Gun sales increased for unexpected groups over one year

One of the more startling aspects of life in the United States, this past year, was the dramatic increase in gun sales during the pandemic. Some have cited a general fear of safety needs, while others have wondered why owning a gun could help soothe nerves battered by a fear of guns, while still others wondered if increased gun sales were related to racial fears, related to racial unrest in the country.

The numbers from one year ago do make for a reexamination: 17 million guns sold in that period, a 40 % increase, in a year over year comparison, but also some signposts; when, for example, President Trump announced the spread of Covid, gun sales increased to about 120,000 a day.

The Brookings Institution, in one of its briefs, noted one succinct fact, “There are more guns than people in the United States (400 million are in circulation for a population of 330 million). In just the first six months of 2020, approximately 19 million firearms have been sold, representing more than one firearm for every 20 Americans.”

Race is never far from the surface in the US, and the racial unrest over police killing Black men is a factor, and in reality, it did play an important role in the surge of gun sales. As they noted in their research study, “The presence of so many guns complicates discussions of public policy. Injustices committed by the police, and systemic racism in society more broadly need to end. It is concerning that the necessary national discussion regarding racial injustice is leading to even more firearms in the hands of Americans.”

The unforgettable images of a white couple brandishing guns from their front porch, in St. Louis, at Black Lives Demonstrators illustrated, ironically, the quagmire that race and guns extended into the conversation.

In what may be a surprise to many, another surge has come from an unexpected population, Black women as gun owners, and some are surprised, but there has been a trend, even before 2020, for Black females and gun ownership; especially as a reaction to assaults, having witnessed others, especially family members as victims of gun violence.

This public face flies in contradiction of the typical image of an angry, gun toting white male,and what has been his increasing visibility in state capitol protests against increased coronavirus restrictions in Lansing, Mich., Richmond, Va.,and of course the Jan. 6 insurrection at the nation’s capitol in Washington, DC.

If this is an awakening, then Black women are the first, but not the last, to make decisions on how to defend themselves, and their families. And, while many of these efforts have taken place in some cities, such as North Carolina, it is not atypical in the rural South.

Springing from that soil was the horrific killing of church members at “Mother Emanuel” church in South Carolina, by self confessed White Supremacist, Dylann Roof, and the numerous mass shootings across the nation: Columbine, Sandy Hook, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, and many others, past and present, there is a solidarity of thought and action to gun ownership.

Notable has been the company GIRLZ on FIRE (Feminine, Independent, Resilient, and Empowered) in HIgh Point, North Carolina, that specializes in “educating women in the safe use and operation of firearms,” and owned by Rhonda Carson that spearheaded an eight hour course,

One of her students noted, “I just want the resources and knowledge to defend myself and my family effectively . . .”

While the growing outreach from the National Rifle Association to women of color has been accompanied by Black firearms organizations, there are also pitfalls, such as police searches, where as Carson notes, if she is stopped for any reason in her car, she tells the officer where the gun is located, and asks him to reach for it.

Meanwhile in Chicago, the increase in the immediate aftermath of the George Floyd murder, increased carjackings, personal assault, and personal safety concerns, has created an increased interest in gun ownership, the largest from any racial group, from a 2020 gun interest survey, “noted that Black customers accounted for the largest increase of any racial group,” according to The Chicago Tribune, and “A Northwestern University study found that while white people bought ore firearms overall last year, African Americans made up a disproportionate number for first time gun buyers.”

There are controversies, as well as concerns, about this increase, with some residents, and community leaders saying that increased gun ownership may lead to unintended consequences. For some, like Autry Phillips, head of the violence group Target Area Development Corp, the trend of adding “firearms, even legal ones, into Black Communities could result in gun theft, accidental shooting and tragedy,” he told the Tribune.

Criminality in racial profiling, especially with the rise of armed white men, seen as patriots, is a psychological roadblock for many Americans, both white and Black.

Of note is that gun violence in Chicago increased to over 52% in 2020, plus a 65% increase of women killed in acts of gun violence; with a corresponding increase of 16% in domestic violence noted the editorial board of The Chicago Sun Times.

Significantly most new owners in 2020, “were more likely to be Black.”

Black Chicagoans who own guns not only face the immediate challenges of obtaining a FOID card, but also simply having their concealed carry license (both are required in the city) applications turned down for no apparent reason, says Phillip Smith, founder and president of the National African American Gun Association.

Another unexpected group of gun owners are members of the LGBT community, who have taken up arms to protect themselves from homo and transphobia, and who are “dedicated to the legal, safe, and responsible use of firearms for self-defense of the sexual-minority community. We no longer believe it is the right of those who hate and fear gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or polyamorous persons to use us as targets for their rage. Self-defense is our RIGHT,” says their website pinkpistols.org.

