The numbers are in. We knew the last two years were record-breaking as far as new gun owners were concerned. More than 8.4 million were first-time gun buyers in 2020, with another 5.4 million added in 2021.
Anti-gun pundits have been railing against the ongoing increase in gun purchases during the entire two years of the Covid 19 pandemic, so nearly 14 million new gun owners didn’t help their case for firearms reduction.
Now, to add insult to injury, these new gun owners have the gall to seek firearms training to supplement their purchases. Being myself (basically sarcastic), I have to ask: “Why would anyone buy what the anti-gun folks consider a “deadly weapon” used to kill “innocent” people and then want to get a little training so they knew how to use it better?”
Being myself, again (logical, this time), a firearm is simply a tool that does a range of jobs, and does them well. Also, being a retired shop teacher, I know the importance of being trained in the rudimentary aspects of using any tool safely and efficiently. Training can also overcome some of the fear related to the new tool, and make one more comfortable using it, one of the biggest aspects of safety.
Being myself a third time (as an NRA Home Firearms Safety instructor and Range Safety Officer this time) I applaud anyone who buys a gun and then wants to learn how to use it better. Too many people buy a gun, put it away in a drawer, and don’t look at it again.
Regardless of the reason for the purchases – record-breaking homicides in blue cities, increased car-jackings and vehicle thefts, – it’s heartening to know people are beginning to take their personal safety seriously. Watching the Ukrainians fighting back against the Russians on television further reinforces the need for a bit of self-sufficiency. As the old saying goes, “When you need help, the police are minutes away.”