Report: Gun sales increase with poor economy, Obama win

That's according to the Hutch News, which says that firearm sales are up locally and nationally. Partly because some people are worried there will be more restrictions under a Democratic administration, partly because they're worried about another Depression. Snip:

Gun retailers say sales of military and assault weapons are seeing the biggest increase, but that sales are up for all types of guns.

"I called three or four of my distributors this morning, and all of that stuff is gone," Harter said of assault rifles, which he says are the best "varmint-shooting" weapons around. "I have a standing back order."

The New York Times had a story about this trend, too, with some numbers:

Federal law-enforcement officials cautioned that gun sales were extremely volatile. Nationally, rifle and handgun sales surged 17 percent, for example, in May, compared with May 2007, according to Federal Bureau of Investigation figures.

That was before Mr. Obama had clinched the Democratic nomination. Sales then fell and were essentially flat by September compared with the year before, even as the campaign heated up, before rising 14 percent in October. November figures were not yet available.

Comments

[JewwellsP]

43 people waiting in line to buy or look at guns, 8PM last Thursday at Cabela's.
Place closes at 9PM & lady there said it has been this way for weeks.
Bought a new Smith & Wesson .40 Sigma, $300 cheaper than a Glock.

[Jellybean]

Just in case of massive gun bans - I'm working on a patent for big sticky glue traps to put outside your doors and windows for home security.

[Chemcounter]

maybe we can use your sticky traps down at the border

[Chemcounter]

I will buy in Jan/Feb when everyone needs the cash to make the credit card/house payment.

[Mike]

I think I would prefer Claymore mines to the sticky glue traps. Never hurts to keep a good supply of Napalm on hand either. I love the smell of Napalm in the morning.

this is true... the store close to my hometown was nonstop busy on Monday due to the election on Tuesday...

[Mickey Mouse]

As the advertisment says, "so what's in YOUR wallet?"

[DKC]

An over-reaction not in proportion to a problem that doesn't even exist. Ignorance knows no bounds.

[The_Golfer]

I thought the problem was if Obama lost there was the possibility of riots.

[D-man]

Now the gun speculators are going to cause the price of .22lr rounds to jump from 2 cents to 1.50

[Eattheworm]

S&W .40 sigma...good choice on the .40, only complaint on the sigma is the trigger pull. But for the price you can't beat the "Swock".

[CJ_in_KC]

"An over-reaction not in proportion to a problem that doesn't even exist. Ignorance knows no bounds." - DKC

Why is it ignorance to exercise a right guaranteed by the Federal Constitution, whatever the reason? Based on the 5-4 SCOTUS decision, it isn't at all over-reactionary to conclude that an attack on the 2nd Amendment may come again during the next 4- or 8- years in which time who knows what the SC will look like.

[JewwellsP]

Have only run 100 rounds thru the sigma so far. It is about twice the pull of a Glock, hasn't been anything I noticed so far.
If I had a Glock or say a Colt 1911. I would be complaining. Yet for the $, this gun is hard to beat.

Yes I agree 9MM is good for plinking, not so good to drop some idiot.

[JewwellsP]

Oh by the way, Jellybean. When we set out the glue traps here at work, they just chew off their fur or leg & still get away.

[Michael Lee Kobe]

It doesn't sound like people are buying guns in increased numbers to only surrender them to President Obama.

[Stan Brusky]

Let me ask you, Mickey Mouse, what facts do you have that say these responses are an over-reaction to a non-existent problem?

If you knew anything factual at all, you would not make such a statement.

The fact is that Obama has already tried to get a ban on semiautomatic handguns, and vocally supported a ban on all semiautomatic guns. Those voting records are available in the Congressional Record.
Obama ran the Joyce Foundation, a billion dollar not for profit group from 1994-2002. During Obama’s tenure there the Joyce Foundation spent millions of dollars supporting and creating anti-gun organizations.
Look it up, "Joyce Foundation."
Joe Biden was one of two individuals who personally advocated and PENNED the Clinton gun ban of 1994 Again a matter of record.
The Obama/Biden ticket received huge sums of money from the most notorious gun ban groups. A matter of record.
The so-called "Humane Society," which openly advocates firearms bans and an end to all hunting is asking for money to fund their kennels and field operations while at the same time, gave millions to Obama.
Sara Brady's groups contributed millions.
The group calling itself "American Hunters and Shooters Association" is neither. It endorsed Obama because of his anti gun record.
The list is very long. The information has been suppressed by the liberal press, but is available for those truly wishing to be informed.
The methods are deceit, intentional misinformation, contortion of the facts, and outright lies perpetrated according to the liberal agenda.
First thing they want is to register all citizens with a national ID. (Oh wait! we already have that law in place...) The next thing is to disarm the citizenry. (Wake up and look at the recent history of liberal politicians and government.)
They now need a common enemy. How about the NRA and its following?
All of this either has been happening or possibly will soon.
This is exactly what Hitler did in the '20s and '30's.
I will not live long enough to see the worst of it, but I hope you and your likes do.
You deserve to experience the resulting enslaved society, and see your children deep in it.
The ownership, possession and use of firearms appropriately, and according to the Second Amendment, as determined by our most recent Supreme Court decision, guarantees the security of our other nine Amendments comprising our Bill OF Rights.
The freedom to exercise our Rights is the cornerstone of our country.

"He who would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will lose both and deserve neither."
-- Benjamin Franklin

Learn from history.

[jan1954]

I have to say that as a single woman I am going to purchase a gun in the very near future. Probably before inauguration time as I do see the time coming when gun ownership is going to come under fire again. I think we all will be in for surprises of what happens within the next 4 years, always big promises but lets see the results. I didn't vote for him thats for sure.

[spicolli]

Nice post Stan, except most of the libs in here are to thick headed or just to ignorant to understand.

[ea]

"An over-reaction not in proportion to a problem that doesn't even exist. Ignorance knows no bounds. - DKC"
-----
i totally agree

[DKC]

These are the same folks who bought generators, two tons of saltines, guns and ammo and dug a hole in the ground because of Y2K.

[JewwellsP]

DKC, naw. I always said Y2K was BS & HYPE.
I won't have a generator, no hole in the ground either.
Now when it comes to ammo, lets just say this. It doesn't come with a expiration date. :)

[Nemesis]

DKC, some people know better than to drink the kool-aid.

Next they will be going after our 401k's. Oh....wait, they already are.....

http://www.carolinajournal.com/exclusives/display_exclusive.html?id=5081

[KC Citizen]

Good posts here on the gun issue. Can someone answer a question for me...I've got a .32 and a .25 but want a bigger caliber. Looking at a 9mm or .45 auto. Which caliber is 1.) cheaper to purchase available ammo, and 2.) strong enough to drop an attacker dead in his tracks? Thanks.

[Tom]

9mm is cheaper but it takes more of those to drop someone unless you hit the chest or head.

[jon m]

i think i'll buy a handgun in case i ever have to kill anybody. since my life is a hollywood movie, i will not hesitate to murder anyone who seems threatening and afterward i will not be haunted by it for the rest of my life. i will also probably wear a suit and sunglasses all the time. woo guns!

[DKC]

Obama is facing two wars, the Wall Street implosion, skyrocketing job losses, Fannie and Freddie flaming out, a muscle flexing Russia, Iran's nuclear ambition.... so the first thing he's going to do is go after the gun owners.

jon m- Do you own a fire extinguisher? I do and I hope I'll never need it...but just in case.

And, if someone has the balls to break into my house where my wife and kids sleep. I won't need to second guess their intentions and I won't feel a damn bit of regret. You can take my things, but you won't touch my family. My line of defense...locks, dog, gun, police.

[Elrond of Rivendell]

Stock up folks. With the most liberal Democrat in the White House, and liberal Democrat majorities in both houses of Congress, you can bet your a$$ there will be some gun ban legislation coming down the pike. Remember, Joe Biden helped write the mostly useless 1994 assault weapons ban.

jan1954, good idea. It is always a good idea to know how to use a gun in case you have to, rather than to live in fear of them as some on this forum do.

