Gun sale surge

The month of May saw the third highest amount of background checks to purchase guns and ammo in history.

Gun shop owners tell us it was because of the coronavirus.

Now --we're seeing*another surge in gun sales.

Action news now reporter esteban reynoso joins us here in studio with what's causing the gun rush.

Hayley.... local gunshop owners tell me march may have been busy but may was even busier.

1:23 the f-b-i website says more than three million americans had a background check for gun purchases and ammo in may alone.

That's a jump of more than 700 thousand people compared to last may.

At the start of the coronavirus pandemic in march.... more than 3 and a half million people underwent background - the highest number on record for a single month.

May is the third highest month ever.

Gun owners tell action news now they feel the need for protection during these uncertain times.

Sot: "yeah recently bought my first handgun in march i wasn't too into guns before."

And gun shop owners tell me they've seen an increase in new customers due to the combination of covid-19 and civil unrest.

Sot: "right now we're in a busy season unknownst to us going into the summer usually are slower because people are on vacation and things like that but because of covid-19 and people being home people are seeing what's going on and saying ok... but we are seeing a lot of the new firearm purchasers.

The number one reason right now is especially to due to covid-19 and the riots that are happening."

First time gun owner brian does says it gives him a sense of security in these uncertain times it's another source of protection at home.

You do hope to not have to use it because i wouldn't want to kill anyone."

Experts say if you you're a new gun owner make sure to educate yourself on how to properly use it.

I'm esteban reynoso in studio for action news now coverage you can count.

The f-b-i website says last month was the third highest number of gun and ammo background checks in history.

### new