An FBI database shows the increase in gun sales started post-election in 2008 and have steadily increase since.
"It's a big deal to be able to protect yourself and your family," says shopper Brian Crosby, who bought concealed carry handgun this week. He says while others may be buying guns out of fear of laws changing, his was for other reasons.
"We go camping and fishing and hunting and there are always people out there and you never know what they are up to."
It's a growing trend among Americans. That's according to numbers from the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), a database that checks criminal backgrounds before selling someone a gun.
"We are up 20 percent over the
same period of November 1 to today from last year," says A.G. Paul, owner
of Sound of Freedom USA, an indoor shooting range and gun shop. Paul says the
holidays are a typically busy time for gun sales.
According to NICS, this year's Black Friday is the new single-day record holder with more than 154,873 background checks, which is a 20 percent increase from last year's Black Friday sales of 129,166.
Read More: Black Friday Gun Sales Set Another Record
"There isn't a day that goes by we don't have people come in, use a couple," adds Paul. "They have never even thought about owning a gun but because of what is going on in the world. They like to get familiar with guns and maybe even purchase one."
He says a fear of gun law changes in 2013 (and whether President Obama would crack down on regulations) is one reason he hears from buyers, but Paul says the majority of gun sales in his store are buyers like Brian Crosby for personal protection. Other gun shop owners say whatever is causing the increase, they hope it continues to shoot up sales.
"We've been busier than we've ever been," adds Brian Reynolds with Gunsmoke Gun Shop.
Since 1998, more than 155 million gun sales have gone through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
