Coronavirus led to hoarding toilet paper. Here’s what it’s done to gun, ammo sales
Bullets are joining toilet paper, hand sanitizer and rice as another item in short supply on store shelves because of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Even before Gov. Jay Inslee announced a two-week stay-at-home closure, shops across the Tri-Cities and the nation were seeing long lines of gun owners looking to pick up ammunition and new weapons.
People scooped up the bulk boxes of the most popular calibers, such as 9mm, .223 and 5.56, from the shelves at the Columbia Gun Rack last week.
While they are out of the common calibers, people are now picking up much of what’s left.
Runs on ammunition and guns are nothing new, but the store’s general manager Holly Myers said she’s never seen sales spike this quickly in her 15 years there.
She described it as if someone flipped a switch two weeks ago.
Since then, the small downtown Kennewick store has seen about three times the normal number of customers, she said.
Many are first-time gun buyers looking to protect their home. There’s also been hunters looking to pick up a weapon to defend themselves.
“People are worried about their own safety,” she said. “We’re seeing a lot more people come into the store.”
Most people worry that police may not be able to respond if someone wants to rob them.
Griggs Department Store in Pasco also is seeing a jump in gun sales and ammo, along with more people picking up toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
When there are times that people are uncertain about their safety, they want to pick up guns and ammunition, owner Charlie Griggs said.
For them the rush started about three weeks ago, and they’ve tried to limit how much people can buy at a single time so everyone who wants some is able to get some.
Similar to the rush on toilet paper, many businesses didn’t see the rush coming, he said. Because Griggs sells other products allowed under the state order it will remain open but with some reduced hours.
A similar rush took place at West Richland’s Talos Tactical. People stood in a line that wrapped around the building on Saturday.
The gun shop promised they would complete any gun sales made ahead of any shutdown. Even before Monday’s order by Inslee, they had seen gun sales double, store owner Matt Cieslar told KEPR.
To prevent the possible spead of COVID-19, the store limited the number of customers to 10 at a time inside, leaving many waiting patiently outside.
But many were disappointed to learn there’s a mandatory waiting period to pick up a gun after they’d purchased it.
National sales
What the Tri-City business are seeing is happening across the state and nation.
The Kittitas County Trading Company reported on Facebook they were seeing people drive from Western Washington to stock up.
Online retailer Ammo.com reported sales have shot up by 70 percent since the outbreak started.
Industry experts said sales spiked quickly, the Associated Press reported. And while the size of the spike won’t become clear until next month, the number of background checks has gone up significantly.
Local business closure
Stores that only stock guns and ammunition are among the many affected by the Inslee’s order on Monday.
While stores that stock groceries and agricultural items will be able to avoid shutting down, Columbia Gun Rack must close.
The sudden rush of customers will help them weather the shutdown, and they are focused on taking care of their employees and customers, Myers said.
“Our first priority is keeping our customers and employees safe and healthy,” she said.
She urged people to continue supporting small businesses that also will need to shut down.
“Let’s keep shopping locally,” she said. “I want people to remember that small businesses are going to be struggling even after they open again. I hope people are going to continue to support businesses in downtown Kennewick.”
This story was originally published March 24, 2020 at 1:57 PM.