Black Americans flock to gun stores and clubs: ‘I needed to protect myself’
Americans bought a record number of firearms last year, with gun ownership among black Americans up 58.2 percent
By Abene Clayton / The Guardian, OAKLAND, California
Janice Matthews always knew she would be a gun owner someday. She was raised in Alabama where her family members rarely left their home unarmed. Still, after more than three decades in California she was not in a rush to start shopping around at gun stores. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Matthews started hearing rumors of food shortages and noticed store shelves emptied by shoppers panic-buying everything from bullets to toilet paper. After her daughter moved out of their home, she was left with an empty nest and a lot of anxiety.
Last modified on Mon 5 Apr 2021 06.01 EDT
Janice Matthews always knew she would be a gun owner someday. She was raised in Alabama where her family members rarely left their home unarmed. Still, after more than three decades in California she wasn’t in a rush to start shopping around at gun stores. Then the pandemic hit.
Matthews started hearing rumors of food shortages and noticed store shelves emptied by shoppers panic-buying everything from bullets to toilet paper. After her daughter moved out of their home, she was left with an empty nest and a lot of anxiety.
“I was thinking of what they predicted in the Bible and I thought I would have to protect the little bit that I had,” Matthews, 55, recalled.
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.