When Donald Trump takes office on Friday, gun owners say they’ll once again have an ally in the White House.  But gun retailers tell us since Trump was elected gun sales have actually dropped.

  • In 2012, on eve of Barack Obama's second term, gun sales strong
  • CNN reporting huge sales spike prior to the election, fueled by fears of Clinton presidency
  • Since Trump's victory, stocks of gun manufacturers falling

2016 was a busy year for gun retailers like Millie and Walt Bishop.

“Before, people who never had dreamed of getting a [carry concealed weapons permit] and getting a firearm came out in force, because of the election,” said Millie Bishop, who co-owns Griffin Custom and Finish, an Orange City gun retailer, with her husband Walt.

But in November, after the presidential election was over, the Bishops noticed a drop-off in sales.

“Everything dropped off and steadied," said Millie. "Nobody seems to be in a panic anymore because the race is over and we have a pro-Second Amendment president coming in.”

The drop-off in sales stands in stark contrast to four years ago. In 2012, after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, and as Barack Obama was about to begin a second term as president, local gun retailers reported strong sales.  

“Right around the end of last year and this year, with the panic over, I think everything’s going to go quiet for a while and subside," said Walt Bishop. "Once everybody takes stock of what they have and realize Armageddon isn’t coming."

And it’s not just happening at the Bishops' gun shop in Orange City.  They told us they’ve heard from other gun retailers in Central Florida who are seeing slower sales as well.  

CNN reports gun manufacturers across the country saw a huge spike in their stock prices when fears of a Hillary Clinton presidency – and tighter gun control measures – drove up sales.  Since Trump won, those stock prices have fallen, some as much as 20 percent.

At Griffin Custom and Finish, prices are falling too.

“We had to drop some of our prices between $15 and $25,” said Millie.

The Bishops are confident, however, that sales will eventually level out.

“It will regenerate again when everybody starts depleting their ammunition, and starts deciding it’s safe to pick something up for the pleasure of it again,” said Walt.