The horrific terrorist attack that left 14 people dead and another 17 wounded in San Bernardino, California, has shaken the country. The shooting was the worst mass shooting in the U.S. since the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre.
Gun sales nationwide have, predictably, increased following the San Bernardino shooting, according to the New York Times and other news outlets. The uptick in firearms sales is due both to the fear of terrorism and the fear of new gun-control measures being introduced. There is a third reason for the surge in gun sales, and it happens every year around this time: Christmas shopping.
For gun retailers, there’s no better time for business than Christmas time. Black Friday especially garners large amounts of sales. As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Black Friday gun sales this year were record-breaking. The FBI reported a 5 percent increase in background checks compared to last year. This year, there were 185,345 background checks conducted on Black Friday.
Now, the very real threat of terrorism in the homeland is leading many Americans to buy guns as a means of protection. As Breitbart reported, Concealed Carry permit applications have also risen in response to the San Bernardino attacks.
Law enforcement officials across the country have also called for citizens to arm themselves. As reported by the Blaze, Sheriff Paul J. Van Blarcum of Ulster County, New York, has urged the people of his country to carry weapons to protect themselves and others.
“In light of recent events that have occurred in the United States and around the world I want to encourage citizens of Ulster County who are licensed to carry a firearm to PLEASE DO SO.”
He also cautioned those interested in carrying a weapon to be responsible and follow all applicable laws.
“I urge you to responsibly take advantage of your legal right to carry a firearm. To ensure the safety of yourself and others, make sure you are comfortable and proficient with your weapon, and knowledgeable of the laws in New York State with regards to carrying a weapon and when it is legal to use it.”
Not everyone is in favor of more guns being seen as a solution to the threat of terrorism. All three Democratic presidential candidates alluded to the need for more gun-control in statements after the San Bernardino shooting.
“We cannot go on with losing 90 people a day to gun violence…We need to take action now.” —Hillary
Senator Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley both had similar statements to Hillary’s. As the L.A. Times noted, O’Malley was hopeful that the horrific San Bernardino shooting would be a turning point in the gun-control debate.
In his statement, O’Malley referenced a controversial statistic claiming that there have been more mass shootings than days this year.
“We’ve now had more mass shootings than we’ve had days in this year, and perhaps this is the incident that tips the balance and we finally do this.”
[Photo by Richard Drew/AP]
In response to the shooting, the New York Times published an editorial, titled “The Gun Epidemic,” in which the paper called for increased gun control. Some liberal commentators have even called for the Second Amendment to be repealed. One outlet known for their heavy liberal slant–Salon–likened guns to lawn darts and called for them to be banned.
While many Democratic politicians and publications are urging for increased gun control since the San Bernardino attack, Republicans are focusing on the terror aspect of the shooting. Many conservatives want to increase surveillance programs and work to destroy ISIS, rather than make it more difficult for Americans to obtain firearms.
President Obama also called for more gun control in the wake of the San Bernardino shooting. The White House is expected to be preparing executive orders to close the so-called “gun show loophole” that allows people to buy guns without having to go through a background check.
[Photo by Jae C. Hong/AP]
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