While definitive data on gun ownership in this community has not been prevalent, or precise, generalizing on the increase in 2020 among many variables gives some clues, but there is news, as 19thnews.org reported at the end of 2020.

Erin Palette founded Operation Blazing Sword in the aftermath of the Pulse nightclub shooting, and noted that, “hate crimes are not just about being in the wrong place at the wrong time, but that there are “monsters” who will target LGBTQ+ people as a specific demographic Palette said, and that’s reason enough to get a gun. Hate crimes against LGBTQ+ people increased by almost 6 percent from 2017 to 2018, with a 42 percent increase in crimes against transgender people.”

In 2018, Operation Blazing Sword merged with the Pink Pistols. . . and Palette now runs the largest queer guns group in the United States, if not the world.”

The question for many is it right for queer people to own guns, and will they be shunned for holding perceived right wing viewpoints, even if only for self protection? But, it also shows how many people, especially marginalized groups, feel that they need to arm themselves against those who want to do them harm. And, then there is the harm within: there is a high rate of suicide in the gay community, as well as interpersonal partner violence, as the Washington Blade noted in 2018.

Effective June 1, college students in Montana will be able to carry concealed guns on campus, making for another population shift of gun owners. Signed into law by Greg Gianforte, the law has become controversial among many students not exempted, and as one student Daisy Khoury  interviewed by NPR noted, she did not want to worry about having her morning meal and and fearing gunfire.

For others the worry is that of suicide, and Montana has the third highest suicide rate in the nation; and, some simply to the combination of adolescence, hormones and alcohol, a deadly mix in a closed atmosphere.

Students are required to take a gun safety course in one form, or another, to receive a permit, but that may not be enough to soothe the nerves of some, like Khoury who is also worried, that,  “There are signs on the front door that say, no nicotine, no tobacco. But you're allowing 18-year-olds to have guns, who are drinking on the weekends and are living with a bunch of people? It's totally crazy to me.”

This is all set against legislation requiring background checks that was reintroduced by Congress on March 2, a much debated piece of legislation that would cover internet sales and private gun events, and has the backing of Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) ranking senior member of the Senate, as well as Rep. Robin Kelly, also an Illinois Democrat.

In a push against the bill some states are pushing for penalization of police officers and “others to work with federal  law enforcement or dare to enforce the federal laws,” according to an Op-Ed piece in The Chicago Sun-Times, earlier in March.

More than a dozen states are considering this pushback including Alabama, Arizona Arkansas and Nebraska and Oklahoma; but legal experts say that the Supremacy Clause supersedes state law and is backed by the US Constitution, as well as federal laws in general.

Now in the tragic aftermath of both the Atlanta shootings, and Tuesday’s shooting in Boulder, Colo., President Biden has pushed Congress to approve the pending legislation, but admittingly the Democrats getting the 60 votes necessary will be an uphill battle, to avoid the filibuster.

“I don’t need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common sense steps that will save lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act,” Biden said in remarks at the White House following Monday’s shooting. “We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again. I got that done when I was a senator. … We should do it again,” according to The Hill.

He also “called on the Senate to “immediately pass” the two House-passed bills that would expand background checks for firearm sales, noting that both passed the Democratic-controlled lower chamber with some Republican support.” 

“This is not and should not be a partisan issue, this is an American issue. It will save lives, American lives, and we have to act,” Biden added.

February Jobs Report surprises many, but US needs more

 Friday's Jobs report for February from the U.S. Labor Department was a blessing to optimists, hardy as they are, and a promise to those who believe in the power of hope, which often springs eternal.

Seeing 379,000 non farm jobs exceeded the 49,000 jobs from the previous month and exceeded the private ADP report of 177,000, despite their different methodology, but gives pause for a recovery, although most economists and academics are saying that it will be 2024 as the latest date for a full recovery, with February 2020 as the baseline.

The Hill reported this from the White House: "If you think today's jobs report is "good enough," then know that at this pace (+379,000 jobs/month), it would take until April 2023 to get back to where we were in February 2020," White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain Tweeted.

With nearly 10 million Americans still out of work, the report underscored the damage done to the US economy from Covid 19 and also the residual damage done to all levels of employment, where even if coping, is doing far less with more stringent demands, the most obvious for those working from home, is Zoom fatigue, but for service workers, especially those in the leisure and entertainment department, survival.

