What Stimulated the Gun and Ammo Market?

[justashooter 430]

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig10/mattis1.html

... I would need a crystal ball regarding policy in the Obama administration. I could definitely be wrong on this, but given the continuing economic catastrophe, gun control is probably the last thing on Obama's mind. The Democrats have not forgotten 1994, the year they were thrown out of office for voting yes on the Assault Weapon Ban. Also, in 1994, gun ownership was very different than in 2009. In 1994, it was MUCH easier for the politicians to split the gun owners down the middle into "hunters and sportsmen," who owned bolt-action rifles and skeet guns, and "gun nuts" who owned "crazy assault weapons." The latter group was small and easily marginalized. Eric Holder, the new Attorney General, has stated on several occasions his desire to enact draconian new gun control laws. Nancy Pelosi, on the other hand has shot down the idea, for now.

These days, the two groups are considerably more mixed. The AR15 (the civilian version of the M16) is the dominant rifle in ALL forms of rifle competition outside of some niche sports (benchrest, biathlon, etc.). Remington, the hunting rifle maker (owned by Cerberus Capital), has rebranded Bushmaster (another Cerberus portfolio company) AR-15's as hunting rifles. These days, the AR-15, far from being the choice of militia members and wingnuts, has become the best selling rifle in America for hunting, self-defense, competition, and general collecting. So trying to outlaw them would be political suicide for politicians from either party. Also, the Supreme Court has stated in the 2008 Heller decision that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms, so even if a ban were enacted, it would be unlikely to hold, in my opinion. Clayton Cramer is probably one of the best equipped to discuss the jurisprudence on the matter, but the wording of the Heller opinion makes a ban on rifles that are common and not unusually dangerous unlikely to stand up.

[Ban Hammer 14,635]

moved to ot

[baron555 934]

Just to clarify, the following the statement, is not EXACTLY true (and this is the part the demos will not tell the sheep public):

The AR15 (the civilian version of the M16)

The military M16 is capable of full automatic.

The AR15 is NOT full automatic, only semi-auto. Big difference actually.

[justashooter 430]

Just to clarify, the following the statement, is not EXACTLY true (and this is the part the demos will not tell the sheep public):

The AR15 (the civilian version of the M16)

The military M16 is capable of full automatic.

The AR15 is NOT full automatic, only semi-auto. Big difference actually.

actually, there are about 15,000 AR 15 in select fire configuration in the NFA market that were converted before the May 1986 FOPA restriction. these registered guns require NFA paperwork to transfer and sell for about $9,000-12,000 each.

[baron555 934]

Yes, I know that but I am sure you will agree that we need to keep hammering the differences between the two that our media won't tell to the public.

There is a big difference (except for those relative few prior to the ban).

[justashooter 430]

Yes, I know that but I am sure you will agree that we need to keep hammering the differences between the two that our media won't tell to the public.

There is a big difference (except for those relative few prior to the ban).

nothing a #8 finish nail and a little bit of axel grease won't fix.

[EasyRider 3]

I don't know anything about guns and I'm not necessarily a gun abolitionist, although I do feel that more regulation is required. So I will not pretend to know much about gun control or the politics of it. However, I would argue that the Democrats were not "thrown out of office" for voting for the Assault Weapons Ban. They were thrown out of office because Republicans, although falsely, did a great job in campaign for "restoring dignity to the White House." And I would further argue that the reason for the spike in gun sales is because again, "conservative" commentators on FAUX News and radio did a fabulous job in striking fear into the hearts of gun enthusiasts that Barack Hussein Obama would take away their guns and leave them defenseless when he lets all those terrorists into the country. I can't say that all of them feel this way since there is no way of knowing that but there has been some documented proof to support that idea.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't know anything about guns and I'm not necessarily a gun abolitionist, although I do feel that more regulation is required. So I will not pretend to know much about gun control or the politics of it. However, I would argue that the Democrats were not "thrown out of office" for voting for the Assault Weapons Ban. They were thrown out of office because Republicans, although falsely, did a great job in campaign for "restoring dignity to the White House." And I would further argue that the reason for the spike in gun sales is because again, "conservative" commentators on FAUX News and radio did a fabulous job in striking fear into the hearts of gun enthusiasts that Barack Hussein Obama would take away their guns and leave them defenseless when he lets all those terrorists into the country. I can't say that all of them feel this way since there is no way of knowing that but there has been some documented proof to support that idea.

