"It's certainly no because of an advertising blitz"?  Fear and terrorism propaganda filling the media at all levels on a daily basis.  The election of a black man to Presidency  generated huge sales as the NRA and its White Supremacist associates filled every corner of the nation with claims that Obama was going to take away all of the guns.  Insane fear generated by nothing but hot air as the gun makers and distributors couldn't supply enough arms or ammunition.  The greatest surge of civilian gun buying in the history of the nation.  The statistical numbers certify my point.  All of that armament for what?  None of it has stopped the killing on the streets.  Just stupid.