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| Pictured are 5.56x45 ammunition rounds that can be fired by the AR-15. The firearm is compatible with seven pistol caliber and .22 caliber rifle rounds. JASON MATTHEW WALKER/Lake City Reporter |
Local stores report increase in gun and ammo sales.
By TONY BRITT
tbritt@lakecityreporter.com
Local sporting good stores selling handguns and semi-automatic rifles are reporting a jump in gun sales — a trend currently being reported in gun shops across the nation.
The increase in gun sales could be the result of gun enthusiasts and collectors trying to protect themselves from anticipated future legislation which could make it more
expensive to purchase semi-automatic rifles, handguns and ammunition.
In 1994, as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act passed by a Democrat-controlled Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, there was a provision known as The Federal Assault Weapons Ban. The ban defined assault weapons as a select number of different rifles, shotguns and pistols. According to reports, the ban was designed to prohibit the sale or ownership of “assault weapons” manufactured after Sept. 13, 1994.
The ban also prohibited high-capacity detachable ammunition magazines manufactured after Sept. 13, 1994, that were capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
In 2004, the 10-year ban on assault-type weapons and magazines expired because of a sunset clause and no renewal action by Congress.
According to information from The Associated Press, in 2008, there were 8.4 million firearms background checks from Jan. 1 to Sept. 28 — compared with 7.7 million in the same period last year, a 9 percent increase, according to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System. People purchasing handguns are required to complete a federal background check and a three-day waiting period before the sale can be completed and the gun presented to the customer.
Scott Crews, owner of Scott’s Gunsmithing and Sales in Lake City, said his business has experienced an increase in gun and ammunition sales since the Nov. 4 election. Crews said the recent trends have impacted the way he orders ammunition and weapons.
“I’ve had, just in one case, where we had one gentleman spend $1,059 just in ammo the day after the elections,” he said. “We had eight assault-weapons, including AR-15s and some AKs on the shelves the day before the election. After the election, within three days they were gone. We usually only sold one or two a month sometimes.”
Crews said AR-15s and assault-type weapons are on the wish lists of most buyers searching for guns in his shop. Locally the assault-type rifles price range from $699 to $1,000 and Crews can’t keep the guns on his shelves.
Crews said an AR-15 is pretty much the most common semi-automatic rifle available in its class.
“It’s similar to the M-16 that the Army carries,” he said. “Even the AK-47, or anything people feel like is going to be banned is what they are buying in semi-automatics.”
The increase in business is forcing Crews to order additional inventory just to keep up with the demand for the guns.
“Right now we don’t have an AR-15 on the shelf,” Crews said. “None of my suppliers, DPMS or Bushmasters or any of them, have any available. They are running behind too.”
Scott Moore, a salesman at McDuffie Marine and Sporting Goods in Lake City, said the store is experiencing an increase in gun and ammunition sales as well. Although McDuffie Marine and Sporting Goods doesn’t sell assault-type rifles, Moore said the increase in handgun sales has been pretty steady since about two months ago.
“Handguns in general are the most wanted guns, especially the Kel-Tec .380 and the Taurus Judge,” he said. “Ammunition is crazy. There’s a big thing out there saying they’re going to have a 200 percent increased tax on ammo. Everybody is getting a little paranoid and worrying about it and stocking up while they can.”
“I do a lot of hunting and sports shooting and that’s my Second Amendment right,” said Gary Wilson, who was at Scott’s Gunsmithing and Sales. “It irritates me. (Guns and ammunition) shouldn’t go up in price. There’s no reason for it.”
The Associated Press reported federal tax data also shows that quarterly excise taxes collected on sales of firearms and ammunition have increased about 10 percent this year, compared with last year, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Crews said he expects for the brisk gun sales to slow after the beginning of the new year.
“I think the trend is going to be there until the president-elect gets into office,” Crews said.
Both Crews and Moore said the increased sales could be the byproduct of fear from possible future legislation on guns and ammunition.
“I like guns. I have 20 handguns and rifles,” said Mark Boatright, another customer at Scott’s Gunsmithing and Sales. “I hear all the rumors, but I hope it’s not true.”
Moore was uncertain if the gun sales jump was the largest in the past five years, but said it’s definitely the largest jump the store has seen in gun sales for the last two years.
“I believe it’s because of fear of legislation leading to the increased costs of taxes, as well as restrictions on certain related items such as high capacity magazines,” Moore said.
He said that the increased gun sales are affecting the business in general because inventory is limited with suppliers.
Crews described the recent purchasing frenzy as the biggest jump in gun sales that he’s seen in the past five years.
