New Delhi (NVI): Sales of guns and ammunition are soaring across the US, especially in places hit hardest by coronavirus like California, New York and Washington, as fears of possible social unrest are prompting some Americans to turn to firearms as a form of self-protection.
Gun shops nationwide are reporting an increase in sales, particularly from first-time gun buyers, according to a 9News channel report.
As people are stockpiling groceries and toilet papers in case they’re quarantined, it’s also causing many to worry about a shortage of gun supplies, which is driving up demand and leading to long lines at suppliers.
Sales were especially pronounced in North Carolina and Georgia, which experienced a leap of 179% and 169% respectively. Other states with large increases included Pennsylvania, Texas, Florida, Illinois and New York.
Apart from general anxiety surrounding coronavirus, some gun sale spikes appeared to have specific causes. Media reported in Washington and California, gun sales increased acutely propelled by Asian Americans who feared that they could face xenophobic and racist violence against their families given that the original source of coronavirus was China.
The death toll in the United States has also reached 100, after spreading to all the 50 states.
Globally, the death toll has crossed 7,500, with nearly 2,00,000 people testing positive for the virus, according to World Health Organization (WHO).
