Spike in firearm background checks doesn’t surprise local gun shop owner

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The number of firearm background checks in Missouri is higher than it has been in years, according to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS.

Larry Wayland, owner and manager of Modern Arms, a gun shop in Columbia, says he's not surprised by the jump in numbers.

"Well the COVID virus has certainly had an impact on our business," Wayland said. "We've moved more firearms in that period of March than we had in years past, certainly it reflects the nationwide increase that NICS reports as background checks are up."

According to NICS, in March, firearm background checks in Missouri reached 76,262.

That is a 56.58% increase from February which saw 48,705 firearm background checks. However, just because someone got a background check doesn't mean they bought a gun - but they also may have purchased multiple guns.

Wayland says he is seeing mostly first-time gun buyers.

"I'm not really surprised by the uptick in sales," Wayland said. "You know, unfortunately, it's a time of uncertainty and people have sought out the firearm as that sense of security."

Dillon Jones, who lives in Centralia and came to Modern Arms to check out the shop amidst the COVID pandemic says he didn't buy a gun today but he is thinking about it.

"With all this COVID stuff going on, you don't know what's gonna happen and I feel like people should be able to exercise the Second Amendment and protect yourself and your family," Jones said.

According to the Boone County stay-at-home order and Gov. Mike Parson's 'Stay Home Missouri' order, gun shops and transactions are considered 'essential business.'

"We're pleased to see that both the county and the cities issue their stay at home orders, and then Governor Parson came around to that, they exempted, the transfer of firearms the sale of firearms and considered that an essential service," Wayland said.

Right now, Modern Arms is limiting its foot traffic to two customers in the store at a time and shortening business hours.

"We just really encourage people to be safe, not only practice safe social distancing, the extra hand washing and the extra things we can do to keep ourselves safe from the virus but if they're going to add a firearm we really encourage them to seek out some qualified training to be able to make them understand their the platform they purchased, how to operate it, how to operate it safely and you know that that's really the thing," Wayland said.