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We're afraid and armed WEAPONS PURCHASES ON RISE

Business is booming at gun shops


Date published: 3/28/2009

BY CHELYEN DAVIS

President Barack Obama has stimulated at least one part of the economy: gun sales.

Fears that he and Democratic congressional leaders will outlaw or restrict guns and ammunition, along with worries about the economy, have helped spur a hefty increase in sales of guns and ammunition.

Sturm, Ruger and Co. reported a $48 million backlog in orders as of Dec. 31, and a 42 percent increase in sales in 2008.

Smith and Wesson earlier this month reported a 45 percent increase in handgun sales.

The Virginia State Police, which tracks each request for a background check--required for each gun purchase--reported a 19 percent increase in 2008, including a 60 percent increase in November over the previous November.

The usual year-to-year increase is about 3 percent.

And Georgia Arms, a large ammunition-sales company, posted on its Web site that it has a "huge increase in demand" and that shipping times are five to seven weeks behind.

"Obama's been the best gun salesman," said Anthony Ball, owner of B&B Pawn Inc. in Fredericksburg. "Everybody's scared to death he's going to take away their guns."

A whole wall of Ball's store is lined with racks of rifles, shotguns and a few assault rifles. Cases are full of handguns, and Ball says guns are a big seller in his store.

While most of his stock is used guns, he says it's nearly impossible to get new guns or ammunition from suppliers. And when you can find new guns, prices are way up.

At The Range, a shooting range in Stafford County, it's the same story.

"I'm still waiting on guns I ordered back in December," said Paul Vincent. "It's hard to find ammo, it's hard to find the gun you want."

The Range doesn't sell a lot of handguns. It's more of a shooting range, but Vincent said interest in all of the Range's services has increased in the past few months.

The classes he offers--a basic how-to-shoot class for beginners, and the class required to get a concealed carry permit--have seen participation quadruple.

"Normally I just schedule one here and there," Vincent said. "Now it's every week."

Vincent said there's a surge in gun sales any time a Democrat gets elected president. People get paranoid, he said.


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Firearms transactions (background checks run by the state police):

22.8

percent increase in October

60

percent increase in November

25

percent increase in December

19

percent increase for 2008

3

percent typical annual increase

268,136

total transactions in 2008

55,864

concealed carry permits issued in 2008 in Virginia



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Date published: 3/28/2009


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Needful Things (posted by ElGeezer , Mar. 30, 2009 4:54 pm)   
Contrary to what many people think there is a definite need for what some unintelligent people refer to as assault weapons to use for hunting purposes. Oh you say! Let me explain it as if you were a 3 year old - Disabled people with afflictions from military service, accidents, etc. with limited to no use of a limb (arm), hand or missing fingers with the inability to cycle a round of ammunition using a pump, lever, or bolt action firearm can and do use semiauto guns to hunt with due to their disability!

BLK-Why else would someone want one? (posted by dontask , Mar. 29, 2009 6:06 pm)   
How about just firing one for fun? I absolutely don't want folks running around with them in public, especially for nefarious purposes, but I can certainly see it being enjoyed in the proper venue.

AtackDuck (posted by BLK , Mar. 29, 2009 4:50 pm)   
You are Correct, Full Auto's for Deer hunting is against the law. But What Other Reason Would Someone Even Need a Full Auto Weapon...For Self Protection a Glock 17 is just fine.

OOPS, fired from the lip. (posted by AtackDuck , Mar. 29, 2009 4:15 pm)   
Excuse me BLK, that was dcsuburb writing about the “eeviiilll” assault weapons. But what was the crack about the FAW for deer hunting? Dude, it’s against the law.

assault weapon (posted by BLK , Mar. 29, 2009 12:04 pm)   
SORRY>>>> I MEANT FULL AUTO NOT Assault Weapons,,, So I typed too Fast , lol

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