Gun sales hit record levels in Massachusetts over past two years

In Massachusetts — a state not known for its gun enthusiasm — firearm sales hit record levels over the past two years, with handguns dominating the purchases.

A WBUR analysis of state data found that gun dealers here sold almost 276,000 firearms from 2020 through 2021. Of those, 64% were handguns, which people tend to buy for self protection. Another 23% were rifles.

All told, Massachusetts gun sales last year were up 57% from 2019 — and doubled from a decade ago.