16 January 2021

COMBUSTIBLE MIX: Weaponized Anger

Please Note this first: Data: FBI; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios
The catch: FBI firearmsbackground checksare an imperfect metric for gun sales— they're also carried out during applications that don't involve firearms purchases, like for a concealed carry permit — but with no other federal data for tracking sales, they're considered the best existing indicator.

America is anxious, angry and heavily armed

Firearms background checks in the U.S.hit a record high in 2020.

The big picture: This past year took our collective arsenal to new heights, with millions of Americans buying gunsfor the first time. That trend coincides with a moment of peak political and social tension.

By the numbers: According to FBI statistics, more than 39.5 million firearms background checks were processed in 2020, by far the most since the agency began keeping records in 1998.

  • Nearly 4 million checks were processed in December alone — the single busiest month ever — and the total for 2020 was almost 40% higher than in 2019, which had been the previous record-holder.
  • State after state after state — both those with lax firearms laws and those with tighter restrictions — reported record gun sales

No comments:

Russia launches Soyuz rocket carrying Iranian satellites into orbit

Russian rocket takes Iranian satellites into orbit as ties grow closer Al Jazeera 7 hours ago Search inside image Russian rocket takes Irani...