Thread by @igorvolsky

1/ According to @FBI the National Instant Criminal Background Check System conducted 3.7 million screenings in March, the highest number recorded since its inception in 1998 as Americans panic-bought firearms in response to #CoronavirusPandemic

THREAD on why this is alarming

@FBI 2/ @NRA has spent weeks urging the public to panic-buy guns in response to the coronavirus pandemic as it works to rehabilitate its image and pump even more guns into our neighborhoods.

@FBI @NRA 3/ Panic-buying a gun can infect your home w/ something even more dangerous than coronavirus

While individuals defend themselves w/ a gun in less than 1% of crimes in which there is contact btwn assailant & victim, access to a gun 3x the risk of suicide & 2x the risk of homicide

@FBI @NRA 4/ We’re already seeing coronavirus-related gun incidents in our neighborhoods & we’ll continue to experience ⬆️rates of domestic violence, suicide, homicide and accidental shootings.

@FBI @NRA 5/ Long after the coronavirus pandemic is over, these guns will end up in our schools, on our streets, and in our places of worship. The NRA and gun makers will profit. Everyday Americans will be less safe.

@FBI @NRA 6/ States that've been most successful at tackling coronavirus have put science 1st

We won't ⬇️gun deaths until we stop taking advice from @NRA & instead listen to nearly unanimous opinion of medical professionals who say that guns in the home significantly ⬆️risk of gun deaths