The unemployment rate took a slight drift from 6.3 to 6.2 and that particular change is the focus on the overall picture, than just the headline number, which includes those that have given up looking, or don’t feel that there is anything that either they like, or pays enough money to meet basic needs, especially housing which has increased in most major cities, but extended to smaller regions outside of New York Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Recently, Janet Yellen, now Treasury Secretary, in agreement with Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, and noted, according to The Wall Street Journal, that 6.3 percent is in reality “if properly measured in some sense, is really close to 10 percent.”

Powell added that “Published unemployment rates during Covid have dramatically understated the deterioration in the labor market.”

Of course all eyes are on the 1.9 billion Covid relief bill passed by the House, and awaiting final votes from the Senate. This legislation from President Joe Biden has the ability to not only offer targeted relief, says the White House, but also to help with support for state and local governments, as well as food assistance and extended unemployment benefits to help lift many American from the brink of economic collapse the pandemic has created.

Looking at some of the more concerning areas, leisure and hospitality and retail and manufacturing; helping these industries, and the corresponding cadence of shuttered bars and restaurants, and dwindling customer base with a lifebelt is a necessity.

Complicit with that, is the good news, that much of that increase from February came to the leisure and hospitality field with 355,000, a welcome jump.

The Republicans have voiced their opposition to the bill and its attendants, but have offered few alternatives; but one fear is that the bill will increase inflation well above the 0.2 % target, the Federal Reserve’s mandate. 

As everyone knows we are well below that target and “anxiety about inflation is at a fever pitch, among economists and in markets where long term interest rates have been grinding higher.”

Added to the Biden bill is that his encompassing bill will cause policy makers to focus less on priorities towards inflation, noted the Journal, but also taking a new direction: “accepting and even being enthusiastic about higher inflation,” said Larry Summers, former advisor to Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

The road to recovery is still long and Powell has told all that any rebound from the recession has a long way to go, and the Fed’s growth policies including “rock bottom interest rates and large scale bond buying,” according to The New York Times.

“Even though we saw job gains pick up, it’s clear that many Americans don’t feel comfortable returning to work,” Julia Pollak, an economist at the online job site, Zip Recruiter commented to them. “To her, the report’s most striking feature was the small number of workers — just 50,000 — who rejoined the work force last month.”

Labor force participation rang in at 75.5 %, up from 0.5 percent to 0.7%

On the human scale there is a paradox of people who want work, and are not finding it, in contrast to those who are not enthusiastic about returning to work, with some facing child care, which as we saw last month, has decimated women in the workplace.

Overall labor force participation for women is 5.9% from Last month’s figure of 0.6%, an even further departure from earlier months; and, for women of color 8.5% drop compared to white women at 0.5%.

“Unemployment rates for Black women,” Kristen Broady, a fellow in economics studies at the Brookings Institution and policy director of the think tank’s Hamilton Project said in an interview with CNBC, “are more likely to have a college education, are typically lower than those for Black men. But the unique nature of the Covid recession and resulting childcare issues have disproportionately impacted Black women’s ability to work.”

“In other recessions, children were still in schools,” said Broady. “If you can’t afford child care and are a single mom, you can’t go to work. And that’s more likely to affect black and Hispanic women.”

Powell has noted previously that there is a supportive role for the federal government “might help pull more women into the labor market,” in late February, also reported by the Times, and that better child care is an “area worth looking at.”

“Our peers, our competitors, advanced economy democracies, have a more built up function for child care, and they wind up having more substantially higher labor force participation for women,” in answer to a question from a House member, further noting that the US led once in “female labor participation, a quarter century ago, and we no longer do.”

Racial inequality also shows its hand in the numbers: “The jobless rate among Black workers climbed to 9.9 percent last month from 9.2 percent in January. In contrast, joblessness for white workers ticked down to 5.6 percent from 5.7 percent in January, and rates for workers who identify as Hispanic or Asian also fell,” reported the Times.

“We’re still in a pandemic economy,” said Julia Coronado, founder of MacroPolicy Perspectives and a former Fed economist. “Millions of people are looking for work and willing to work, but they are constrained from working,” she told the Times.

The need for skilled labor is stronger than ever, and in some fields are harder than ever, but some say the opposite, and the Times cited “Avant, an online lender that has its headquarters in Chicago and a call center in Oak Ridge, Tenn., is planning to step up hiring at both locations. The corporate staff, which numbers 257, is expected to grow about 30 percent over the next year, said Margaret Hermes, head of talent . . .”

The outlook for the return of a full economic and jobs recovery remains uncertain and long term unemployment remains as are those that are stuck in part time jobs when they want full time has stubbornly held at 4.1 million.