Obama win triggers run on guns in many stores

[Niels Bohr 72]

Sat Nov 8, 2008 9:28pm EST By Tim Gaynor

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Sales of rifles, pistols and ammo are surging in parts of the United States, as many gun owners fear President-elect Barack Obama's administration may seek to tighten ownership of certain weapons.

"The day after the election, I had many more calls than usual from people looking for semi-automatic rifles," said David Greenberg, the owner of the Second Amendment Family Gun Shop, in Bisbee, Arizona, who sold out of AR-15 rifles in recent days.

"There seems to be a fear they will be banned, and it's fairly likely," he added. "Obama and Biden are driven to eliminate firearms from the face of the country."

Gun stores and trade groups have reported a spike in firearms sales in the run-up to the November 4 election victory of Democrat Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden, who many perceive as strongly pro-gun control.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industry, reported a 10 percent jump in gun sales this year based on its analysis of an excise tax placed on firearms and ammunition, and a spokesman said the increase had grown dramatically ahead of the election.

"Gun owners are afraid of what Obama is going to do as far as guns," said spokesman Tony Aeschliman. "He has a clear record of being against us."

Obama stated his support for the right to bear arms during campaigning, although both he and Biden back a permanent ban on assault weapons -- military style semi-automatic rifles -- and "common sense measures" to keep guns away from children and criminals, positions which spurred concern among some gun enthusiasts.

"It's always been the liberal or Democratic agenda to restrict gun ownership," said Jim Pruett, the owner of a gun store in a Houston-area strip mall, whose sales more than tripled on the Saturday before the election to $35,000.

In McPherson, Kansas, gun dealer Steve Sechler said demand at a gun show last weekend jumped by more than 50 percent as buyers rushed to stock up on guns including Kalashnikov and AR-15 rifles.

"Most of the people there were cussing Obama and saying we need home defense," Sechler said.

BUSINESS BOOMING

Obama loyalists say gun owners need not fear curbs when he takes office in January. The Democratic governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, told a rally last month he had spoken directly to Obama about the right to bear arms.

"If you are a sportsman, if you are a gun owner, if you are someone that honors and respects the Second Amendment, you have nothing to fear from Barack Obama," he told a crowd in Chillicothe.

The lobbying arm of the powerful National Rifle Association, however, stoked concerns during the campaign, calling Obama a "serious threat to Second Amendment liberties."

Among other complaints, they accused Obama of endorsing a 500-percent increase in the federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition -- a comment he made as an Illinois state Senator in Illinois in 1999, but has not repeated.

The sentiments are so strong Wall Street is taking notice. BB&T Capital Markets analyst Frank Mitsch on Wednesday raised estimates for Olin Corp due in part to expected increased sales from its Winchester firearms ammunition business.

But despite surging sales, not all gun dealers are celebrating.

Scottsdale, Arizona, gun shop owner Manuel Chee sold out of AR-15 type rifles in the days on either side of the election, but said he would prefer to have steady sales and no prospect of curbs -- whether real or imagined -- in the future.

"I'd rather that (Republican Sen. John) McCain got in and there's not a big scare and we just followed our normal sales," Chee told Reuters.

"Rather than say right now we are going to make a lot of money for a few months, and then in a few months, possibly, our business could be shut down," he added.

(With additional reporting from Chris Baltimore in Houston, Carey Gillam in Kansas and David Schwartz in Phoenix, editing by Philip Barbara)

[Otto 83]

Oh good grief... a run on guns...! Has nothing to do with hunting season I'm sure...

[IAMX 3,055]

Oh good grief... a run on guns...! Has nothing to do with hunting season I'm sure...

They probably feel squeezed being between Mexicans and a Black President. Life is tough these days for a minuteman wanna-be.

[NickD 203]

Oh good grief... a run on guns...! Has nothing to do with hunting season I'm sure...

They probably feel squeezed being between Mexicans and a Black President. Life is tough these days for a minuteman wanna-be.

Wasn't there something in the N-400 oath ceremony that you agree to bear arms for your country? Wife didn't like that, but both my neighbor, an army captain, and I told her, if they give her a gun, we would really be in bad shape.

If they do take away our guns, wouldn't that make us a police state? Isn't that against the US Constitution and right after the freedom of speech? Have to check on that again.

Chicago was my home town, did hear it's no longer legal to have a gun in that city, but I gather that doesn't apply to the criminals and the police. Can a city ordinance override the US Constitution? In Wisconsin, if you buy a gun, better keep it, or have proof that you sold it legally, can get into deep chit if it lands up in the hands of a criminal. That also includes people that have a record of domestic violence, even though that violence was verbal or ignoring.

[IAMX 3,055]

Chicago was my home town, did hear it's no longer legal to have a gun in that city, but I gather that doesn't apply to the criminals and the police. Can a city ordinance override the US Constitution? In Wisconsin, if you buy a gun, better keep it, or have proof that you sold it legally, can get into deep chit if it lands up in the hands of a criminal. That also includes people that have a record of domestic violence, even though that violence was verbal or ignoring.

If recent events are an indicator, the Chicago ban is likely not to last much longer.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Gun ownership requires discretion and responsibility. But, the media tend to report the minority with gun incidents. There's no way in hell that in a year there'll be zero incidents with guns. Same as no where in hell where there's zero incident with some type of murders. No matter how much regulation or enforcement is instituted there will be a small percentage of lunatics. There's no escaping that fact. I'm not being pessimistic, but, that minority ruins everything for everyone.

On the other hand, it's not a major concern because it's only a minority of them.

Edited November 9, 2008 by Niels Bohr

[natty bumppo 297]

visions of the idiotic clinton awb have returned ... and it's not just guns ... it's anything firearm related

[Nagishkaw 510]

visions of the idiotic clinton awb have returned ... and it's not just guns ... it's anything firearm related

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going out to stock up now.

[IAMX 3,055]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going out to stock up now.

Don't forget the tinfoil hats.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going out to stock up now.

Don't forget the tinfoil hats.

I was actually thinking more of getting something made from Kevlar.

[Peikko 1,575]

Now this is an example of creating associations where none exist. I very, very much doubt that in the next 4 years there will be any time to address the 'gun' question. Nice try at triggering the emotional cues though.

[IAMX 3,055]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm going out to stock up now.

Don't forget the tinfoil hats.

I was actually thinking more of getting something made from Kevlar.

Don't forget the SPF-40. It's the preferred armor for Minutemen out in that grueling heat. Never know when you might need it to go with that armor.

Edited November 9, 2008 by SRVT

[IAMX 3,055]

Now this is an example of creating associations where none exist. I very, very much doubt that in the next 4 years there will be any time to address the 'gun' question. Nice try at triggering the emotional cues though.

Logic isn't really a factor for them. Have a feeling they're merely talking out of their ###, too. You know, good ol' pot stirring stuff.

Supreme Court wha? Constitutional Convention to Amend the Consti--wha? I'll take the tin foil hat amendment.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

I'll keep my guns, freedom and money. You can keep 'The Change'