Sort:  

There never was a ban. But the right wing in this country assumed that when the democrats got the power they would institute and assault weapons ban. After it was announced that it was on a wish list for the left, gun sales of all kinds went through the roof, but especially ones that seemed likely to be "banned". Now there is a history with new gun laws to "grandfather in" current owners and that played a part. But many purchasers bought knowing that being grandfathered in to "own" does not extend the right to "sell'. People were buying 5 at a time!

What is significant is that most pro gun folks are also law and order folks. Yet, they would be more than willing to break the law (in the future) if the law deprived them of something they felt was their Constitutional Right.

Bans don't work, if the populous believe the laws to be inherently unjust. To directly answer your question, with no ban, just the prospect of one, gun shops were asking a 50% premium so $1,500.00. If you did not want to wait 6 months manufacturing time private sellers were asking double or more.

Yep