Worcester gun shop owner reports 60 percent increase since this time last year

BERLIN, Md. – The owner of a Worcester County firearm store says his sales have gone up almost 60 percent since this time last year.

The owner of Arthur’s Shooters Supply says election years usually drive up sales. However, he believes that timing combined with calls to reform police departments as well as pandemic shutdowns have also influenced the sales. He says the main challenge right now is securing inventory adding that the majority of people he’s seeing in his store are new to the industry.

“Probably 40 percent of the people coming through the door, buying firearms at this time, are brand new to the industry. They’ve never owned guns. They come in say they’ve never owned a gun, never shot a gun, don’t even like guns but they feel the need they have to have one now,” says Bob Arthur with Arthur’s Shooters Supply.

Bob Arthur adds that many people who are looking to buy a firearm for the first time aren’t always aware of the long process involved especially in Maryland, a topic he tends to help educate his customers on. He also says it will likely be difficult for supply to meet demand anytime in the next six months.