Political unrest urged by anti-Trump liberals, coupled with attacks on Tesla vehicles and dealerships due to founder Elon Musk’s close association with the president, appears to be pushing some people to buy guns for self-defense.
According to the marketing director for one of the nation’s largest gun sellers, customers are buying up smaller concealed carry firearms despite a slight drop in overall gun sales recorded by the FBI’s background check system.
“Economic pressure continues to affect our business, though we are still seeing steady sales of self-defense and concealed carry handguns,” said Justin Anderson, the marketing director for Hyatt Guns of Charlotte, North Carolina.
“If news of people torching Tesla dealerships is any indication, this summer is going to be a difficult one, especially in major American cities. Civil disturbances have traditionally fueled an uptick in gun sales, especially in the home and self-defense sector,” he told Secrets.
In its analysis of March FBI background checks, the National Shooting Sports Foundation said sales likely hit 1,386,724. That was a 3.8% drop compared to March 2024.
Still, it continued a several yearslong sales explosion of over 1 million firearms a month.
“Over 1.3 million times, Americans freely approached the gun counter to lawfully exercise their Second Amendment freedoms. Economic challenges notwithstanding, this is indicative of the desire of Americans to safely and responsibly keep and bear arms. Americans continue to invest in their freedom and safety because it still remains a high priority,” said Mark Oliva, spokesman for NSSF, the industry trade group.
The number could be higher because 24 states issue permits that allow those who have already passed a federal background check to buy again without having to go through the FBI system.
Anderson said his customers have been buying self-defense firearms even though they are concerned about the economy, which has been recently shaken by President Donald Trump’s push for record trade tariffs that have thrust confusion into financial markets.
“That slight upward movement lets me know that people, despite having little disposable income, are unsure about the future and are taking out an insurance policy in the form of a firearm,” he said.
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And as the Trump moves shake out, he added, the gun industry is hitting the pause button on expansion until clarity returns to the economic outlook.
“We are taking a wait-and-see approach to wholesale purchasing right now, and focusing our efforts in other parts of our business,” Anderson said.
