RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — State data shows total firearm sales in Virginia during President Barack Obama’s tenure nearly doubled sales during President George W. Bush’s two terms.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports (http://bit.ly/2iJ8JFD) estimated firearm sales based on mandatory background checks on Virginia gun buyers totaled about 3,153,000 during the Obama administration ending in 2016. During the Bush years, there were about 1,713,000 transactions.
Firearm sales increased 39 percent during Bush’s tenure, whereas sales spiked 76 percent during Obama’s eight years.
William V. Pelfrey Jr., a criminologist and assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, says Virginia’s increased firearm sales can be attributed to a variety of factors, such as the recent rise of homicides in major cities and an improved economy.
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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com
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