Gun Sales Surge Amid Coronavirus (COVID-19) Fears

Nationally and locally, fears over the coronavirus (COVID-19) are leading to a spike in sales of guns and ammunition. 

Hunter Williams of Piedmont is buying his first AR-15, in part because of the virus scare.

“I mean what’s it gonna hurt?” Williams asked, “I mean if you got the money it’s not gonna hurt just to sit in the closet or safe, whatever you put it in.”

Williams isn’t alone. Ammo and guns are flying off shelves of local gun stores. Henry’s Guns in Yukon is seeing a lot of first time gun buyers.

“A lot of the first-time buyers basically they’ll come in and say it’s time to buy a firearm because we don’t know what’s going to happen,” said owner Henry Israel.

“We are always concerned about the safety of Oklahomans, especially the well-being of children and teens isolated from friends and extended family when firearms are in the home. We encourage Oklahomans to keep their firearms locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition. People should wash their hands and lock up their guns,” said Cacky Poarch with Moms Demand Action.

“I think this probably comes about anytime there’s a downturn in the economy or people have a fear of some sort or another, they just want to make sure they have something,” said Israel.