In the wake of the panic that has emerged due to the COVID-19 crisis, gun and ammunition sales across America have surged. While gun stores in Rhode Island and across the nation have seen long wait …
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In the wake of the panic that has emerged due to the COVID-19 crisis, gun and ammunition sales across America have surged. While gun stores in Rhode Island and across the nation have seen long wait lines and increased sales, even online gun dealers are reaping the profits. According to Ammo.com, an online dealer of ammunition, in the 11-day period between Feb. 23 and March 4, gun sales increased nearly 70 percent.
The Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence (RICAGV) is extremely concerned by these trends. The reality is, Americans are reacting to the public health crisis of COVID-19 by feeding another leading public health crisis in America, gun violence. Although we do not yet know how this increase in gun sales will impact rates of household violence in America, we do know that having a gun in one’s home does not institute safety.
In fact, owning a gun or having a gun in your home puts you at a higher risk of suicide death, homicide death, or death by accidental detonation. Particularly during this time as many states prepare to shelter in place, we remain committed to supporting Gov. Gina Raimondo and Attorney General Peter Neronha’s swift action this past week to mitigate this concerning trend of gun sales by extending Rhode Island’s seven-day waiting period to own a firearm to 30 days.
Katherine Kerwin
Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence