAT


7 posted on 11/23/2023 7:28:58 AM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's for sure.)
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To: Twotone
In 10 years, the Boomers who own 20-25 % of these 500 million, will have started to pass on these inventories to the next generation, who aren't as enthused or as invested in hunting and self-defense as we were.

That is what the globalists are counting on.

8 posted on 11/23/2023 7:34:33 AM PST by G Larry (It is RACIST to impose SLAVE WAGES on LEGAL Immigrants by importing Cheap ILLEGAL Labor!)
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To: Twotone

And those are just the NICS checks. No data whatsoever on private sales. Here in the Peoples Republic of Nuevo Mexico, all transfers of firearms require a NICS and have since July 1, 2019. Hasn’t reduced shootings, but has made it more difficult to keep things off the radar. There are some exceptions to the rule. Family transfers and transfers between law enforcement don’t have to have the NICS check here. Nice how they carve out an exception for the praetorian guards.


9 posted on 11/23/2023 7:35:47 AM PST by IYAS9YAS (There are two kinds of people: Those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.)
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To: Twotone

Wow, impressive. Now I’m going to have to buy more to keep up my Owner/guns ratio. Also, all those new gun owners need ammo iow, ammo prices go up. But that’s a good reason.


10 posted on 11/23/2023 7:37:49 AM PST by fightin kentuckian
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To: G Larry

The next generation may not be enthusiastic about guns now. BUT, I think they’ll change their minds as crime & terror attacks go up.


11 posted on 11/23/2023 7:39:54 AM PST by Twotone
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To: Candor7

That’s the group I thought of when it was being said 30% of demwits are now armed.


12 posted on 11/23/2023 7:43:50 AM PST by bgill
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To: Twotone

Excellent! Well done people! I knew if we showed a little dedication we could achieve this milestone. Let’s see how quickly we can get drive it up to over a billion privately owned firearms in America.

I’m doing my part.


13 posted on 11/23/2023 7:49:51 AM PST by FLT-bird
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To: Twotone

BUT, I think theyโ€™ll change their minds as crime & terror attacks go up.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Especially when their sweethearts and children start getting slaughtered by the barbarians Biden has welcomed into our country. If I was younger, I would open some gun stores and liquor stores because they’re going to be seeing some major revenue increases.


14 posted on 11/23/2023 8:00:45 AM PST by fortes fortuna juvat (Current POPE and POTUS: corrupt, ignorant, paranoid, angry, deeply hateful, and deeply despised.)
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To: Twotone

Unfortunately, states like Illinois, NY, NJ, CA, MD etc have started taking them away.


15 posted on 11/23/2023 8:01:50 AM PST by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: Twotone

“The total of privately owned guns in the United States is estimated to have passed 500 million”

That’s not nearly enough!


16 posted on 11/23/2023 8:03:15 AM PST by MeganC (There is nothing feminine about feminism. )
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To: G Larry

I tend to agree with you in part. My deceased brother owned firearms. He married a German girl who kept her German socialist values. His sons have zero interest in firearms. I suspect the brother’s firearms are long disposed of.

I see similar happening all over the place.


17 posted on 11/23/2023 8:05:52 AM PST by redfreedom (Joseph Stalin: "It does not mater how anyone votes, how votes are counted is what matters.")
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To: Twotone

I lament taking my firearms on board my kayak.


18 posted on 11/23/2023 8:09:13 AM PST by Jeff Chandler (THE ISSUE IS NEVER THE ISSUE. THE REVOLUTION IS THE ISSUE.)
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To: rktman

I used to own a few guns but a tragic boating accident put them in the Tennessee River!


19 posted on 11/23/2023 8:12:08 AM PST by 2nd Amendment
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To: Twotone

Yeah...typically itโ€™s younger people buying the modern sporting rifles. I saw an 18 year old in WA lamenting on FB that the AK he was holding at a gun store would probably be the last time he held one. Half of the responses to him were โ€œMove.โ€


20 posted on 11/23/2023 8:13:33 AM PST by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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