Gun purchases in 2021 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 gun sales, according to an analysis by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), a firearm industry trade association. That means 13.7 million such checks have been completed in 2021, surpassing the 13.2 million recorded in 2019. Because of the pandemic, 2020 was a banner year for gun purchases. Sales skyrocketed past anybody’s expectations, easily setting a new record of 39.5 million background checks. 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 in gun sales was likely in 2021, but thus far background checks have come in at the second-highest numbers ever during most months, falling …