DENMARK, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Gun sales have continued to rise over the last few years.
New data shows another spike amid Russia’s invasion into Ukraine.
According to Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting, the number of background checks conducted from Feb. 24-28 were unusually high.
National Instant Criminal Background Checks are conducted on people looking to own a firearm.
Feb. 24 was also the beginning of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine.
Bradley Gun Sales owner Arlyn Bradley says gun sales have ticked up a bit at his shop.
“It’s up definitely but it was high all along. Ever since the last couple years it’s been really up. Sales have been just off the charts. It’s almost unbelievable,” Bradley said.
Bradley has been selling guns since 1985.
“Right now I don’t think sales could get hardly any higher. It’s a bunch of different things. Shortages, people aren’t quite too trustworthy of the government anymore,” Bradley said.
Bradley says he saw sales increase when the pandemic began.
“When the pandemic started and everything was closing down, people got a little nervous and bought quite a few more guns than usual,” Bradley said.
Bradley says he usually sees an uptick in sales when new gun laws are introduced as well.
Bradley says he’s also seeing more first-time gun buyers lately.
“A lot of them aren’t for hunting. They’re buying protection guns, you can see that. Now they see what can happen in a country when they’re invaded by another country. The Ukrainian military is pretty good but they’ve also got an awful lot of civilians fighting too. So it’s not just the military that’s doing the job over there,” Bradley said.
According to Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting, February firearms unit sales were estimated to be at about 1.4 million units.
