The number of background checks done is considered a reliable gauge of total gun sales and were up more than 20 percent from the previous September high set in 2012. Summer of 2015 overall has also shattered gun sales records since National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) went live in November 1998.
A staggering 8,251,381 background checks were processed through the NICS since May 2015. The biggest gun makers like Smith & Wesson (SWHC) and Sturm Ruger saw their stock values almost double since the beginning of 2015.
Gun sales across the nation have been soaring after President Obama entered the White House on fears that he would put more restrictions on firearms purchases. The summer of 2015 has also seen an increase in calls from some Democratic presidential candidates, including front runner Hillary Clinton, for tougher gun laws.
Alan Gottlieb, founder of Second Amendment Foundation said:
We are seeing new record highs in gun sales due to the increased anti-gun rhetoric from Democratic candidates like Hillary Clinton.Their push for new restrictions on gun ownership is fueling gun sales. If they really want less guns in private hands they should consider what happens every time they open their mouths. The talks of tighter gun control generally go nowhere.
October is expected to be another record month for gun sales after a deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon. Historical data shows gun sales have risen after every mass shooting in recent years.
