Gun sales spiked earlier during the COVID-19 pandemic, and continue to be strong.
Gun ownership jumped nationwide last year, from 32% of Americans in 2019 to 39% in 2020, according to University of Chicago survey data.
That was also the case in San Mateo County.
Take Coyote Point Armory. John Parkin, the owner, told KCBS Radio gun sales at his store are up nearly 60% over the past two years. Parkin claimed the increase was driven by protests, politics and the pandemic.
"Because for a lot of people, it was true uncertainty," Parkin said. "We had people coming in from very affluent areas saying, 'Hey, I need to protect my water and my toilet paper.' And I mean that literally."
Parkin said his customers felt the need to protect themselves.
"As much as we love our police, especially here on the Peninsula, they aren’t going to be there to actually stop the crime," Parkin argued. "They may get there in time to, you know, clean things up and hopefully get the bad guy, but not when the crime is actually happening."
Parkin said he believes in background checks for gun purchases. He’s also a hunter who eats his own meat, with a ranch in Northern California.
He said he sold more guns for recreation that personal protection.
"But just like a fire extinguisher," he said. "It's nice to have one in the house if you need it, rather than not have one and need it."
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