by Joseph P. Tartaro, Executive Editor
Many in the general media took unusual notice of the extra healthy pace of firearms and related accessories sales that took place during the recent holiday season. While most reporters and editors focus on the scale of holiday sales every year, this year their horizons broadened beyond toys and toasters, Smart phones and HDTVs, or clothing, the usual commodities tracked as being at the top of many Christmas lists.
But as 2011 came to an end, newspapers and TV outlets across the country took special notice of the high rate of sales of rifles, shotguns, pistols and other outdoor and self-defense gear that they generally ignore.
A CBS station near Albany, NY, even interviewed local gun shops.
“This year it’s really strange because our Black Friday, became our Christmas rush and we were a little nervous anticipating what was gonna happen, but it hasn’t slowed it’s just increased. It’s been incredible,” the station quoted Frank Tybush, general manager of American Shooter Supply in Colonie, NY.
According to FBI statistics, background checks for prospective gun buyers have gone up 32% since Black Friday of last year.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) reported at the beginning of January that National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), inquiries in December 2011 set a new record for the most background checks in a single month.
The December 2011 NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,410,937 was an increase of 24.5% over the NSSF-adjusted NICS figure of 1,133,371 in December 2010. For comparison, the unadjusted December 2011 NICS figure of 1,854,400 reflects a 22.6% increase from the unadjusted NICS figure of 1,512,265 in December 2010.
This marks the nineteenth straight month that NSSF-adjusted NICS figures have increased when compared to the same period the previous year.
“It’s really not that unusual for us to go out and buy a firearm and give it to somebody at Christmas,” Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle And Pistol Association, told CBS6.
“It’s been a little bit of everything surprisingly. We have customers coming in getting hunting weapons for their father, upgrading their collections.” explained Tybush.
It’s not all that uncommon now to even find a pink gun in the case. At American Shooter Supply, they say over the last 5 years they’ve seen a steady increase in the number of women purchasing guns.
“We have seen a remarkable increase from the number of women who come in the store, for not only handguns but for shotguns and sporting guns,” said Tybush.
ATF Rulings
The case-by-case basis in which Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) determines via private “letter ruling” firearms design and manufacturing regulatory compliance issues is being questioned both by members of industry and lawmakers on Capitol Hill, according to NSSF.
Critics are pointing to inconsistent interpretations of ATF regulations and a process that relies on firearm manufacturers submitting prototypes for examination and evaluation testing to find out whether the item complies with the law and regulations.
Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) said “ATF should not expect these business owners to comply with moving target regulations.” It would help the industry if the letters could be considered collectively as a standard in the industry, but that has not been the case and letters may often seem contradictory.
NSSF has urged ATF to promulgate objective criteria that would provide industry members clearer regulatory guidance.
