Gun Purchases Drop in Texas, but More Really Old People May Be Packing

A gun in the hands of someone 90+ years old sounds counterproductive. I mean, how fast could a geriatric whip one out?

coming from someone who works  in the firearms industry, this is a trend nationwide. the Gun market is simply very slow right now, across the board. the gun boom of 2012-2013 is now over, and the market is actually bigger than ever before. millions of new, first time buyers got into the market last year and now have no need for more guns. the only people really buying guns right now are the hardcore enthusiasts who tend to own several firearms.

while the market does skew older, there are plenty of 20-somethings jumping in and one of the fastest growing segments of the market is women. Keep in mind, guns are not exactly cheap and neither is ammunition. it takes a good chunk of change to get into firearms and become reasonably comfortable shooting one without professional training. factor in the fact that the economy isn't great and people have less disposable income, and you've got your main drivers of a slowed gun market.

however, all it takes is for the background check discussion to ramp up again and suddenly you have another panic-buy market, but this time for used guns which are nearly impossible to gather sales data on.

'It's not clear why there has been such a marked decrease.'

Linked Houston Chronicle Headline:

Texas requests to buy guns plummet as fear of new laws subsides

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'gun owners are simply aging out' 

Pew:26% 18 to 29; 32% 30 to 49; 40% > 65 

Or maybe people naturally accumulate possessions as they progress through life?

BTW, old folks are more likely to live in rural areas so some increase in firearm possession would make sense:

...in 2012, nearly 17 percent of the non-metropolitan population was age 65 or older compared with only 13 percent in metropolitan areas.

http://www.asanet.org/footnotes/nov13/aging_1113.html

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CHL

'the number of people over age 90 who completed concealed handgun license courses last year is more than six times higher than it was in 2010.'

2010 - 19

2014 - 122

'many [of these] old-timers are simply undergoing the five-year renewal process'

Renewal process:

'You may submit your renewal application online at Concealed Handgun Licensing Online. You may also download the renewal form, complete and mail it with the required fees. Printable application forms are available in Downloadable Forms. '

http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/RSD/CHL/faqs/

The story indicates members of  90+ crowd are all taking courses when the the numbers include those simply filling out and submitting a renewal form.

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Summary: 'gun ownership is an outmoded concept'  - based upon inconsistencies and ill-founded generalizations.

@dingo "BTW, old folks are more likely to live in rural areas so some increase in firearm possession would make sense."

This is certainly bunk. The only way this makes sense would be if the elderly population in rural areas were increasing. In fact, rural areas are depopulating.

@TheRuddSki

"The Obama Surge is leveling off" -- we can only hope, not help, as we realized when we tried to discuss and help those froth-mouthed true believers who feared Obama's gonna take away our guns. Ammo was unavailable at any price, and weapons themselves were back-ordered. Yes, that was the fault of those "morans."

(I'm a CHL holder, life-long shooter, and my mind is as balanced as my voting.)

@TheRuddSki Pretty much.

There is a glut on the market after many folk went out and panic-purchased.

About time for me to get in on the reduced prices with AR15s for the whole family.  Except the dog, who is a fan of the AK platform.

@noblefurrtexas It's true the vast majority of gun owners will never shoot anyone, but it's also true that the more guns we have in society, the more people are going to get shot.

@everlastingphelps @c.huxtable85 

Heh.

@noblefurrtexas @wcvemail @TheRuddSki

And careful you should be, being you and all.

I've heard of noble colors, noble numbers, and noble gases, but unless Furr's Cafeteria has a VIP section, I've never heard of noble furr.