Having a gun for protection, or having a CC license is not paranoia. It is preparedness. You have homeowners insurance, don't you?

Buying a gun in anticipation of a gun-unfriendly administration in the White House is not paranoia. Its preparedness.

[KC Brougham]

How is a person supposed to protect his home?

Please spare me the alarm system and get a dog solutions. This doesn't help the people who rent in bad neighborhoods.

Frankly the liberals cause more guns to go into circulation every time they start promising to take another chip at the 2nd Amendment. In California there was panic buying that increased by 38% after Diane Feinswine & Co started threatening more gun laws. When asked about the result, she said they didn't anticipate the reaction - duh.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

[Eattheworm]

KC Citizen- get a .40 at least... if the choice is between the 9 and the 45 for self defense, go with the 45.

Some on here seem naive, gun ownership is a right. Respect it, just as you expect others to respect your views. Holes in the ground and gun ownership are two different things. Kind of like Prius drivers and Global Warming nuts.

[Elrond of Rivendell]

DKC,

From Obama's web site. The assualt on the Second Amendment begins:

As president, Barack Obama would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. Obama and Biden also favor commonsense measures that respect the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, while keeping guns away from children and from criminals who shouldn't have them. They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof. They also support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent, as such weapons belong on foreign battlefields and not on our streets.

[BC]

The second ammendment was written specifically to protect us from our own government. The laws subsequently created ONLY affect law abiding citizens, criminals don't care.

[DKC]

I have a revolver in the drawer beside the computer... it's secure, don't panic... nothing I've seen posted here, or mentioned on the web or in the news will in any way affect that gun or my ability to use it for protection. There is no way Obama, with all he faces from the get go, is going to add the gun lobby to his to-do list.
Relax.

[CB]

A ban on handguns, shotguns, or rifles is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court has flat-out said that the 2nd Amendment protects these types of weapons. Of course, that doesn't mean Congress can't pass the law, but it would be pointless and an irresponsible use of their law-making power. If they did, it would quickly be struck down. Restrictions on ownership short of an outright ban will undoubtedly face heavy litigation in which the laws will have to defeat an extremely high standard of review.

This is an overreaction, but that is not to say a democratic Congress and executive isn't dangerous to gun-owners' rights. Thank God we have a reasonable Supreme Court (and a very slow legislative process...just in case I do need to increase the arsenal).

Jon M - where do you live? Because in my country, over 1,600 people are murdered every day. You can be another statistic, but I am going to defend myself, if necessary. I can deal with the guilt later.

[pat]

I am so sick of the pukes of society getting away with crime and getting a slap on the hand while breeding another generation of criminals. You bet, I will buy a gun to protect what I actually have earned! The thugs are learning that people are tired of their welfare arses demanding without ever paying!

What handgun to buy? Some here have said the big .45 is the way to go. I suggest a bit more thought be put into this decision. First if you are planning on getting a CCW then you must purchase a weapon that is comfortable to carry. No matter how good a caliber is it does no good if you do not have it with you. Second choose a weapon caliber that you can truly control. A .45 is not better just because it is bigger if you can not hit what you aim at. Remember the smaller a handguns frame and the less it weighs the more recoil it will have. That being said look at a caliber that has a reasonable amount of bullet mass and muzzle energy. As a general rule of thumb a .380 is the smallest caliber to meet this need. So back to the question of how to choose. Pick a comfortable weapon that fits your needs and pick the largest caliber that you can really control in the frame size that you will actually carry. And please practice, practice, practice. On a more fiscal note 9mm ammo is a very good bargin when compared to .45. Good luck.

[eric g]

The gun sales are up because if someone assasinates him then we will have black riots.

They will kill you if you are stupid and aren't armed.

[Tom K]

Whoever says "you can take my things" is still too liberal. I have to sweat blood to get my things and my family depends on them. If I catch someone taking my stuff their brains go right out the back of their skulls, and I will also shoot them. Most of my stuff, if it isn't food, it's a means to go and get food, get money for food, or it can be traded for food (and shelter). Every thing that a thief takes from me takes food out of the mouths of my family.

