20,000 gun background checks conducted in Florida since San Bernardino

dramatic increase in the amount of background checks that were conducted related to gun purchases. The number of gun-related background checks in Florida was up 77 percent, as nearly double the amount of people who purchased firearms in Dec. 2014 chose to purchase guns since the Dec. 2, 2015, shooting. With the increased number of background checks being conducted, the normally 10-minute checks were taking up to two hours to complete. Additionally, shooting ranges saw the number of people who wanted to attend concealed weapons permit classes double as well. The increased number of weapons purchases and permit classes may be due in part to individuals feeling like they may need to protect themselves and those around them should they find themselves in a similar situation. “If you are a person who is legally licensed to carry a firearm, now is the time — more than ever — to realize that you, and you alone, may be the first line of defense for you, your family and others around you in a terrorist or active shooter-based scenario,” said Wayne Ivy, Florida’s Brevard County sheriff. Ivy posted a video on Facebook encouraging individuals to learn how to use guns properly; the Facebook video has been viewed more than 4.5 million times, and has been shared by more than 147,000 people.]]>