Gun sales increased among Americans last month following the Hamas attacks in Israel and a mass shooting in Maine.
The 8.3% increase reported by the FBI is the largest of the year, according to the agency.
“The horrific attacks on Israel followed by the escalating hate speech toward Jewish Americans, coupled with the tragic murders in Maine, are reminders that every American has the right to legally purchase a firearm to provide for their own defense. October showed that Americans did this 1.3 million times, extending the million-plus background checks each month to 51 consecutive months,” said Mark Oliva, spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation.