Local shop talks gun sales so far in 2017
2016 was a good year for gun sales in the United States. Statistics from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives show that more guns have been manufactured and sold since 2012 than in years previous.
KIFI/KIDK looked into how sales are doing locally so far in 2017.
Sam’s Gun Shop in Pocatello said so far, 2017 has seen a little slower business than this time in 2016.
Sam Laoboonmi, owner of Sam’s Gun Shop, said that in the months leading up the presidential election back in November, they saw a slight spike in sales. Once President Trump was in office, the record books started to show a decrease in sales.
“The first few months is okay,” Laoboonmi said. “And after that, a steady decline. June, it dropped about 15 percent from last year, July had been about 20 percent, August will be the same, 20 percent.”
But Laoboonmi said he isn’t concerned – he’s seen this trend before. He said there are often significant fluctuations in gun sales when there’s a change in president. It’s determined not on who is president, but on what their policies on gun control and regulation are.
“Because you know he put out less restriction and then anybody can buy the gun and manufacturer can produce more guns,” Laoboonmi said. “It’s really kind of supply and demand. And the people think about, ‘I can buy the gun anytime. I don’t have to worry about it another 3 or 4 years.'”
In simple terms, when a pro-gun president takes office, the feeling of urgency to purchase a gun before stricter policies are in place, goes away. So a pro-gun president usually leads to a declines in sales, at least for a time.
Laoboonmi said he’s seen it before and sales will pick back up. He said he expects to pick up again very soon because both hunting season and the holidays are right around the corner.
Three other gun shops in Pocatello also said they have seen a decrease in sales so far in 2017 than in 2016. They all agreed with Laoboonmi that it’s a trend they’ve seen before post-election and sales will pick back up.
