Not many can argue there was political and social unrest in the United States during Covid. BLM Riots, Covid lockdowns and state governors trying their hand at government overreach could have played a huge role in the 2020/2021 surge of CPL permits along with guns and ammo sales.  

“Me, my husband and children got our CPL during Covid because we wanted to get it while we still could. Seeing the world going sideways, and before ‘they’ made it close to impossible, and before the prices (guns/ammo) went crazy,” Jodi, an Allendale, MI resident said.  

“And is there more to it? Yes, we see what is happening around us… we might have a little break, but we know the end of the story. We are being wise in our looking at the future,” Jodi said.  

The Michigan CPL Surge of 2020/2021

Jodi and her husband decided to take action to protect themselves and their family, should things ever come to that. And they were not the only ones.  

“I got my CPL shortly after Covid out of respect for my 2^nd Amendment rights. Also to do my part in protecting my family and the people in my community whatever that may be. The rise in crime and violent crime due to the Biden Administration helped prompt my decision to get it. I accept my responsibility and will not be a victim. I’ll do my best to make sure others around me aren’t victims as we can’t always wait for law enforcement,” Tim, an Allendale MI resident said.

CPL registrations were consistently on the rise, but the huge jump was in the year of 2020 to 2021.  

From Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024, Michigan State Police issued 168,202 CPLs which shows a slight rise from the previous year’s 157,653.

From Oct. 1, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2021; however, the number of Michiganders applying for a CPL exploded. The state issued 232,316.

The Michigan guns and ammo surge of 2020/2021

An increase in gun sales and ammo seemed to have coincided with CPL registration requests. Michigan saw a 180% increase in gun sales during 2020/2021. However, the District of Columbia also saw a 140% increase. This just shows that concerns over personal safety can be a bipartisan issue.  

Larry Crandle, former owner of the Palladium Gun Shop, observed a significant increase in gun owners locally, with many walking in with a specific request to find firearms to assist them in defending their homes.  

“As society seemed to be breaking down, people wanted to defend their homes. In 2020/2021 there was a surge in house guns to defend homes. I would talk to them and guide them on what worked best for them based on skill and knowledge,” Larry Crandle, former owner of Palladium Gun Shop, said.

“Ammo sales is always up and down with the economy and social triggers. But during 2020/ 2021 ammo sales were up considerably as people got concerned with defending themselves and their family,”  Crandle said.  

The Palladium Gun Shops gun and ammo sales coincided with the national average as firearms sales were up 95%, and according to NSSF, there were nearly 5 million first-time-ever gun buyers in the U.S. that year. 40% of those gun sales were to people who had never previously owned a firearm.

Steve Prince, owner of Prince Arming LLC, saw what 5 million first-time gun buyers saw, and 232,316 Michigan residents saw when they signed up for CPL Registration that year.  

“When do you think about fire insurance? After a fire. Just like anything else, people don’t think about it until there’s an issue. When things get real, people engage. And we saw a surge in 2020 because of that. This is the time when people woke up and said that every day life isn’t normal now,” Steve Prince, Prince Arming LLC, said.  

Ammo, guns and CPLs may be a “new norm” for millions, but taking the necessary and safe steps to protect our homes and families should be admired in a civil society. For those interested in learning more about firearm safety and CPL permit training, go to Prince Arming LLC.