Firearm background checks on the increase

tougher background checks when obtaining firearms. With passionate speakers from both sides of the debate, it seems that those looking for more stringent checks are winning. Take Texas for example – a state which professes huge support for the wide availability of guns and our right to own firearms. Background screening statistics show that more than 600,000 background checks have been done for people wanting a gun this year – that’s a 23 percent increase from 2010. Considering we are seeing such an increase in Texas, no doubt there are similar increases across the rest of the country – and an increase of 17.7% on firearm background checks in Ohio this year supports this claim. Why are we seeing this change? Some believe it may be to increase personal safety and security… “I believe it’s because of the political uncertainty, where we are at and also because of the economic uncertainty, the recession if you will,” Texas Gun Store Owner Burnie Stokes said. “Anytime you have those two factors figured in, there is a false, there’s a sense of insecurity, and people are going to try to protect themselves.” Many Texas police officers say more people may be purchasing guns because they are concerned for their safety. I think society has just become a little more aware and willing to take that extra step to protect themselves,” Amarillo Police Department Corp. Jerry Neufeld said. “They hear reports, they see it on the news coverage and things and they are a little more concerned with you know trying times or whatever it may be, but they feel like they just need to take some steps for personal safety.” Others think it is more down to stricter legislation on gun ownership… “There’s been a steady creep, an erosion of gun rights by cities and counties,” said Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Shalimar. Back in January, many called for a statewide ban on the sale of high-capacity gun magazines like the one used to wound U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., and kill six others. Furthermore, a larger focus on checks both from a federal and state perspective means that individuals are having to go through firmer checks prior to being able to own a firearms. Combine these two, and we are seeing the types of statistics mentioned previously – a huge jump in firearm background checks across the nation. It seems likely that, with the Tuscon shooting still fresh in people’s memories,  we will continue to see similar increases in the immediate future. ]]>