Obama Administration Boosts Gun Sales Nationwide

photo courtesy Seattle Muninciple Archives)

Exact sales and ownership data relating to firearms in the U.S. is unavailable since no federal gun registry exists (thank goodness).  For instance, weapon sales from private homes, gun shows and flea markets go unaccounted for but the F.B.I. and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms both agree that background check numbers from the National Instant Criminal Background Check system are proportional to gun sales.  Following are the five state with the most gun sales from the most recent figures in inverse order.

In 2007 only one state in the union would allow college students to carry concealed weapons to class–Utah.  It ranks number five in gun sales with 8.2 per 100 residents.  Presently other states are fighting for student gun rights as well.

More and more states are passing lax gun laws but Montana was among the first and that ranks big sky country number four in sales at 8.8 guns per 100 residents.  According to the 2009 Montana Firearms Freedom Act, guns, ammunition and accessories manufactured and retained in the state are exempt from federal gun control laws.

Whiles it’s not the top gun owning state, West Virginia is the top illegal gun exporter.  Guns from the mountaineers end up in Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio and New York according to a report by the Mayors Against Illegal Guns using trace data from the U.S. B.A.T.  West Virginia ranks number three with 15.4 guns per 100 folks.

Here’s a paradox.  Wyoming is a state with one of the highest with one of the highest gun ownership rates in the nation and one of the lowest murder rates.  In 2007, Wyoming had only 16 homicides statewide.  However, according to the University of Wyoming, last year the state had the fifth highest suicide rate (21.1 per 100,000)–double the national average.  Firearms were the leading method.  Wyoming comes in at number two with 30.2 gun sales per 100 residents.
                             image via wikipedia

Kentucky folks love their guns and they spread them around, too.  Firearms from Kentucky that have been used in violent crimes have been found in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.  Next year officials will consider legislation that will strengthen  gun rights among its citizens, according to the Lexington Examiner, exempting all domestic firearms and ammo from federal gun regulation.   The bluegrass state tops the list with 141.8 guns per 100 residents.

My adopted home state of Florida is well down the list at number 41 but new legislation this year puts muggers on notice.  It extends the homeowner’s Stand-Your-Ground law to the street level.  Before a homeowner was allowed to used deadly force to protect life and property if an intruder was entering the house.  Now, anyone who is properly permitted to carry a weapon, who believes his life or the life of a family member is at risk, no matter where he is may shoot to kill without fear of prosecution.  Mugger beware.