ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - For the second time in a few months, gun sales are seeing a big jump. As we reported last week, fears related to the coronavirus led to an increase in March. Now, it's the unrest.
"Business is definitely spiking," says Mid America Arms owner Mark Campbell. "A lot of first-time buyers that are in fear."
He says the turning point was Monday night, when four St. Louis police officers were shot during a protest.
"Just with everything going on with the protestors, not actually the protestors, the violence," Campbell says. "They figure when they shoot police officers these people have no regard for life."
Most new customers, Campbell says, are buying handguns to protect themselves and their homes.
He says they saw a similar spike during the unrest in Ferguson in 2014. He says sales tripled during the early days of the coronavirus shutdowns. He says over the past few days, they've seen a similar spike.