Written by Michael Thervil
The world is changing and with that change comes a shift in people's perspective when it comes to hot topics like firearms in America. 10 to 15 years ago, it seemed as if gun sales were coming to an all-time high, but in the last 4 years, gun sales in the U.S. appears to have done a complete U-turn. When it comes to the American public, there are three main reasons why American attitudes towards guns and gun ownership have changed over the last 4 years.
We are highlighting three reasons why gun sales are down, and the first reason is because of the general public's increased awareness of the dangers and adverse effects of guns and gun ownership. Secondly, the American public is aware of how weapons (especially small arms), are used by the American government to cause chaos and havoc in other countries around the world. Then lastly, the oversaturation of firearms of all types in America.
Backing our position here at VEDA Communications, is the following statistics: in 2020 it was reported that Americans brought roughly 22 million guns. Then 4 years later, Americans only purchased roughly 15 million guns which equates to a 7 million difference. It was also reported by federal government statistics that gun manufacturing significantly dropped roughly 35% between the years 2021-2023. This drop went from 23 million to 14 million, again a 9 million difference.
With the drop in gun sails, many people within America’s gun industry are saying that a correction is taking place. The basis for their claim is that gun sales and gun manufacturing decreased since the height of the era of COVID-19, which produced fear, panic, and uncertainty within American society. Now, there is some truth to that; during times of crisis Americans tend to purchase guns and other weapons – even if the crisis they perceive they are facing is false. Then there are Americans that feel that politics plays a role in gun sales – and it does. It’s a known fact when democrats win presidencies gun sales go up over irrational fears, and when republicans win presidential elections gun sales tend to sell at its market value and sometimes even lower to rake in profits.
But what's being ignored is that the reason gun sales have been lowering since 2020, is because Americans have gotten tired of seeing the mass shootings, which all too often leaves both families and communities fractured or broken. Like it or not, the American public has gained an increase in awareness on the dangers that guns present in both trained and untrained hands. When it comes to the total number of people who have been killed by guns between the years of 2020-2024, that number was 128,818.
When it came to how many people were injured by guns in America during the same years, that number increased to 186,386. In terms of calculating the sum of Americans who have been physically harmed by guns (both injured and killed) that number comes to 315,204. When you take in account the injuries and deaths that may have had on the mental health of the American population who have been adversely impacted by gun violence whether injured, killed, or by traumatic event; you can take 315,204 and multiply it by no less than three.
In terms of geopolitics, it's no secret that American arms manufacturers sell their weapons to warring countries who are openly corrupt, such as Ukraine. This is also in conjunction with the fact that American weapons tend to end up in the hands of terrorist organizations and the likes of the notorious Mexican Cartels which lie to the south of the American border. The American public is aware of it – and because of that; it makes many Americans feel uneasy about that fact.
Although there's very little the average American can do to stop the flow of weapons into the hands of “bad actors”, that learned helplessness is something that cautions them about purchasing firearms. Lastly, and quite frankly that American public has grown tired of the oversaturation of firearms that are in circulation amongst the American public as they really don’t feel any safer with a firearm for protection as the “bad guy” often has access to the same and in some cases better weapons than the average American citizen does on the street.
Backing this position is the known fact far more guns are used in assaults and murder than they are for “self-defense”. With gun sales going down in America combined with the progressive perspective of American youth, we predict that gun sales will continue to fall for the next 5-7 years. Americans are tired of mass shootings in which there were 488 in 2024 alone. Americans have enough to worry about socio-economically – there’s no need to add the prospect of either a crippling injury or early death to their plate.
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