Gun Sales Shoot Up; Retailers Credit Obama
By
KSPR News
By
Joanna Small
Story Created:
Nov 14, 2008
Story Updated:
Nov 14, 2008
It seems logical, with deer hunting season set to open Saturday morning, gun sales in the Ozarks have spiked significantly.
But a local gun retailer says the majority of his buyers aren't hunters.
The presidential election was a win-lose situation for Gunsmoke in Springfield.
“Probably 100%, 150%."
That’s how much sales have shot up since the week before vote 2008- there's the win.
“It would make it where we couldn't sell as much stuff."
And there's the lose; manager Brandon Reynolds says there's a very real fear that President-elect Barack Obama will ban some of his biggest sellers.
The spike in gun sales is a national trend.
The FBI reported 374,000 requests for background checks on gun purchases between November 3rd and 9th, a nearly 50% increase over that same time period last year.
Some first-time purchasers we talked to site the past as proof of what's to come.
“They tried to disarm the public before,” explains Jason Stewart of Fordland, who was buying a .9 mm from Gunsmoke.
Before refers to former President Bill Clinton's 10-year ban on some semi-automatic weapons.
One of the guns that was banned during the Clinton administration is commonly called an assault weapon.
It was banned because it has a collapsible stock, a pistol grip, a bayonet lug, a flash suppressor, and most importantly, a high capacity magazine.
High capacity means the gun can fire more than 10 bullets without reloading- a number of handguns have that feature too.
“A single shot gun is just as dangerous as a gun that holds 100 rounds,” says Reynolds.
He claims a ban wouldn't better protect people, but the idea of it has certainly triggered a reaction that will protect his profit margin.
President-elect Obama says he is for gun rights and considers the issue low on his priority list.
Some of the customers we spoke with at Gunsmoke say they are worried he will also prohibit conceal and carry, which has only been legal in Missouri since 2002.
Just to be clear, if a ban were to be implemented it would not impact weapons already on store shelves and in your homes.
Saturday, Nov 15 at 9:39 PM David O wrote ...
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." Thomas Jefferson, proposed Virginia constitution, June 1776. Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334
Saturday, Nov 15 at 7:16 PM Rob wrote ...
The idiots who voted Obama in don't really care about the American people so this is what happens...
Saturday, Nov 15 at 4:57 PM Navy Vet wrote ...
I don't believe "Real Marine" is a real Marine. If he was he wouldn't be in opposition to non-felons owning firearms. Here's the facts: (1) So called "assault weapon" are not the prefered choice of weapons for criminals. (2) Clinton's assault weapon ban did NOT reduce the crime rate...it actually went up during the ban. (3) The democrats and liberal media want to brain wash the public into thinking a semi-automatic (single shot - not a machine gun) firearm is an evil killing machine.
Saturday, Nov 15 at 9:55 AM Shauna wrote ...
How about the right to "bear" arms? Or are they worried that Obama will make them all wear sleeves?
Saturday, Nov 15 at 9:39 AM Martha wrote ...
It is hunting season. DUH.
Saturday, Nov 15 at 7:13 AM Togo wrote ...
Retailers may credit Obama, but right wing fear and paranoia is probably more accurate.
Saturday, Nov 15 at 12:25 AM Retired Marine wrote ...
Civilians have no need for assault weapons or anything that resembles them. If you think Obama is going to take ALL your guns, you spend too much time listening to the NRA's fear speeches. Mac-10s and Uzis are what needs to be confiscated from you Rambo wannabees.
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