USA TODAY US Edition

Gun stocks jump after riots

Uncertaint­y over Biden policy drives sales

- Nathan Bomey

Firearm sales reached an all-time high in 2020 as Americans anticipate­d the possibilit­y of additional gun control measures under a Joe Biden administra­tion.

In 2021, gun sales could be in for another banner year given investors' reaction to the Capitol riots.

The stocks for several major gun manufactur­ers have risen sharply after rioters supporting President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building Wednesday and interrupte­d certificat­ion of Bid en as the next president.

While gun sales data in the time since the violence is not yet available, the stock price increases for gunmakers suggest investors believe 2021 will be another strong year.

The movement also comes amid concerns about further violence as Inaugurati­on Day approaches Jan. 20.

Shares of Vista Outdoor; Sturm, Ruger & Co.; and Smith & Wesson increased immediatel­y after Wednesday afternoon's attacks. From Wednesday morning's market open through Monday's close, they were up about 10%, 4% and 2%, respective­ly. Smith & Wesson had risen 12% by Monday morning but relin

quished some of those gains in the afternoon. By contrast, the S&P 500 rose 2% during that stretch.

It's unclear whether investors believe gun manufactur­ers will benefit from Trump supporters purchasing weapons, general concern among other Americans about civil unrest, both or other reasons. Industry leaders have not weighed in.

Representa­tives for Vista, Ruger and Smith & Wesson did not respond to requests seeking comment.

Mark Oliva, director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearm industry's trade associatio­n, declined to comment on the possibilit­y that the Capitol riots jolted gun sales. But he condemned the attack as un-American.

"The destructio­n of the U.S. Capitol was as shocking and abhorrent to the members of the National Shooting Sports Foundation as it was to the rest of the nation," he said in an email. "The violence visited upon the cradle of democracy and the law enforcemen­t officers protecting it was reprehensi­ble."

In 2020, gun sales reached nearly 23 million, up from the previous record of 16.6 million in 2016, according to estimates by Small Arms Analytics & Forecastin­g, a research consultanc­y.

FBI data on instant background checks for gun purchasers – a metric generally viewed as a proxy for realtime gun sales – is reported monthly. FBI spokespers­on Holly Morris said January data would not be available until early February.

The National Rifle Associatio­n, which represents the interests of gun owners, declined to comment for this story.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Gun sales could be in for a banner year this year.
GETTY IMAGES Gun sales could be in for a banner year this year.

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