Gun Sales Anticipated To Surge, Training Expected To Dip Following Passage of Looser Gun Law
HERE News Network reported on the recent legalization by the governor, which lowers the legal age for gun ownership to 18 and eliminates training requirements for open carry. The sudden shift in policy is expected to propel gun sales, while likely diminishing the demand for firearm training.
Rising Gun Sales Anticipated
After Governor McMaster signed into law the fiercely debated “Constitutional Carry Act”, industry insiders are forecasting a stark increase in firearm sales. As part of the new legislation, the legal age to purchase a gun is dropped to 18, and previous requirements for training to openly carry a weapon have been rescinded.
The controversial new law has sparked divisive discussions around gun safety and control, yet Jay Harris, proprietor of Champion Defense LLC, remains optimistic. He anticipates that despite the loosened regulations, people will still opt for proper firearm training. “I still believe you’ll have citizens seeking training,” said Harris. “Having a firearm is a grave responsibility and not something to be taken lightly.”
Shrinking Demand for Firearm Training
However, the opposite seems to be true for firearm training, with many industry insiders predicting a notable decrease in demand. Harris, for instance, posits that his gun training business may face a setback as a result of the new law. Despite the potential decline, Harris remains hopeful as he believes firearm owners understand the importance of responsible gun ownership.
Edward McCray, a military veteran, insists that regardless of the law, safety training is mandatory when handling deadly weapons. McCray recently visited Harris and revealed plans to sign up his 18-year-old son for firearm training. “Even though it’s not required anymore by law, I want to make sure that my son knows how to handle a weapon responsibly,” said McCray.
Impact on Gun Background Checks
The recent changes are likely to affect FBI firearm background checks as well. According to data released by the FBI, there were over 29 million gun background checks conducted nationwide in 2023. As a result of the new law, this figure is projected to rise dramatically.
A Balance of Loss and Gain
Despite loosened controls, the gun industry expects to witness a balanced share of loss and gain. Businesses specializing in firearm training courses may experience a dip in revenue, yet store owners like Harris expect an uptick in gun sales, balancing out profits.
“I do think we will see a surge of guns because even those who could legally buy guns didn’t, and now because the legal age is 18,” said Harris. “While firearm training formed the major chunk of our preceding revenue, we anticipate commensurate gun sales compensating for any potential dip.”
