well, gun SALES have been making records for the last 5 years...
While the sales have been, well, exploding, the number of people who ADMIT to possessing a firearm of some sort is definitely declining.
In the face of potential confiscation and probable prosecution for “illegally” possessing a firearm, how many people are going to jump up and self-incriminate?
Discretion is the greater part of valor. Better to keep them guessing, than to show your hand.
We LIKE our cowboys, and emulate them at every opportunity.