Record arms sales: why a pandemic forces Americans to arm themselves en masse

Many gun stores in the United States are now unable to cope with the increased demand. Because of the coronavirus, Americans are massively arming themselves. Edition DW tried to find out what is the reason for this reaction to the pandemic.

Photo: Shutterstock

Mason Fan has been shooting since childhood. Amid a pandemic, the son of Vietnamese immigrants decided to tackle improved accuracy. According to him, many Americans now feel insecure.

“With the pandemic and general uncertainty, a lot could happen - riots or people just going crazy. Racism also plays a role. With a gun, I can protect myself and my family,” he says.

Shooting ranges and weapons stores in Virginia, despite the lockdown, are open, because they were included in the list of critical infrastructure.

At the Clark brothers ’shooting range, there are twice as many people as usual. Their family has been in this business for decades. But Sean Clark says he has never sold as many weapons as he does now.

“Some people say they don't know what to do in this situation. If I have a weapon, then it’s a different matter. If someone wants to take something away from me, then I can stand up for myself,” he says.

In gun shops, people rarely wear protective masks. Here too few people pay attention to the need to observe social distance. But many visitors to the shooting range have their own idea of ​​why Americans began to show increased interest in weapons.

“I put it down to us rural Americans going crazy. We believe that the coronavirus is leading to a new apocalypse. And we, inexplicably, feel fear,” says one of Clark’s clients.

On the subject: On a rainy day: who are the preppers and what can they teach during a pandemic

Some experience fear, others make money from it.

Anyone who wants to buy something at a popular gun store in Arlenton, a suburb of Washington, must wait in line for an hour. Until recently there was nothing to sell here - people bought everything.

The owner of the store, Sean Poulin, says that now it is difficult for him to cope with the increased demand.

“We cannot satisfy all the wishes of our customers. We simply don’t have the selection of pistols, shotguns and shotguns that we could offer before. They buy cartridges like toilet paper. People take too many of them, they will never need so much,” he said.

For Mason Phan, the pandemic is not a reason to buy a new weapon. For him, training at the shooting range is also an opportunity to go somewhere, because now he has to work from home. According to him, weapons are necessary for survival. In America they have always thought so.

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• Immigration and Quarantine Ban: Lottery Winners green card DV-2020 asking trump for help
• Many will have to wait until September: when and how will the Americans get financial assistance in connection with coronavirus
• Pandemic work: companies that hire employees despite the crisis

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