“The buyers are scared of more (gun) bans coming out,” he said. “People are fearful legislators are going to come back with the recent ban they had on assault weapons.”
The increase in gun sales could be the result of gun enthusiasts and collectors trying to protect themselves from anticipated future legislation which could make it more
expensive to purchase semi-automatic rifles, handguns and ammunition.
In 1994, as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act passed by a Democrat-controlled Congress and signed into law by President Bill Clinton, there was a provision known as The Federal Assault Weapons Ban. The ban defined assault weapons as a select number of different rifles, shotguns and pistols. According to reports, the ban was designed to prohibit the sale or ownership of “assault weapons” manufactured after Sept. 13, 1994.
The ban also prohibited high-capacity detachable ammunition magazines manufactured after Sept. 13, 1994, that were capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
In 2004, the 10-year ban on assault-type weapons and magazines expired because of a sunset clause and no renewal action by Congress.
According to information from The Associated Press, in 2008, there were 8.4 million firearms background checks from Jan. 1 to Sept. 28 — compared with 7.7 million in the same period last year, a 9 percent increase, according to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System. People purchasing handguns are required to complete a federal background check and a three-day waiting period before the sale can be completed and the gun presented to the customer.
Scott Crews, owner of Scott’s Gunsmithing and Sales in Lake City, said his business has experienced an increase in gun and ammunition sales since the Nov. 4 election. Crews said the recent trends have impacted the way he orders ammunition and weapons.
“I’ve had, just in one case, where we had one gentleman spend $1,059 just in ammo the day after the elections,” he said. “We had eight assault-weapons, including AR-15s and some AKs on the shelves the day before the election. After the election, within three days they were gone. We usually only sold one or two a month sometimes.”
Crews said AR-15s and assault-type weapons are on the wish lists of most buyers searching for guns in his shop. Locally the assault-type rifles price range from $699 to $1,000 and Crews can’t keep the guns on his shelves.
Crews said an AR-15 is pretty much the most common semi-automatic rifle available in its class.
“It’s similar to the M-16 that the Army carries,” he said. “Even the AK-47, or anything people feel like is going to be banned is what they are buying in semi-automatics.”
The increase in business is forcing Crews to order additional inventory just to keep up with the demand for the guns.
“Right now we don’t have an AR-15 on the shelf,” Crews said. “None of my suppliers, DPMS or Bushmasters or any of them, have any available. They are running behind too.”
Scott Moore, a salesman at McDuffie Marine and Sporting Goods in Lake City, said the store is experiencing an increase in gun and ammunition sales as well. Although McDuffie Marine and Sporting Goods doesn’t sell assault-type rifles, Moore said the increase in handgun sales has been pretty steady since about two months ago.
“Handguns in general are the most wanted guns, especially the Kel-Tec .380 and the Taurus Judge,” he said. “Ammunition is crazy. There’s a big thing out there saying they’re going to have a 200 percent increased tax on ammo. Everybody is getting a little paranoid and worrying about it and stocking up while they can.”
“I do a lot of hunting and sports shooting and that’s my Second Amendment right,” said Gary Wilson, who was at Scott’s Gunsmithing and Sales. “It irritates me. (Guns and ammunition) shouldn’t go up in price. There’s no reason for it.”
The Associated Press reported federal tax data also shows that quarterly excise taxes collected on sales of firearms and ammunition have increased about 10 percent this year, compared with last year, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
Crews said he expects for the brisk gun sales to slow after the beginning of the new year.
“I think the trend is going to be there until the president-elect gets into office,” Crews said.
Both Crews and Moore said the increased sales could be the byproduct of fear from possible future legislation on guns and ammunition.
“I like guns. I have 20 handguns and rifles,” said Mark Boatright, another customer at Scott’s Gunsmithing and Sales. “I hear all the rumors, but I hope it’s not true.”
Moore was uncertain if the gun sales jump was the largest in the past five years, but said it’s definitely the largest jump the store has seen in gun sales for the last two years.
“I believe it’s because of fear of legislation leading to the increased costs of taxes, as well as restrictions on certain related items such as high capacity magazines,” Moore said.
He said that the increased gun sales are affecting the business in general because inventory is limited with suppliers.
Crews described the recent purchasing frenzy as the biggest jump in gun sales that he’s seen in the past five years.
“The buyers are scared of more (gun) bans coming out,” he said. “People are fearful legislators are going to come back with the recent ban they had on assault weapons.”
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Wake up Democrats wrote on Nov 23, 2008 9:09 AM: