Firearm Sales Climb Due to Fear of Future Gun Bans
In the wake of Barack Obama’s election as the next U.S. President, gun vendors around the nation are reporting a significant rise in firearm sales. Customers are flocking to stores to purchase guns they expect to be banned once Obama assumes office. One shop owner noted that, since the new President will enjoy a Democratic-party majority in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, there will be nothing to prevent the passage of a new assault weapons ban and strict new controls on handguns.
As reported on ABC’s Nightline, gun sales have risen dramatically. The FBI reports that background checks are up 15% compared to the same period last year — and that was before Tuesday’s election results. Texas retailer Cheaper Than Dirt (CTD) has sold $100,000 of guns and ammo every day since the election. One CTD customer explained: “Everyone’s here for the same reason — buy it now or you won’t have a chance in the future.” CTD owner Dewayne Irwin says “I’m flabbergasted”, but he adds that he could be selling twice as many guns if he could get the inventory: “We’re buying [for resale] anything… pretty much anything that will take a magazine and is a rifle.” Click on the image above to watch the Nightline Special Report on gun sales.
The news is the same across the country — gun sales are up, way up. The Denver Post reports that a “crush of business” has hit gun shops and the state’s computerized background system was “jammed with waits” due to the spike in gun sales. In North Carolina, the Raleigh/Durham News-Observer reports that distributors are running out of semi-automatic rifles and prices are rising. Reporter Jay Price says that gunshops have the Democrats to thank for the buying frenzy: “Barack Obama said he would improve the economy. Turns out he already has, at least in one retail niche: gun sales. Starting in the days before the election, gun shops across the state have been mobbed by buyers who fear that Obama and a larger Democratic majority in Congress will restrict firearm sales. Many were stocking up on things such as assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and handguns that they think would be the most likely targets of new laws, though practically everything related to shooting has been selling more quickly.”
Are people smart to purchase controversial firearms now, or are they over-reacting to the Democractic election victories with “panic buying”? Some political observers say that there are much more important issues facing the Obama administration, notably the economy and Iraq, so passing new gun laws will NOT be a priority for the new President. Also, it is argued, the recent ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court in D.C. v. Heller upholding the Second Amendment should dissuade Congress from moving aggressively to ban guns. On the other hand, some analysts suggest that quick passage of a new Federal gun ban is likely because it can be accomplished so easily. A gun ban is “showpiece” legislation that could be pushed through Congress quickly to demonstrate that Obama is acting decisively out of the gate. By contrast the bigger issues are much more complex and there are no quick, easy (or inexpensive) solutions. While he struggles with the economy and the Iraq war, Obama can show his supporters that he is “accomplishing change” right away by banning so-called “assault rifles”. He’s got the votes in Congress and a gun ban won’t add to the deficit or require new taxes.
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“passing new gun laws will NOT be a priority for the new President”
Of course you are entitled to YOUR opinion but it appears 10s of thousands do NOT agree. Mr. Obama as stated this is on his list and as you state other items will be harder so he very well could slide this in somewhere. The ban is already written as it has been tried many times since the sunset of the Klinton ban, simply need the Democrapic leadership to put it on the calendar. They have lots of folks to pay back, this is expected by many of us to not linger too long in the waiting list.
EDITOR: We are not stating that a gun ban is not a priority. Rather we began the paragraph by saying that some other analysts believe this to be the case. In the end of the same paragraph we state the reasons WHY, high priority or not, the Obama administration may act quickly to pass a gun ban — it may just be too tempting a political trophy. Passing a ban within the first 6 months of his administration would give Obama something to brag about, even if nothing is accomplished on other fronts.
When a Government believes it has a mandate, it has to be seen to act… and act swiftly..
Be very aware that in Australia we have such a government. We had registration of all firearms followed by both sides of Government agreeing to a very generous buy back of all semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to protect our citizens, it’s needless to say that only the registered law-abiding citizens complied through fear of prosecution and that the criminal element of society is still well armed. The buy back of REGISTERED firearms has continued on to handguns.
Do NOT let a ban, restrictions, registrations or anything of the like happen, I live in kanada, and the gun registry is a JOKE!
You all know this has nothing to do with safety, it is all about chipping away at our freedoms!!!!
I can remember the scare that took place in early 1990 regarding the so called “assault rifles” and loading components. We all assumed it would happen and set out to purchase brass, primer, powder, etc. etc. Stores were running out, the prices went through the roof, and a few months later the scare went away. Remember the price for 220 Russian brass when that happened? The SCOTUS has ruled on our 2nd Amendment. It is intact. It would be very rare indeed for our high court to revisit anything they have already ruled on. I purchased the last 5 remaining Colt Sporters from my local gun shop while in Az. During the “scare” I sold them for more than double the price I paid for them. 4 months later, they were back to the original price I paid. I won’t say it can’t happen, but to go out and purchase something due to assumption would IMO be foolish. If a ban such as we assume will happen does actually take place, you would then be in possession of an illegal firearm. If there were to be a government buy back, you can bet you won’t get what you paid for it. I truly believe our 2nd Amendment rights are safe and that the high court Justices will not revisit their interpretation of the Constitution.