I purchased my first gun in 1968 for $85, a Colt Cobra (still have it) for off duty b/c my duty weapon was a Colt 4”. That represented about one percent of my income then so, according to the economies of scale theory, that’s how we should view this. A small Glock runs about $400 and starting salaries for police run about $50K so viewed through this lens not much has changed.

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Old Cop
LEO (Ret.)