More than 3 Million New Gun Owners in 2021

[Charlie T Waite]

We’ve routinely reported that Americans are buying an impressive amount of firearms. Many of those purchasers are still first-time gun owners. According to a recent survey from the National Shootings Sports Foundation (NSSF), more than 3.2 million people bought their first gun in the first half of this year.

The survey also indicated that the 3.2 million figure makes up roughly a third of the firearms purchased this year; this is based on NSSF estimating a total of about 9.8 million background checks conducted for the sale of a firearm from January to June 2021.

“This survey shows that there is a continuing demand signal for firearms from the American public. We witnessed each month background check figures associated with a gun sale that are second only to those we saw in last year’s record-breaking totals. These survey results show not only is there a strong and healthy appetite from first-time gun buyers but that there is still room to grow,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF president and CEO.

This trend, along with the consistent sales of firearms, builds upon what started in 2020, a year that saw what NSSF estimates as more than 8.4 million people purchase a firearm for the first time.

Of course, these figures come at a time when a global pandemic introduced countless unprecedented challenges, and while our nation’s highest office is occupied by an administration that is staunchly against our right to keep and bear arms.

While this year’s numbers might not eclipse the absolutely incredible numbers put up last year, they’re not far off pace, indicating that this increase in first-time buyers—and firearms ownership in general—has not stopped.