Gun purchases this year have already topped purchases across 2019, continuing a strong buying trend that started during the COVID-19 pandemic. September saw 1.3 million background checks for the sale of a gun, according to an analysis by the National Sports Shooting Foundation (NSSF), a firearm industry trade association. That means 13.7 million such checks have been completed this year, surpassing the 13.2 million recorded two years ago. Because of the pandemic, 2020 was a banner year for gun purchases. Sales skyrocketed past anybody’s expectations, easily setting a new record. A surge in first-time buyers poured into gun stores, expressing fear over a rise in crime, the harsh lockdowns imposed across much of the country, and the push to defund police departments. Some thought a slump was in order this year, but so far, sales have most months come in at the second-highest ever, falling behind only the same months …