Gun sales are expected to push past the 13.8 million sold last year, in part because buyers are growing more concerned that if a Democrat is elected president in 2020, sweeping gun control will pass in Washington.

Small Arms Analytics and Forecasting, a group that watches the arms industry, said today that it expects sales to reach 14 million this year.

Other groups said sales recently spiked as the Democratic presidential race heated up and after Virginia voters gave Democrats control of the state legislature in an election where gun control was a driving issue.

Last weekend, for example, a gun show in Northern Virginia reported that many dealers sold out.

Permits for those wishing to carry a concealed handgun have also surged to a new high.

“Sales have definitely been brisk, especially of small concealable handguns. We also saw a spike in sales of tactical rifles like AR-15s and AK-47s, for which I think we can confidently thank Beto O’Rourke,” who vowed to take them as a former presidential candidate, said Justin Anderson, the marketing director for Hyatt Guns, a huge seller in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Although O'Rourke is out of the race, other candidates have pushed attacks on guns. Former Vice President Joe Biden has sparked considerable concerns with his proposal to ban 9-mm handguns, the most popular caliber, and one used by most law enforcement agencies.

Anderson told Secrets, "It seems to me that Biden is preying upon the ignorance of his base by making such a ludicrous suggestion. Black Friday looks to be a huge day for the gun industry, building on what is already a record year for sales. In addition, with so much competition in the marketplace, retail pricing is as low as I’ve seen in over a decade. My message to consumers thinking about buying a gun: Pull the trigger!"

Anderson and others said that the entry of anti-gun advocate Michael Bloomberg into the Democratic presidential race is also expected to raise concerns among gun buyers.

Sales are surging, but they are well below the 16.6 million sold in 2016 when anti-gun presidential candidate Hillary Clinton was expected to win.