American people flocked to buy weapons at bargain prices during Black Friday, as the FBI processed a record 203,086 background checks on would-be buyers.
The figure smashes the previous two years’ figures for background checks done on a single day.
It is worth noting that there is no correlation between checks and weapon quantities, as a multiple-weapon order might be behind a single background check request.
The popular Colt AR-15 semi-automatic rifle, for instance, could be acquired for about $500-$650 (420-545e) apiece during Black Friday. The shooter responsible for the recent Las Vegas massacre used a modified AR-15 weapon to carry out the atrocity.
The gun industry in the United States is big business indeed. Current yearly revenue for weapon and ammo manufucturing is estimated to be worth around the $13-$14bn mark.