Firearms Background Checks Double in Colorado, As Coronavirus Concerns Spread
As the number of COVID-19 cases grows, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has received a “high volume” of requests for firearm background checks, a rough proxy for gun sales.
From March 10 to March 16, CBI received 14,604 background check requests, compared to 7,357 from the same timeframe last year.
Anthony Navarro, the owner of Colorado Shooting Sports in Greeley, said his computer system was showing over 3,000 background check requests in CBI’s queue.
Making a comparison to groceries and toilet paper, Navarro said his shop has already sold out of several types of guns and ammunition.
“When people are scared, there’s that sense of grasping and hoarding mentality,” Navarro said. “It’s part of our DNA as cavemen.”
He said many of his customers are worried about the government limiting or banning gun sales.
“We’re seeing everything from your standard client that we see all the time, all the way to liberal, democratic anti-gun people, buying guns for the first time.”
On pro-gun Facebook pages, members were posting about their experiences, describing waiting from a few hours to 48 hours for their background check to process.
According to a CBI spokeswoman, while people are generally having to wait longer, turnaround times are remaining within the federally-mandated three-day window.
Gloss