Rising Crime and Uncertainty Fuel Surge in Gun Ownership and Training Demand

Amid concerns over crime, defunding police, and fears of unrest following natural disasters or another pandemic, gun ownership and interest in firearm training are on the rise. “There’s a lot of chaos, especially in big cities, and people don’t want to be victims anymore,” says ERIC STIEBER, who recently attended a week-long handgun class at Gunsite Academy, a renowned firearms training facility near Prescott, Arizona.

With more than 40% of U.S. households owning a gun and Americans purchasing more firearms annually than new cars, the demand for proper training is growing. “If you buy a piano, you’re not BILLY JOEL. If you buy a gun, you’re not WYATT EARP. If you buy a gun, you need to practice,” emphasizes KEVIN REGAN, a Maryland real estate executive. This sentiment is echoed by BILL MORGAN, a Texas trauma surgeon, who recently completed training at Gunsite. “The number one takeaway I got from this experience is—don’t go out and buy a gun and just head to the shooting range thinking you’re trained, because you are not,” he said.

Training at Gunsite includes immersive scenarios, such as the “Playhouse,” an indoor simulator where students navigate a concrete block house filled with cardboard targets. Participants must clear the house by shooting threats while sparing innocent bystanders. Miami investor ARI PAUL described the experience as more stressful than it appears. “I live in Florida, where about a third of households have a firearm. It’s not a terrible skill to have,” he noted. “But no one should buy a firearm unless they’re prepared to train intensely and treat it seriously. Without proper training, you’re more likely to do harm than good.”

The curriculum also includes shooting human silhouettes on spinning wooden frames, with students tasked with landing precise shots to the head and heart from various distances. Additionally, they navigate a ravine with hidden steel targets, requiring accuracy under pressure. “This part was fun,” said Arizona chef ERIC STIEBER, “but in real-life situations, it’s not going to be a steel target—it’s going to be a human being. That’s a lot of responsibility.”

Gunsite owner BUZ MILLS emphasizes that training extends beyond handguns, encompassing combat tactics with AR-15 and bolt-action rifles. Notably, more than 10% of students are women. “I think there are a lot more women interested in shooting and protecting themselves,” said retiree CINDY HARTIN. “I’m cautious when mentioning it to friends and family, but most people are excited and ask lots of questions.”

This shift in attitudes contrasts with the stigma surrounding gun ownership a decade or two ago. Today, with Supreme Court decisions and state laws increasingly supportive of gun rights, firearms are becoming more mainstream. “Are people becoming more comfortable being associated with firearms? Yes, and that’s absolutely the truth,” says MILLS. “Firearms are becoming more accepted in society.”

[Sources: Gunsite Academy, NPR, CBS News]