Smith and Wesson gun sales rise 15%, share price at eight-year highs after US mass shootings

Americans are rushing to buy guns in the aftermath of fatal mass shootings amid fears of tighter gun regulations

The open carry of long guns, like rifles and shotguns, is already legal in Texas - the new law will permit the open carry of handguns. (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Smith and Wesson has said than gun sales in the three months ending October 31 were up 15.2 per cent to $124.9m, or 32.1 per cent higher than in the same quarter last year.

Americans are rushing to buy guns in the aftermath of fatal mass shootings amid fears of tighter gun regulations.

“The No. 1 driver of firearms sales is fear,” Brian Ruttenbur, an analyst at BB&T Capital Markets, told Bloomberg after tighter gun restrictions were brought up in the wake of San Bernardino. “Primarily, fear of registration restrictions, banning and things like that.”

Shares in handgun maker Smith and Wesson are at eight-year highs

Google Finance screengrab (Google Finance screengrab)

Fear for personal safety is the second most important factor. President Barack Obama has tried to disrupt sales of guns by slowing FBI background checks, which could prompt people to panic buy and increase sales in the short term.

Fourteen people were killed and another 21 injured in a shooting in San Bernardino on December 2. Smith and Wesson, which makes .357 and .44 magnum classic handguns, has seen shares hit eight-year highs, rising 125 per cent in the past 12 months.