(Undated) — Americans are concerned about self-protection and are investing in fire arms. Rioting, looting over the killing of George Floyd and COVID-19 restrictions are fueling the spike in gun sales. Gun sales and FBI background checks on purchasers soared in May, which recorded the third-highest level of checks ever in the 22-year history of the federal system. According to the FBI, there have already been more than 15 million background checks this year, used mostly for legal sales, putting the country on a pace to break last year’s all-time high of 28 million checks in the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. May’s 3,091,455 background checks was the highest for any May recorded. March was the highest month on record, at 3,740,688.

Gun Sales See Massive Spike in May Amidst Pandemic, Nationwide Rioting https://t.co/HVAbJ4FikR

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Research firm Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting estimates more than 1.7 million guns were sold in May, an 80% jump over the same time last year. Stock prices for a number of gun manufacturers were also up.