Why Do Gun Sales Spike After Shootings? [Opinion]

Every time we see news of another shooting, gun sales tend to rise. In our local area, the number of people applying for a CPL has also risen.After the shootings that took place February 20th in Kalamazoo, I spoke with management about how I felt and we decided it was best for me to "wait". After a recent article from WWMT, I now feel it's time.

First, the rise in CPL (Concealed Pistol License) applications in two local county's as reported by WWMT news channel 3.

In Kalamazoo County we found 79 people applied for a concealed weapons permit this week, a 61% increase from this time last year.

In Calhoun County, on Monday alone, the clerk's office reported an astonishing 400%increase in permit requests from 2015

That tells me that I'm not alone in my thinking, you need to take the protection of yourself and your family seriously. You can't always rely on law enforcement to be there. That doesn't mean you should run out and buy a gun or that everyone who carries will or should be obligated to intervene in violent situation. Do what you think is right for you and don't be rash and quick to respond, take some time and discuss it with your family.

Second, In Missouri, some parents are taking it a step further, not only owning a firearm but training their children how to safely handle, load and shoot. This is where I come in. I don't want to upset or offend anyone, I believe that if you own a firearm, you should not only have a safe and use it but you must also teach your children to respect and not fear it, I guess that is a judgement call as a parent. teach them, with the help of a professional, how to safely handle a fire arm. The very least I think you should do is to teach them not to touch one if they see it, don't let others touch it and tell a grown up.

Finally, I do not believe that the government is "coming for our guns". I do believe that we need to put a bit more into mental health and trying to identify potential risks. It can be a fine line between defending our constitutional rights and protecting our society but we need to find a way.

I love to hunt, I love to compete in some shooting competitions and in all cases, safety is the key. Owning a gun is a not just a right but also a responsibility.

Bonus video: this is me at a competition a couple years back using a pair of safety glasses with a built in camera.