Four years ago, the election outcome had a major impact on the firearm industry. After a massive buildup expecting the gun-buying surge over the eight years of the Obama administration to continue after a Hillary Clinton victory, no one was really prepared for President Trump.

Many of those who had been buying guns simply stopped. They no longer felt there was a significant threat to their Second Amendment rights, so they simply held off. They used their money for other things.

This year saw a new surge of gun sales, though. This time, it was prompted more by pandemic concerns, then violence in so many American cities. Now, with the election very much in doubt as of when I’m writing this, it would be easy to believe that such a surge is dependent on who actually wins.

The thing is, some don’t think it’ll matter that much this time around.

Eric Ward, a certified firearms instructor based in the northwest Houston area, said 2020 has been an eventful year for his business, 4Ward Defense. Compared to last year, he said he has done as much as six months’ worth of business every month since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

“You have a combination of several things happening right now, and it’s really creating a perfect storm. It started with COVID-19 back in late February, early March,” Ward said. “The natural response psychologically that we believe humans have to fear, uncertainty and even anxiety is they feel the need to protect themselves. So they go buy guns.”

…

Ward said regardless of who wins the presidential election, he expects to see continued demand for firearms and ammunition.

If President Donald Trump is re-elected, he said he anticipates “more of the same” as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. If former Vice President Joe Biden claims victory, Ward said many people would look to make purchases out of fear of tighter gun restrictions in the future.

According to his official campaign website, if elected, Biden promises to require background checks for all gun sales, end the online sale of firearms and ammunition, regulate the possession of existing assault weapons, and ban the manufacture and sale of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The plan mentions a National Vital Statistics Report that said 40,000 people die from firearm injuries annually.

“When people start getting worried about these types of things, there is a massive and immediate onslaught in the market to buy everything someone possibly can,” Ward said. “The only thing that we can comfortably say is truly going to happen—there’s going to be chaos and unrest … regardless of who wins.”

For the most part, I agree with Ward except on why gun sales will continue under President Trump.

Don’t get me wrong, I think they will, but not because of the pandemic. Instead, I figure they’ll continue as leftists continue to burn everything to the ground simply because the rest of us won’t sit down, shut up, and do what we’re told to do by our progressive betters. They’ll riot and loot and people will get nervous. They’ll buy guns as they can because of those fears.

As for what a Biden win might mean, well, he’s got that one nailed. If Biden wins, then expect him to push quickly for gun control to pass. I don’t know that he’ll manage it, but he’ll at least try. That’ll be enough reason for most to buy guns.

Either way, it’ll be good business for the firearm industry, though I suspect they’d prefer a Trump win. At least he’s not trying to shut them down.