Yep - I have a similar feeling about that too. The Democrats fall at the end of the 90's had a lot to do with the sex scandals that Bill Clinton was embroiled in and the way the situation was marketed by the GOPs spin doctors.

I can't imagine how else someone like GWB was able to get elected - it certainly wasn't for his charisma or perceived intelligence, but rather I think for what he represented on paper. Right up until the end of his administration - GWB was an empty suit, a figure of visceral hatred to many and a curiosity to his former supporters, many of whom were disillusioned by his policies and couldn't understand exactly what he was politically.

The same arguments obviously could not stand in the 2008 election, the WH had been so devoid of substance under the Bush administration that the charismatic, well-spoken Obama was more or less a shoe-in. Ultimately it didn't matter that his campaign centered around a vague ill-defined idea of change, but the prospect of another 8 years of someone like GWB (and Palin I think was the final nail in McCain's election chances) was too much for many to bear.

[justashooter 430]

the charismatic, well-spoken Obama was more or less a shoe-in.

"umm, umm uh, uh, uh, um, can i get a teleprompter here?"

as for the rest, speak within your realm of experience, foreigner. the loss of dem control in the house was a direct response to AWB '94. period. the end. i was here. i saw it. i participated in it. you were in england when it happened.

as for the terrorists obama is importing, did you miss that little news story about $20,000,000 of my tax burden being allocated to import palestinians a few weeks ago?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

the charismatic, well-spoken Obama was more or less a shoe-in.

"umm, umm uh, uh, uh, um, can i get a teleprompter here?"

as for the rest, speak within your realm of experience, foreigner. the loss of dem control in the house was a direct response to AWB '94. period. the end. i was here. i saw it. i participated in it. you were in england when it happened.

as for the terrorists obama is importing, did you miss that little news story about $20,000,000 of my tax burden being allocated to import palestinians a few weeks ago?

I don't care about the teleprompter to be honest - I don't think it proves anything at all. My point has always been that Obama seems far more comfortable answering questions on the fly - and shows he has a rather better grasp of the issues than Bush did when he was facing a potential firing squad of professional journalists. The events are stage managed certainly, and if nothing else Obama is up to this point little more than the quintiessetial career politician. It was Bush who was deficient, who lowered the bar for what the public could expect from their elected representatives.

As for the rest, I was talking about the White House and how a non-entity like GWB could get elected to the highest office in the land, when by any measure he was totally unsuitable for the office - he couldn't debate, couldn't articulate arguments to show he had a grip on key issues.

As far as that goes I don't think my perspective is any less accurate or valid than yours, Citizen Loadshooter Kane.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Just to clarify, the following the statement, is not EXACTLY true (and this is the part the demos will not tell the sheep public):

The AR15 (the civilian version of the M16)

The military M16 is capable of full automatic.

The AR15 is NOT full automatic, only semi-auto. Big difference actually.

The liberal media and liberals choose not to accept this reality. They are emotional creatures that only care how SCARY the gun looks.

[justashooter 430]

As far as that goes I don't think my perspective is any less accurate or valid than yours, Citizen Loadshooter Kane.

when you can't attack the message, as always, you attack the messenger.

thankfully, people like you can't vote. well, at least not until acorn...just remember, if you ever do get the chance to take the oath to support and defend the constitution, you are swearing to support and defend it, in it's entirety. if you won't, don't swear that you will.

Edited March 26, 2009 by justashooter

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

As far as that goes I don't think my perspective is any less accurate or valid than yours, Citizen Loadshooter Kane.

when you can't attack the message, as always, you attack the messenger.

thankfully, people like you can't vote. well, at least not until acorn...

Oh give it a rest - are you that f*cking immature?

[justashooter 430]

As far as that goes I don't think my perspective is any less accurate or valid than yours, Citizen Loadshooter Kane.

when you can't attack the message, as always, you attack the messenger.

thankfully, people like you can't vote. well, at least not until acorn...

Oh give it a rest - are you that f*cking immature?

dead serious, and 45 the day before yesterday, according to my birth certificate.

you have nothing to lose. so you wouldn't understand. the ladder looks different from the top.

[Peikko 1,575]

I shall really enjoy taking the oath of allegiance now I was all set for it being one of the most boring days of my life, but Justashooter has given that day new meaning.