Gun Sales Surge Before Restrictions

[Charlie T Waite]

Firearms sales in California surged 26% in June, the last month before stricter gun-control laws mandating background checks for ammunition purchases went into effect. A total of 76,684 guns were sold in California in June, up from 61,060 in June 2018, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). Ammunition sales were also reportedly way up.

Meanwhile, the number of background checks called in to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) in Washington State, according to the NSSF’s adjusted numbers, for June 2019 were 118% higher than June 2018. The reason: June 2019 was the last month before gun-control restrictions brought by Proposition I-1639 went into effect July 1.