This also includes the terrorist organizations that Obama has openly declared support for, like the HSUS, the "Best Friends" animal rights group, and the gun grabbers. I wish that he was selling them a bill of goods the way the Clintons did because they deserve to be scammed.

[Tom K]

A liberal is someone who thinks that there is such a thing as using too much violence to dispatch a burglar.

[you rednecks are idiots]

Why is you rednecks are okay with wire tapping, stripping off your shoes & not taking liquids on a plane - b/c it keeps you safe & protects you from the "terorrists" but you freak out with any other kinds of regulation. Not saying the Obama administration is going to do a damn thing about your guns. I'm a liberal & I have no problem with guns - so long as they're used appropriately (locked up, used by someone who knows how to use it!). Besides, guns don't kill people; people kill people. The problem is you rednecks are afraid of the unfamiliar. You're insecure with your place on the social ladder & your "fight or flight" mechanism is kicking in. Maybe if you familiarized yourself with the President-elect and some of the platforms you wouldn't be so ignorant.

[CB]

Turns out lawmakers also think there is such a think as using too much violence. It is called excessive use of force, and if the person dies, it is called voluntary manslaughter.

If you keep a gun in your home, you have a responsibility as a gun owner to know your state's use of force laws.

Kansas - see K.S.A. 21-3211 through 3213
Missouri - see Chapter 563

FYI - You cannot (legally) shoot someone simply because the are stealing some of your stuff.

[Tom K]

There is no such thing as overkill with a burglar. There is only "open fire" and "I need to reload." Shoot early, shoot often.

[Wyatt Earp]

The phrase you have to remember is this...

"Officer, I was in fear for my life. This broke into my home. I told him I had a gun and he came right at me. I didn't know what else to do. I thought he was going to kill me. So I shot him. That is all I have to say. I'd like to speak to my lawyer now."

[Wyatt Earp]

"Maybe if you familiarized yourself with the President-elect and some of the platforms you wouldn't be so ignorant."

Personally, I think some of the President-elect's platforms ARE ignorant...

[Tom K]

I'm surprised that anyone advocates letting someone live who breaks into your car when there is no one in it.

I think you all are pretty naive. Obama has stated several times that he isn't against folks who get guns legally so if there isn't nothing for you all to hide, then why do you care?

[Tom K]

So tell the audience what weapons Obama wants to allow us.

[The Dude]

I'm pretty sure that Obama is focused on the economy and doesn't give a crap about your guns.
Look at it this way. With sound economic polices and job creation there will be less economic crime.
But for now the economy is crap and there are lots of ridiculous advertising gimmicks.

[No Esquire Behind My Name]

CB - Perhaps you should check out MO Senate Bill 62 - 2007 aka "Castle Doctrine" which basically states -

When you're confronted by a criminal, you don't have the luxury of time. This bill states that if victims choose to stand their ground and fight, their decision will not be second-guessed by the State of Missouri. The ability to protect yourself, your children, or your spouse from harm is critical, whether you're in your home or outside.

RSMO 563.031 (2) states:

2. A person may not use deadly force upon another person under the circumstances specified in subsection 1 of this section unless:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such deadly force is necessary to protect himself or herself or another against death, serious physical injury, or any forcible felony; or

(2) Such force is used against a person who unlawfully enters, remains after unlawfully entering, or attempts to unlawfully enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle lawfully occupied by such person.

Breaking and entering / forced entry carries implied intent of theft, malice, potentially armed criminal action and multiple other 'justifiable' reasons - someone does not break into your house just to look at the color of paint on your walls, to deliver a package or to cook you breakfast.

RSMO 563.074 furthers this position in the following:

Justification as an absolute defense, when.

563.074.

1. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 563.016, a person who uses force as described in sections 563.031, 563.041, 563.046, 563.051, 563.056, and 563.061 is justified in using such force and such fact shall be an absolute defense to criminal prosecution or civil liability.

2. The court shall award attorney's fees, court costs, and all reasonable expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant has an absolute defense as provided in subsection 1 of this section.

You are correct that it is good to know the laws of physical force - just ensure you know both sides of them.

take your wife hunting instead of hunting your wife