Recent data shows a continuing trend-an uptick in firearm ownership among Asian Americans, following the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes since the pandemic.
A survey conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) stated that over 27 percent of firearm retailers saw an increase of Asian Americans purchasing firearms in 2021.
Previous surveys from the NSSF also found that there was a 43 percent increase in Asian Americans buying firearms in 2020 compared to 2019. A similar trend in gun ownership has been seen with other racial groups as well.
“There is just an explosion of gun ownership during the pandemic,” research manager at the Giffords Law Centre to Prevent Gun Violence Alex Nguyen told the Los Angeles Times.
Historically, Asian Americans are among the least common gun-owning demographic, according to the Pew Research Center.
The recent shootings at Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay in California led to some first-time Asian American gun owners, such as a 65-year-old woman that told Fox 11 that “[she] sees the society seems to not [be] safe,”
“Asian Californians are a growing segment of the gun-owning public,” executive director of Gun Owners of California Sam Paredes told the Los Angeles Times. They “have been becoming more involved in not only their own personal protection, the protection of their homes and businesses, especially with the rise in violence that has been evilly targeted against them.”
Congresswoman Judy Chu, former mayor of Monterey Park, advocated for stricter gun laws in a Jan. 29 op-ed in USA Today, referencing discrimination and racism as factors leading to fear and purchasing of firearms in Asian American communities.
“When our community members feel unsafe, gun lobbyists can capitalize on this racism and xenophobia by marketing gun sales to the communities of color who fear violent racist attacks,” Chu said. “This dangerous cycle means that, rather than finding ways to ensure illegal firearms are removed from our streets, we are seeing an increase in gun sales and gun ownership in our communities.”
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to support our efforts to produce diverse content about the AAPI communities. We are supported in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.
When there is a chance someone may shoot at you, you have 2 choices, hide or defend yourself with a gun. Too bad it is come to this.