> While fear of mass shootings and new gun regulations are often cited as factors for impulsive gun purchases, the research indicates that social media lobbying by anti-regulation groups and targeted media coverage are more influential factors in driving firearm acquisitions. Personal safety concerns drive many gun buyers more than reactions to mass shootings or potential legislative changes.

It would be extremely interesting to see things broken down by how many guns the the buyer already owned. For tiny n, personal safety concerns seem quite credible. For larger n, it's gotta be some combination of gun-nerd collecting and anxiety-driven repetitive behavior. Presumably the gun industry works hard to encourage the latter, same as the tobacco industry works hard to encourage 7-pack-a-day smoking habits.