Central Coast gun store sees drop in sales, matching FBI statistics

After surging during the Obama administration, FBI statistics show gun sales have dropped the last couple years.

There is no full record of U.S. gun sales, but the Bureau keeps track through background checks. In January 2008, there were less than one million, but that number peaked to more than 2,500,000 in January of 2016. That same time this year, it went back down to slightly more than two million.

The decline is often attributed to a change in administration, with President Donald Trump less likely to pass new gun laws, often discussed by President Barack Obama.

Ray Parga, Owner of del Valle Gunsmithing, said business has been slower in recent years. He attributes that to a rush in 2016 when California lawmakers pushed for a ban on bullet buttons. Nationally, Parga told KION “Obama was like the best salesman for gun sales,” adding “you just don’t see the volume of people. I can pretty much guarantee if Hillary had been elected, everything would have been out. There would have been a huge buying frenzy.”

Instead, Parga says “its a little bit slower in recent years.”

Multiple gun owners KION spoke with on Monday said they were never worried about President Obama taking away their guns, and the change in administration has not contributed to any buying decisions.

“I am not saying Obama wanted to take away my guns. But even if he did, it didn’t matter, because the 2nd Amendment is still there,” Santa Cruz resident, Sean Stiles, said.

Trends have also showed an increase in gun sales after mass shootings. While many of these purchases were made, during the Obama administration, because of fears of changing laws, Stiles says he would do so for protection. “If I were to buy a gun after a shooting, it would be because I want to be ready for another shooting, and be able to respond against someone.”