Gun Sales, Concealed Permit Applications Surge Day After San Bernardino Shooting

In this July 20, 2014 photo, with guns displayed for sale behind her, a gun store employee
AP/Brennan Linsley

On December 3–the day after Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik opened fire in San Bernardino, California–gun sales and concealed carry permit applications surged around the country.

San Antonio’s KCTV reported that gun sales rose sharply at guns stores in and around the city. Customer Jose Moreno said he watched news of the San Bernardino attack unfold and said to himself, “Wow, this is real.” Moreno added that he realized that “anything can happen anywhere,” and he wants to be prepared.

And 16 WNEP reports that Scranton, Pennsylvania, witnessed “long lines for concealed-carry permits” the day after the attack. Lackawanna County Sheriff’s Deputy Earl Van Wert said he knew crowds were going to pack the sheriff’s office for permits once news of the San Bernardino shooting broke: “[Citizens] are looking to make themselves feel more secure both at home and when they’re on the streets.”

Breitbart New previously reported that gun sales and concealed carry surged following the November 13 Paris attacks. Gun stores in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and other states reported skyrocketing sales–and many of the customers pouring into stores were first time gun buyers. Some counties around the country reported concealed applications up more than 100 percent.

This surge in sales and concealed applications comes less than a week after Black Friday background checks shattered the previous record for checks on a Black Friday. The FBI conducted 185,345 background checks on Black Friday; the previous record was just over 175,000 on Black Friday in 2014.

Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.

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