Gun accessory sales increase following Las Vegas shooting

With a city in mourning and millions struggling to understand the motivation behind Stephen Paddock's actions last Saturday night, it's no surprise that discussion surrounding gun control in the United States has intensified in recent days.

And yet despite this, gun shops have seen increased sales, with CNBC reporting that shares in gun stocks rose in the day that followed the massacre.

The figures show that Sturm Ruger saw a 3.5 per cent increase while American Outdoor Brands experienced a 3.2 per cent increase.

Further to this, sales in the firearm accessory used by Paddock to kill and maim hundreds have increased.

According to The Independent, the owner of the Georgia Gun Store in Gainesville, Georgia has reported an increased interest in the 'bump stock' – something which transforms a semi-automatic rifle into one capable of firing hundreds of rounds a minute.

General consensus suggests that the discussion born of the massacre in Las Vegas has caused concerns among gun enthusiasts, with many fearing that Saturday's atrocity will lead to the accessory's outlaw.

"Anybody that wants to get them is probably just worried that they're going to be banned," the store's owner reasoned.

History confirms that gun sales frequently increase in the wake of mass shootings.