The FBI just reported that the number of gun sales background checks for May was the highest ever for that month, 1,942,677, a trend that will make 2017 the first or second highest year for gun sales.
The continued growth of gun sales is in stark contrast to some in the media and industry who feared that the election of President Trump would snuff out sales that in 2016 were driven in part by concerns Hillary Clinton would win and implement strict gun control and an assault weapons ban.
But 2017's high sales numbers has show that there is more than politics involved when people consider buying a weapon, especially in the new era of street terrorism like that seen in London and Manchester recently.
At the one of the nation's largest gun stores, Hyatt Guns in Charlotte, N.C., sales are up in reaction to safety concerns.
"We are continuing to see brisk sales of self-defense and concealed carry firearms. We're also continuing to see new gun buyers," said Hyatt Marketing Director Justin Anderson.
"People are nervous about their safety, and rightly so. It's a dangerous world we live in and American citizens know that we're not immune to terrorist attacks. They're taking the necessary steps to defend themselves. Frankly, the most recent terrorist attack in London underscores the importance of an armed populace. Remember that when seconds count the police are only minutes away," he added.
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is used as a proxy for measuring gun sales.
Guns.com said that total estimated sales amounted to "926,516, a figure comprised of 512,406 handguns, 315,716 long guns, 27,969 other types of firearms, and 15,726 checks for transactions covering multiple firearms."
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner's "Washington Secrets" columnist, can be contacted at pbedard@washingtonexaminer.com