Gun sales increase before election

Stories from all around the country:

From Fox Tampa:



From Tennessee:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Gun stores are doing big business these days despite the sluggish economy.

Sales may be slow for some retailers but there are two reasons why the registers have been ringing at gun stores.

"I have personally never seen it like it has been this year," said Larry Baity at Gun City USA in Nashville.

He has sold a record number of guns recently... and he knows why.

When the economy goes south, it kind of goes hand in glove, crime increases.
...
In Tennessee, handgun permits have skyrocketed. In September 2007, about 186,000 people had a carry permit.

In July 2008, there were 196,000 people.

Safety isn't the only reason people have started packing heat. The presidential candidates' positions on gun control is another.

"Because that seems to be the Far Left's choice to drive a wedge in between people owning firearms," Baity said.

From Florida:

MARCO ISLAND, Fla. - Political views and ads are driving an increase interest in firearms. Gun sales and permit requests are up in many places, including here in Southwest Florida.

These days Mike Christoff's Mobile Tactics gun shop and range is busier than normal. "There's a lot of people who never even considered carrying a weapon, but are thinking about just in case, obtaining a carry permit," Christoff says.

Many of his customers worry that if Barack Obama wins the election, their right to bear arms could be reduced or taken away.

And another Florida story:

DELAND, Fla. - Local gun sales have gone through the roof, and gun owners said a lot of it has to do with concerns over who will become the next president.

Some gun owners said that the Democrats, traditionally, have been for more gun control. They said owning or buying a gun could be muffled under Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. Joe Biden.

Heather Lavornia said that business has more than doubled in recent months at Loves Gun and Pawn Shop in DeLand.

From Kentucky:

Many Americans are cutting back on purchases these days, but federal data shows an increase in people buying firearms and ammunition. Some think campaign 2008 is influencing those numbers.

Owners at JT's Gun & Pawn say gun and ammo sales have tripled in the weeks leading up to the presidential election and they say they don't think it's a coincidence.

Bryan Wilson is a gun collector, but fears democratic talks of gun controls will make buying firearms more difficult after the upcoming election.

“People are buying them because they are afraid they won't be able to get any and, you know, I guess they're scared like I am,” gun owner Bryan Wilson said.

They are fears some gun shop owners say have sparked a jump in sales numbers.

“Ammo sales have tripled. The gun sales, we're ordering every day, two and three orders at a time just trying to keep up with the demand,” JT’s Gun & Pawn owner Jaime Campbell said.

Campbell says politics are the recent topic of conversation when customers come in to make purchases.

From Idaho:

TWIN FALLS (AP) - Sales of firearms have increased in south-central Idaho, firearms dealers in the region say, because of fears of possible new gun control laws if Sen. Barack Obama is elected president.

Ryan Horsley, manager of Red's Trading Post in Twin Falls, says gun owners are concerned that certain kinds of guns could be banned.

Specifically, he said, sales of assault-type rifles, such as military-style AR-15s, have jumped, far outselling traditional, bolt-action hunting rifles.

"We had a particular sale of them a little while ago (Oct. 10), and in one day our sales were over $20,000," Horsley said.

From Colorado:

DENVER -- As polls show Democrat Sen. Barack Obama leading in his race with Republican Sen. John McCain for president of the United States, more and more Americans are arming themselves.

Gun sales are up nationwide and in Colorado.

"Probably an increase of 25 percent," said Richard Taylor, manager of the Firing Line in Aurora.

Time and again, Taylor said customers, especially first-time buyers, say they're afraid an Obama White House would mean more gun control.

From Ohio:

Tough economic times and fear of increased gun control have firearms sales booming. Nationally, the industry has seen an 8-10 percent jump compared with 2007.

James Dean, owner of Norton Sporting Goods, says he's seen sales increase between 10-15 percent since summer, thanks in part to a big jump in personal handguns.

While economic downturn typically tends to loosely correlate with increased firearm sales, the presidential campaign could also play a big part for gun owners concerned about increased regulation, especially if Barack Obama is elected.

From Oklahoma:

Lawton_Oklahomans are purchasing more guns, and so is much of the rest of the United States. Some gun enthusiasts are concerned that if Senator Barack Obama is elected President, there will be a new restrictive legislation on particular types of guns. So, many gun buyers are going shopping before the election. Obama supports gun control measures of certain types of guns and a ban on assault weapon ownership.

Gun shops say Tuesday's election is a hot topic among their customers, but the focus isn't on taxes or healthcare - it's all about guns. Gun owners are concerned about how the laws may change, depending upon who becomes President.

From Arizona:

PHOENIX -- Steve Saridakis, a Valley gun dealer put it like this.

"it's scary. I've had nightmares about this guy."

Obama says he does support the second amendment and a person's right to bear arms.

But in the past he has supported bans on semi-automatic weapons and on concealed weapons.

It's enough to make gun owners nervous.

From Pennsylvania:

A number of Armstrong County gun owners apparently agree with the The National Rifle Association's position: Barack Obama is "...the most anti-gun presidential candidate in American history." With that thought in mind, many gun owners are "stocking up" on guns and ammo in anticipation of gun bans should Obama win the presidential election next Tuesday.

Brian Balentine, and employee of Gone For a Day sporting goods and gun shop, Main Street, Elderton, said AR-15 rifles, a semi-automatic version of the military M-16, handguns and home defense shotguns are being bought by some customers.

"Many customers talk about it (an Obama presidency) more and more," Balentine said. "They are worried about the long-term effects if he (Obama) is elected. They are worried that there will be stricter gun laws or maybe a total gun ban."

From Arkansas:

Everywhere you look, sales are down. They're down in the housing market, automotive market and with retail sales.

In fact, consumer confidence is as low as it has been since 1974.

But for gun dealers across the country, business is booming.

Overall gun sales in 2008 are up more than 10 percent. Many owners say it's due to concerns over the struggling economy and the possibility that a Barack Obama Presidency could result in tighter gun control.

Patrick Brady, a gun dealer in Northwest Arkansas, says he expects sales to triple should Obama win the Nov. 4 election.

"I probably won't have a gun left in stock," said Don Hill, owner of Don's Weaponry in North Little Rock. "And Joe Biden is the guy that passed the assault ban years ago. He's the one who wrote and passed it. He's the biggest anti-gunner there is."

From Wisconsin:

Tomahawk - Guns are in high demand in the Northwoods, but it's not because of the upcoming hunting season.

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have very different views on gun control, and people in the Northwoods are worried about the change of leadership in Washington.

The struggling economy doesn't seem to be hurting gun sales at Statton's General Store in Tomahawk.

Dick Statton, the Owner of Statton's General Store, says "In a year like this where you would expext the economy would keep people from spending on a new firearm that's not the case."

In fact, gun sales have increased.

Dick Statton says "It's definitely more activity than last year on year when I wouldn't have expected it."

What's behind the demand for guns?

Bruce Gary, a concerned gun owner, says "Because of Barack Obama's record of voting against gun ownership, hand gun bans, that sort of thing. He's for all those things."

Dick Statton says a number of customers are concerned about losing their second amendment right to bear arms if Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama wins the election.