First-Time Buyers Drive Soaring Gun Sales

Barry gets the economy going

Firearms have been flying off shelves across the country amid calls from some lawmakers to increase gun control, and manufacturers are benefiting from the surge in demand.

But retailers and makers of firearms aren't simply relying on returning gun owners looking to make another purchase. They're also getting a boost from first-time buyers, thanks to an increasing number of people interested in firearms.

Firearms sales have soared recently amid concerns over increased regulations. Some states, including New York and Connecticut, have passed stricter laws that ban certain firearms and cap magazine capacities in the wake of last year's school shooting in Newtown, Conn. The U.S. Senate struck down an effort to pass gun-control legislation related to background checks and a ban on some semi-automatic rifles.