Gun Sales Surge
When most people think about Black Friday sales, usually X-boxes or household appliances come to mind. However, in recent years, the number of people buying guns on Black Friday has soared. According to NPR, there may have been more than 203,000 guns sold this Black Friday throughout the U.S.
According to the Bureau of Firearms, there is currently a ten year ban on the purchase of guns for those who have committed a misdemeanor violation of specific violent crimes, including assault and battery or domestic violence. There is a five year ban on those who have been taken into custody as a danger to self or others, and is admitted to a mental health facility. However, after these time periods, guns are, once again, able to be bought. There is also a ten day waiting period after purchasing a gun.
During the Obama Administration, gun-manufacturing businesses and consumers feared that gun restrictions would prevent them from easily purchasing firearms. Thus, manufacturers began cutting prices to prevent inventory buildup. Starting in 2015 and 2016, the FBI had some of the highest number of background checks for guns, and this pattern has continued to this year.
