Gun Sales Emerging in Oregon and America
Here is a deeper look on Gun sales emerging in Oregon and America. Recent statistics show the per capita sales of guns across the various states, and Oregon falls within an important place in this firmament. Here’s a breakdown of gun sales per 10,000 residents aged 21 and older:
Montana: 1,586 sold
Wyoming: 1,523 sold
Alaska: 1,514 sold
Oregon: 1,372 sold
Alabama: 1,302 sold
New Hampshire: 1,252 sold
Tennessee: 1,207 sold
West Virginia: 1,205 sold
North Dakota: 1,194 sold
Idaho: 1,149 sold
Rob Gabriele, a managing editor at SafeHomes, attributed high gun sales in the mentioned Western states to strong hunting traditions, rural lifestyles, and relaxed gun control laws. As such, he reiterated that “the pro-gun cultures and a need for self-defense in remote areas where predators can threaten livestock, likely drive higher gun ownership and sales.”
In fact, Oregon led the way in gun sale increases by 34 percent, after Alaska and Idaho.
According to Pew Research, about one-third of Americans personally own a gun-a deeply ingrained gun culture. Just in the first four months of 2024, the number of firearms purchased nationwide hit 5.5 million, with 146,034 of those sales in Oregon.
In 2023, it ranked fourth in gun sales per capita: 1,372 sales for every 10,000 residents aged 21 and older – a rate exceeded only by Montana, Wyoming, and Alaska. And this places the state very much at the center of the voluminous debate about gun ownership and sales in America.
Recent changes to Oregon legislation-such as Measure 114 with its increased background checks and magazine capacities, a statewide ban on ghost guns-may change these sales in the near future. These measures are tailored toward increasing public safety but may further depress sales as some customers are discouraged by the new regulations.
The long-term effects of such legislation will be closely monitored, as they might very well change the face of gun ownership in the state of Oregon. While some say that these are necessary measures to take in order to reduce gun violence, others think they might infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens.