Nearly 300,000 Americans May Have Bought Guns Without Background Checks Amid Pandemic

Topline

A spike in gun purchases amid the pandemic may have resulted in nearly 300,000 Americans acquiring guns without background checks, according to data obtained from the FBI by gun advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, as gun violence has been on the rise nationwide. 

Key Facts

Crucial Quote

“At the beginning of the pandemic, the DOJ warned President Trump that the background check system was going to be overwhelmed––but rather than addressing it, Trump added fuel to the fire by making it even easier to buy guns,” Rob Wilcox, Everytown for Gun Safety’s deputy director of policy and strategy, told Forbes. In March, amid a debate over whether gun stores should be opened even during lockdowns, the Trump administration determined they should be considered essential businesses. “This FOIA confirms that the worst has happened: thousands of guns have likely fallen into the wrong hands.”

Key Background 

While other types of crimes have become less common in the past few months, shootings and gun violence have increased. In May, the Gun Violence Archive reported the country’s highest number of mass shootings of any month since the group began tracking this data in 2013. According to a Wall Street Journal analysis, 36 of the U.S.’s 50 biggest cities have seen double-digit increases in homicides, resulting in 24% more homicides so far this year. 

Further Reading

“Homicide Spike Hits Most Large U.S. Cities” (Wall Street Journal)

“Report: Americans Still Shot By Police At Same Rate In 2020, Despite Global Protests” (Forbes)

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