Spring Break
Local gun sales increase since election
Owner says Obama has anti-gun policies, causes scare and sales hike
Jack Willems
Issue date: 11/21/08 Section: News
In the long run, it may lead to higher homicide rates because criminals obtain firearms mainly by stealing guns, and the more guns out there the more targets they have, Kleck said.
"In the first nine months or so there will be no effect," Kleck said.
Local gun owners expressed anxiety about the coming administration.
The Democratic Party has a proven track record of placing restrictions on gun ownership, said Chris Potter from Fayetteville. There are plenty of gun restrictions as it is, and new ones are not needed, Potter said.
Randy Ross of Rogers has a habit of trying to buy guns every month, but he has increased his buying recently, Ross said. He knows there has been a rush to get pistols, ammo and AR-15 Rifles, he said. Ross worries about being able to buy automatic weapons under a Democratic administration, he said.
"His cell phone has a video where they shoot machine guns for three minutes straight," said Joe Landrith, a friend of Ross. "You won't be able to do that under Obama."
The rush to buy guns and ammo has raised prices for both, Landrith said. Landrith recently went to a gun show looking for bargains and found the guns were just as expensive as they were at Sturm's shop, he said.
Sturm is concerned about the Obama administration because his industry suffers under tighter gun laws, and there are enough regulations as it is, he said.
While he thinks it changes the business, Ezell believes the guns that are likely to be restricted are not the kind his shop sells, he said.
"We will continue to sell guns," Ezell said. "We think."
Barack Obama has stated that he supports the 2nd Amendment but thinks local governments have the right to regulate guns, according to the Web site, OnTheIssues.org. Obama also endorsed a ban on the possession and sale of handguns in Illinois, cosponsored a bill to limit gun purchases to one a month while in the Illinois state legislature and voted against prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers for the misuse of their products, according to the Web site. Obama did vote to allow retired police officers to carry a concealed weapon while in the Illinois legislature.
While their fears could be justified, Barack Obama will probably not prioritize gun control when he gets into office, said Allan Saavedra, a sophomore civil engineering major from Miami, Fla. The increase in gun sales does not frighten Saavedra, he said.
"When I think of guns, I think of deer hunting and property protection. I don't think of gun violence," Saavedra said.
While Obama may have promised more gun control, he may not be able to follow through on everything he promised, said Jessica Gahr, a junior psychology major. Gahr, an Obama supporter, said she thinks that people have the right to own guns, but there should be more restrictions. Gahr believes the people buying guns now are doing it for psychological reasons, though she does not understand why, she said.
"A lot of what you say during a campaign is just talk to get you into office," Gahr said.
"In the first nine months or so there will be no effect," Kleck said.
Local gun owners expressed anxiety about the coming administration.
The Democratic Party has a proven track record of placing restrictions on gun ownership, said Chris Potter from Fayetteville. There are plenty of gun restrictions as it is, and new ones are not needed, Potter said.
Randy Ross of Rogers has a habit of trying to buy guns every month, but he has increased his buying recently, Ross said. He knows there has been a rush to get pistols, ammo and AR-15 Rifles, he said. Ross worries about being able to buy automatic weapons under a Democratic administration, he said.
"His cell phone has a video where they shoot machine guns for three minutes straight," said Joe Landrith, a friend of Ross. "You won't be able to do that under Obama."
The rush to buy guns and ammo has raised prices for both, Landrith said. Landrith recently went to a gun show looking for bargains and found the guns were just as expensive as they were at Sturm's shop, he said.
Sturm is concerned about the Obama administration because his industry suffers under tighter gun laws, and there are enough regulations as it is, he said.
While he thinks it changes the business, Ezell believes the guns that are likely to be restricted are not the kind his shop sells, he said.
"We will continue to sell guns," Ezell said. "We think."
Barack Obama has stated that he supports the 2nd Amendment but thinks local governments have the right to regulate guns, according to the Web site, OnTheIssues.org. Obama also endorsed a ban on the possession and sale of handguns in Illinois, cosponsored a bill to limit gun purchases to one a month while in the Illinois state legislature and voted against prohibiting lawsuits against gun manufacturers for the misuse of their products, according to the Web site. Obama did vote to allow retired police officers to carry a concealed weapon while in the Illinois legislature.
While their fears could be justified, Barack Obama will probably not prioritize gun control when he gets into office, said Allan Saavedra, a sophomore civil engineering major from Miami, Fla. The increase in gun sales does not frighten Saavedra, he said.
"When I think of guns, I think of deer hunting and property protection. I don't think of gun violence," Saavedra said.
While Obama may have promised more gun control, he may not be able to follow through on everything he promised, said Jessica Gahr, a junior psychology major. Gahr, an Obama supporter, said she thinks that people have the right to own guns, but there should be more restrictions. Gahr believes the people buying guns now are doing it for psychological reasons, though she does not understand why, she said.
"A lot of what you say during a campaign is just talk to get you into office," Gahr said.
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