Gun Sales Steady in Uncertain Times
The National Shooting Sports Foundation provides this report:
“Across the country, the media continues to localize a story that first ran in The Washington Post, with NSSF input, about a trend of increasing firearm sales driven in part by the fear that, if elected, Barack Obama, working with a Democrat-controlled Congress, could pass legislation that would limit Americans’ right to own certain types of firearms, particularly semi-automatic rifles. A story from the Naples (FL) News confirmed an increase of concealed carry permits, while a story out of Las Cruces, NM, focused on increased sales of tactical rifles. Meanwhile, on the hunting side, the Associated Press ran a story Saturday on the strength of hunting-related sales despite high gas prices and economic instability. “Hunters may not get the latest product, but they’re still getting the things they need and getting out there. Our sales are holding up good,” said Larry Whiteley of Bass Pro Shops.” (Story from NSSF).
Commentary
Are American gunowners over-reacting to the possibility of a Democrat in the White House? Maybe not…. If the Democratic Party captures the Presidency, while attaining majorities in both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives, many observers predict Congress will quickly enact new legislation restricting the ownership and use of certain classes of semi-automatic firearms, and imposing much tighter controls on handguns.
There is no reason to believe Barack Obama would not endorse such legislation. For a running mate, Obama chose Joe Biden, one of the original authors of federal legislation restricting semi-automatic rifles. As quoted in the Chicago Tribune, Presidential candidate Barack Obama supports an “assault weapon” ban: “I believe we need to renew — not roll back — this common sense gun law.” In 2007, Obama stated that the government needs to permanently reinstate an assault weapons ban, according to Fox News. In addition, Obama has unequivocally stated in an NPR interview that he would support Federal legislation to ban concealed carry laws nationwide.
Having spent over two and a half decades in the military, I can not for any reason understand why the average citizen would need an assault weapon. If you positively, absolutely have to have one then by all means enlist or apply for a commission in the armed forces. Assuming you’re accepted for the applicable specialty, you will not only have the use of one for free, you’ll get paid to caress it, clean it, fire it, shoulder it, and PT with it, plus have the honor of serving your country, all at the same time. The average citizen does not need and should not have access to assault weapons. They are tools best possessed by the military.
And free speech should only apply to hand presses, sans moveable type, but only available after completing a 4 year journalism major at an ivy-league school?
Having spent over two decades in the transportation industry, I cannot for any reason understand why the average citizen would need an automobile. These dangerous machines are best operated by trained, well-regulated government employees or, in some cases, properly licensed individuals who are duly engaged in farming or industry.
Sounds stupid, doesn’t it. But owning a car is not guaranteed by the Constitution.
And last time I checked, the 2nd Amendment doesn’t say anything about hunting or target shooting. It directly implies the right of private citizens to own and retain military-style weaponry. Does that scare you?
Some people like Art here thinks people in america are protected by our goverment and we have no need to own semi-auto “assault” weapons. What Art does not seem to understand is we are not protected by our goverment, our goverment is out of control. My right to own what ever I want shall not be infringed (short of full auto)! I am an X-Jar head, I saw first hand what a county is like when the goverment, thinks the public had no right owning weapons. That countries citizens are completly at the mercy of the bad guy’s (including the govement) who did not give up their guns. One last note, If they think they can come and get my guns, because they passed new laws or are re-instating old ones, think again.