Coronavirus triggers a run on guns in America

LOS ANGELES: Gun sales have exploded in the US in the last two weeks as the coronavirus outbreak worsens, with people stocking up on weapons and ammunition out of fear the pandemic might lead to social unrest.

“We have had about an 800% increase in sales,” said David Stone, owner of Dong’s Guns,

Ammo and Reloading in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I’m still not out of any calibre but I’m getting close to running out.”

Stone told AFP that the overall majority of customers rushing to stock up on firearms and ammunition are first-time buyers grabbing anything available. “It’s fear over coronavirus,” he said. “I don’t understand it myself.”

Several other store owners across the US said they have also seen a surge in sales as people fear social order will unravel if the health and economic crisis caused by the virus escalates.

Tiffany Teasdale, owner of Lynnwood Gun, located in Washington state, said she has seen a massive uptick in sales with customers lining up an hour before the store opens.

“We used to have on what we would call busy days, 20 to 25 firearms being sold,” said Teasdale, who has hired a bouncer to keep everyone in check. “Today, we are seeing upwards of 150.”

She said shotguns were in shortage across the country. “A lot of people are buying shotguns, handguns, AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, everything,” said Teasdale.

Like Stone, she said most of her customers are first-time buyers. “We have men, women, young, middle-aged, older, everybody buying guns,” she said.

She said one customer who came into the store recently decided it was time to arm himself after he witnessed two women fighting over the last case of bottled water at a store.

“We have customers who are scared because law enforcement is being told to not respond as much because they are so shortstaffed,” she added. “So a lot of people are scared that someone is going to break into their home.”