COVID-19 Non-Compliance Linked to Increased Firearm Purchases

A Rutgers study found that individuals who avoided COVID-19 precautions early in the pandemic are more likely to purchase firearms, particularly among moderate and conservative individuals. The study surveyed 6,404 adults from three states and found that those who engaged in few defensive behaviors to avoid illness were more likely to have purchased firearms since March 2020. The study also found that different communities view and respond to risk differently and that they trust different sources to provide them with information on how to manage that risk.