Gun sales booming with no end in sight

Apr. 11—Some local gun owners think it could be a year or more before the current record firearm sales level out.

They pointed to a larger number of people turning to firearm ownership as a means of protection amid a litany of reasons, including the coronavirus pandemic, calls for less policing, protests and government efforts to increase gun control. The rise in sales has brought about the scarcity of ammunition and high prices when it is available.

"People want to preserve their Second Amendment and their right to that personal freedom that's attached to it," said Jeff Albert of Greensburg.

Dozens of people waited in line Sunday morning to see what was available at a gun show inside the Monroeville Convention Center. Showmasters Gun Show opened in two buildings at the center with vendors at 650 tables peddling firearms, ammunition and other accessories.

Sales of firearms have surged for about a year with records being broken in recent months. The Federal Bureau of Investigation reports that six of the 10 days with the highest number of background checks since 1998 came during the second half of March. That amounts to 1.3 million checks combined on March 17, 18, 19, 25, 29 and 30. March 17 holds the top spot at 237,000 background checks, according to the FBI.

In Pennsylvania, state police reported in January that October through December was the busiest quarter in the 22-year history of the state's instant check system. The agency performed 420,581 background checks during that time. The previous record — 406,151 checks — was set between July through September. The department in 2020 saw 1.44 million requests, a 47% increase from 2019.

The record-setting surge started last year as the coronavirus pandemic took hold and continued through 2020 as the presidential election wore on and protests took place nationwide over police brutality and racial injustice, according to the Associated Press. More than 2 million firearms were sold by gun dealers in January, a 75% increase over the same month in 2020, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Now, couple that with executive actions aimed at gun control announced last week by President Joe Biden and Shawn Stranko of Irwin said he doesn't think the current situation will get better for at least another year, maybe two.

"What's the economy going to be like in two years?" Stranko said while waiting in line outside of the convention center. "What's the economy going to be like in four years?"

Biden wants to tighten regulations for buyers of homemade firearms that typically don't have a serial number and on pistol-stabilizing braces, among other priorities that he discussed during his campaign. He also urged legislators to act on several gun control-related measures.

Stranko and Jim Ahern of Squirrel Hill agreed that the current atmosphere surrounding gun and ammo sales is likely to continue.

"I think it's going to escalate," Ahern said.

That's what Westmoreland County Sheriff Jim Albert has been seeing with the sales of conceal carry permits. Two sheriff's deputies handle a permit sale every 10 minutes at the courthouse in Greensburg and the office has resumed opening satellite locations for the sales, he said.

Albert, who waited in line outside the show with his brother, said he believes the presidential election played a role in the record-breaking firearm sales. Jeff Albert said he thought calls to defund police may have pushed more Americans to arm themselves.

"People are obviously looking for protection," he said. "They realize police can't be there necessarily as quick as I like."

Stranko and Ahern chatted while waiting in line after both got there about an hour before the show started. Stranko said he planned to browse while Ahern toted an empty gun case in hopes of finding something to take home. Shortly before the doors opened, the line stretched out of sight behind them around the building.

"I just think people are at the point, enough is enough," Stranko said. "You can't always count on the cop to make it there."

Renatta Signorini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Renatta at 724-837-5374, rsignorini@triblive.com or via Twitter .