By: José Niño

Americans are arming themselves in record numbers. But they’re not just buying guns. Thousands of gun owners are also making sure to get trained to exercise their right to bear arms properly.

The FBI has already revealed that in March, 3.7 million background checks were processed, which is an all-time monthly high since background checks started being recorded in 1998. According to a report from KRCR News, there is increased demand for Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) classes in regions like Northern California. Even in one of the most anti-gun states in the country, people are still going out of their way to get armed and learn the basics of firearms ownership.

In March, California Gov. Gavin Newsom brashly mandated that all non-essential businesses in the state be closed. Since then, several organizations and stores have filed petitions against the state and local governments for not allowing certain gun stores to stay open.

Thanks to efforts from the federal government (surprise!) and grassroots gun organizations, gun stores in the Golden State have slowly opened back up. Wasting no time, many Californians have used this opportunity to become first-time gun owners.

KRCR7 News reports:

CCW students training with Northern Firearms Instruction at the Redding Gun Club Sunday said people don’t feel safe right now.

First-time gun owners Kimmy Pullen and Dwight Husted are taking their concealed carry class as a couple. "We could kind of see the direction things are going and it’s getting dangerous. We felt like we want to be able to protect our family better," Husted said.

Ted Lidie, owner of Northern Firearms Instruction, told KRCK 7 News that more people have expressed interest in attending his classes in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, which has resulted in protests, riots, and looting across the nation.

Lidie said he has been assisting many new gun owners in selecting pistols that fit their needs and receiving certification. According to FBI reports, handgun sales are up by more than 90 percent. Because of this spike in purchases, lots of popular pistols have been placed on back-order.

José Niño is a Venezuelan American freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. Sign up for his mailing list here. Contact him via Facebook, Twitter, or email him at [email protected]. Get his e-book, The 10 Myths of Gun Control, here.