Gun Rights News Roundup

Articles, news stories, and op-eds of interest to gun owners:

[Illinois] Gun, ammo sales booming:

Across Illinois, people are sticking to their guns.

Firearm sales have surged in the state since President Obama was elected, mirroring a national trend fueled in part by concerns over the new administration's stance on gun control.

"It's like when your radiator blows or your pressure cooker boils, that's the kind of spike we're talking about," said Mark Diaz, manager of the Smoke 'N Gun shop in Waukegan. "The joke is that the president is the No. 1 salesman in the firearm industry."

Nearly 80 percent of active hunters and shooters believe firearm purchases would be "more difficult" with Obama and a Democratic Congress, according to a recent survey by Southwick Associates, a research firm that specializes in fishing and hunting statistics. ...

[New York] Gun, ammo sales booming:

ALBANY, N.Y. -- "We're swamped all the time," said B & J Guns Sales Manager, Chris Powell. "These people are not just buying one gun, they're buying multiple guns and plenty of ammo."

The economy may be hurting many businesses across the state, but not gun shops. Sales of handguns and ammunition are way up, according to Powell.

"We're seeing quite a few new gun owners, especially new pistol owners, people that are just applying for their permit. A lot of them have to pick out a gun before they go through the application process," he said. ...

[New York] Another article on the gun, ammo sales boom:

ELMIRA HEIGHTS-- Despite a struggling economy, retailers are having a hard time meeting demand for guns and ammo.

Gun sales are soaring in the Twin Tiers, and across the nation for fear the Obama administration will impose stricter gun control.

Retail managers say once it looked like Obama would be elected president, gun and ammunition sales sky rocketed- and they're having a hard time keeping up.

“The manufacturer has even told us, if you want a million dollar order, you may only get a couple hundred thousands of it,” said Tom Witzel, the store manager of Hesselson’s in Elmira Heights.

He says his shelves have never looked so empty, and hunters are stocking up on gear - in fear of strict limitations and high taxes. ...

[Colorado] Bill seeks to inject some sanity in schools' "zero tolerance" weapons policies:

DENVER - Ten years after the Columbine massacre, some states are losing their tolerance for the zero-tolerance policies that proliferated in the aftermath of the nation's deadliest high-school shooting.

A week before Colorado marked the 10th anniversary of the iconic tragedy Monday, the legislature sent to the governor a bill making an exception in the state's zero-tolerance policy on weapons in schools. And on the day after the anniversary, Texas lawmakers will take more steps toward loosening their state's rules.

Colorado state Sen. Kevin Lundberg said he proposed the legislation in his state after Marie Morrow was expelled for leaving three facsimile drill-team rifles in her car in the school parking lot. She missed six days of school before a school hearing officer allowed her to return, after the story made national headlines in The Washington Times and elsewhere.

The bill isn't exactly sweeping - it allows students to bring facsimile or prop rifles to school as long as they leave them in their cars - but it passed unanimously in both houses. Efforts to do more were met with "pushback," said Mr. Lundberg. ...

[Georgia] Pro-gun rights legislator speaks to Georgia gun group:

Georgia 68th District Rep. Timothy Bearden spoke to the area GeorgiaCarry.org group Saturday.

The group, which is head Tim Huett of Hinesville, had its monthly meeting at the Club house in Rye Patch.

“Most people in Georgia don’t realize it, but Georgians have some of the most restrictive laws in the nation on carrying firearms,” Bearden said. “States like Washington and even California, which are states that a lot of people feel are liberal states, aren’t as strict as we are here.”

According to the Villa Rica Republican, one of the problems that Georgia has, regarding the right to carry firearms is the vague interpretation of the Public Gathering Law.

“This law has no clear guidelines and as a result of this any time three or more people are gathered together they can be interpreted as a group, and the law could be enforced, where they can’t carry a gun,” Bearden said.

The lawmaker discussed Georgia House Bill 65, which, according to him, “puts everything on the table.”

“If this bill passes, we can get some clarification on carrying a firearm, and some of this loose interpretation can be stopped,” he said. ...

Comment: I would argue that Georgia's gun laws, despite the noted problems, are still far more reasonable than California's.