Two African Americans shoot a gun at a range. Image: [Twitter/@TheRunawayRN
Americans are arming themselves with guns at a record pace, especially Black Americans, whose gun ownership jumped 58.2% in 2020.
According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Black Americans are running to the gun store to purchase firearms. Black Americans have a number of reasons for purchasing guns and according to
The Guardian, they include stress from the pandemic, the resurgence of mass shootings, and armed white protestors rallying against lockdown orders and in support of White supremacy.
Even when purchasing a firearm, many Black Americans experience racism of prejudice from white gun store owners. That has pushed many Black Americans to join Black gun clubs or seek training from Black gun instructors.