Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Gun Sales in the U.S. Are Down Since Trump Got Elected for Exactly the Reason You Think

Gun Sales in the U.S. Are Down Since Trump Got Elected for Exactly the Reason You Think
US President Donald Trump arrives to address the National Rifle Association (NRA) Leadership Forum in Atlanta, Georgia on April 28, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)

They call it the 'Trump slump.'

The phrase "sex sells" is synonymous with advertising and marketing strategy for virtually everything bought and sold. But it turns out for some merchandise, "fear sells" applies even more.

Of course the marketing for self defense or personal safety products relies heavily on fear to promote consumer purchases. But a different kind of fear propels gun sales in the United States and right now gun buyers simply are not feeling sufficiently fearful.


Despite conspiracy theories about a deep state shadow government and stories of potential civil wars being promoted by high ranking government officials as facts, the fear they instill in the public fails to drive gun sales.

The fear that best sells guns is one based on the fear of not being able to buy a gun.

But a President and Vice President closely aligned with the National Rifle Association (NRA)—the largest gun rights lobbyists in the US—currently preside over the executive branch of the government. And the recipients of the most money from the NRA—the Republican Party—control both houses of Congress.

The sales of guns went into a "Trump slump" in 2017 because no one thinks the Trump administration or a GOP controlled Congress will ever limit gun rights. While the NRA could promote President Barack Obama or other members of his administration as coming after people's guns, that marketing fails when replaced with the name Donald Trump or Mike Pence.

And that is a problem for those behind the bulk of NRA funding—gun manufacturers and sellers. The NRA currently represents less than 5 percent of gun owners but accepts large sums for their lobbying efforts from firearms and accessories makers and dealers.

As horrible as the NRA claimed Obama and Democrats were for gun rights, they were great for gun sales.

Sales of the oft debated AR-15 dropped 50 percent since Trump took office. The weapon most closely associated with mass shootings saw sales surges after each such incident while Obama remained in office over fear a ban on the weapon would occur.

Georgia based gun dealer Chris Waltz stated:

"Obama was the best AR-15 salesman there was."

Or rather the fear that Obama would take the gun off the market spiked the weapons sales. The same occurred for certain types of ammunition and accessories. If Democrats talked of banning it or limiting its sales while a Democrat resided in the White House, sales soared.

The Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994—signed by President Bill Clinton—restricted manufacturing of various types of semiautomatic firearms and limited sales to existing older models. The ban expired in 2004 but the threat of its reinstatement helped drive sales throughout the Obama administration's years in office.

Fear of a Hillary Clinton presidency also caused firearms and accessory sales to soar in 2016 to new heights.

Another indicator of the Trump slump is reductions in background checks.

From a high of almost 16 million in 2016, background checks dropped 11 percent in 2017. Based on projections through the end of the year, background checks will likely fall even further in 2018.

Mark Eliason, vice president of sales and marketing at Maine's Windham Weaponry said:

"Sales have normalized because you don’t have the fear-based market."

Stories of the Trump slump in gun sales began making headlines in February 2018. In March, the United States oldest gun manufacturer, Remington officially filed for bankruptcy.

Midterm elections are slated for Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Perhaps the NRA should consider running ads promoting Democrats to boost gun sales and regain the missing fear factor.

More from People/donald-trump

Donald Trump
Mehmet Eser/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images

Trump Demands 'Boss Of AT&T' Fix Equipment After Failed Conference Call In Bizarre Meltdown

When most of us have technical difficulties, we contact tech support or customer service.

But if you're President of the United States, just ranting on social media—then having your White House Press Secretary post a screenshot of your post on a social media platform people actually use—is apparently the answer.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Lauren Boebert speaking to Alex Stein
Prime Time with Alex Stein/Blaze Media

Lauren Boebert Casts Doubt On Moon Landing During Wild Interview With Conspiracy Theorist

Colorado Republican Representative Lauren Boebert was criticized after she seemingly agreed with the conspiracy theory that the moon landing was faked in a wide-ranging interview with conservative conspiracy theorist Alex Stein.

The segment began with the duo casting doubt on nuclear weapons—Boebert even joked about needing "tin foil"—and moved into weirder territory when Stein praised Boebert for "vibing" with him on the topic of the moon landing. Conspiracy theorists have long alleged the moon landing was fabricated by NASA in what they claim was an elaborate hoax.

Keep ReadingShow less
Rosie O'Donnell; Oprah Winfrey
Simon Ackerman/Getty Images; Ernesto Ruscio/GC Images

Rosie O'Donnell Calls Out Oprah For Attending Jeff Bezos' Wedding In Scathing Poem

Among the various celebrity hangers-on who attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez's Venice wedding, the one that seemed to generate the most controversy was Oprah Winfrey.

After all, a woman known for her progressive politics whose entire ethos is about teaching people how to be their best selves, attending the wedding of man who directly funded a fascist regime dismantling our country before our eyes doesn't exactly add up.

Keep ReadingShow less
Lisa Murkowski
Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

Lisa Murkowski Slammed After Criticizing Massive Budget Bill She Just Voted For

Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski was slammed after she claimed that President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill is "not there yet" despite casting the deciding vote to narrowly pass it before sending it back to the House.

In a marathon voting session, the Senate narrowly passed the legislation in a 51-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote after three Republicans joined all Democrats in opposition.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman listening to her boyfriend play guitar
Photo by Toa Heftiba on Unsplash

Things People Initially Found Attractive About Their Partner That Now Annoy Them

Being in a relationship can be wonderful, but it's not without its ups and downs.

In order for it to work, we have to allow it to grow and change over time rather than being locked forever into what it was when we first started dating our person.

Keep ReadingShow less