Gun sales soar following Obama election

Gun stores across the United States are reporting a massive surge in sales as buyers rush to stockpile firearms in case of a ban under soon-to-be President Obama.

Inquiries by the New York Times found gun shops in several states reporting sales several times higher than normal, with owners reporting widespread fears that an Obama administration

“He’s a gun-snatcher,” Jim Pruett, owner of Jim Pruett’s Guns and Ammo in northwest Houston, told the newspaper. “He wants to take our guns from us and create a socialist society policed by his own police force,” added Mr Pruett, a former radio personality.

The store owner said that sales last Saturday, just ahead of the election, were about seven times higher than a usual good Saturday.

Meanwhile David Nelson, a co-owner of Montana Ordnance & Supply in Missoula, Montana, reported sales about 30 per cent higher overall since Mr Obama declared his candidacy almost two years ago. He said his buyers were “awake and aware and see a dangerous trend.”

“People are concerned about overreaching legislation from Washington,” he said. “They are educating themselves on the Internet.”

Figures from federal authorities reflect a similar surge around the election.

In Colorado last Saturday, the number of background check requests for would-be gun buyers was the highest ever recorded in one day, according to figures from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

“We’re not really sure who is promoting the concept that a change in federal administrations might affect firearms possession rights,” an agency spokesman, Lance Clem, said, “but we do know that it’s increased business considerably.”

In some high gun ownership areas, Democrats have been distributing fliers assuring residents that Mr Obama supports the rights of individuals to own firearms.

The president-elect repeated that assurance on the campaign trail yet it is not so much this that has stuck in the conservative consciousness as his much reported remark that "bitter" small town Americans "cling to guns and religion".

Comments

[Bee Bee]

thats a shame, racist people have nothin better to do with they're sad pathetic lives but mope around about the success of african americans. so they figure, getting a gun is gonna stop us from succeeding!haha!
look at how much we've overcome and achieved. buying a gun is just gonna make us fight back harder than ever!

[luron c wright]

Goes to show... America has not left the ways of the old Wild West.

[Michael]

The title of the article should read:

"Fear of everything soars following Obama election"

[ziggi]

The question needs to be asked about the memographic make-up of these individuals who dispair of the erosion of their civil liberties! Who or what do they now feel it necessary to defend themselves against?

[Lazy Bike Commuter]

The place the fears come from is simple: Obama himself.

From Change.gov:

"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."

This refers of course to a nonexistent loophole and an "assault weapons" ban that bans guns based on physical appearance rather than any other concern.

Note that the page has now been removed but can still be seen at the Google Cache:
http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:lZ5nLB1m2TMJ:www.change.gov/agenda/urbanpolicy/+assault+weapons+site:www.change.gov&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

[dale]

Better stock up on banana clips and 30 rounders for the Glocks.

[jide]

Nobody is taking any Guns away,STOP THE FEAR MONGERING !!!..I bet you it's from another anonymous source.It's ironic that some misinformed members of our great society will use this innuendo to create panic.In these days of econonmic hardship and financial crisis ..People are losing jobs left and right ..losing their homes.Guns and ammo ownership is on the rise.Who is zooming who ? C'mon This is stinking thinking Intellectually bankrupt individuals that prey on peoples fears..beware ..your days are numbered.

[Kyle Napierkowski]

As far as I can tell from life on campus in Cleveland, there is widespread support from the long-neglected youth voters for socialism, despite the fact that Obama has distanced his policies from the ideology by name. It's a natural conservative reaction to stock up on firearms before big changes geared towards this philosophy occur. Comments regarding keeping guns out of the hands of civilians due to safety concerns are an extension of socialist philosophy: the state should be in full control of all essential functions, with defense being one of the most important of these functions. The Constitution hasn't stopped the government from expanding its reach further and further recently; I don't think significant new gun restrictions and tracking are far away from us.

[shakal]

that's stupid he won't take our guns away, i'm a gun owner just like most of you and believes everything will be fine fur us.

[Chris]

I think whoever created this article chose an interesting picture - a white male with his finger on the trigger and an ominous look on his face, rhetoric on his t-shirt - and a strange wisp of smoke seemingly wafting from the barrel; a foreboding figure indeed! Now, I won't claim that the image may have been 'enhanced', but as a black, conservative, right to bear arms believer, I am insulted by this image. I do not own a gun, but I have been trained by my father, a pistol and rifle marksman in the safe handling and use of firearms. I am NOT the image you portray in this photo, and I DO have a serious concern over what Mr. Obama may propose in the future. I am applying for my permit, and I will safely store my firearm. I am a father of 3 children, and my father and I will train them as well, if they so desire.

[Tim]

pure ignorance. the end. Didn't know that a new administration means that they can change the Constitution. And these are the people that are out buying guns. Just what we need

[Dean]

Mr. Obama has in the past shown that he is anti-gun ownership. During his campaign he also promised that he would not infringe on our gun rights. I hope this is a promise he keeps.

[Tim]

What a bunch of media hype! Did anyone think that the increase in gun sales might just be related to the opening of big game hunting in most states during this time of year?

[shera]

Wow....God forbid you have to be a real "good ol' boy" and have hand to hand combat....it's so cowardice to use a gun, especially in men! Shoot first and ask questions later...people feeling empowered because a gun is in their hand! Who are they afraid of?

[NR]

Obama talks like a lawyer. He may support firearms in general but there are many types of firearms. One of which happens to be semi-automatic weapons, which anti-gun activists call assault weapons. The only characteristic that makes a rifle an assault rifle is the fact that it is semi-automatic. Obama does not like these semi-auto weapons and strongly opposes, as his voting record indicates, the purchase of these weapons. He also had voted to increase taxes 500% on ammunition and firearms.

[LeeInMpls.]

Actually, I don't know if you heard about the 8 year old shooting dead his father and a renter that was living with them. I think these people are fearful and are buying assault weapons to protect themselves from their little boys. ;^)

[Progressive Observer]

If these good Americans really believe there is going to be a ban and the government is going to come take their guns then why exactly are they stocking up? Are they planning to shoot it out with ATF and Homeland Security?

Nobody needs another Waco. Next time you all feel like listening to talk radio or guns sellers trying to get ratings or get somebody elected by pissing you off or trying to make money by making you afraid think about what they are really telling you to do. Better yet take a walk, read a book, excercize, watch a movie.

[David Brickner]

It is indicative that Barack Obama picked "Waco Joe" Biden as his VP and Clinton honcho Rahm Emanuel as his Chief-of Staff that the Second Amendment is held in contemp by this adminstration. Biden mocked a 12 year old girl who's parents died at Waco in the 1995 hearings and Emanuel was the NAFTA and gun control point man in 1993 .....
both are scum.......

[Um]

Lovely picture of the gentleman with his finger inside the trigger guard, muzzle up ... hardly the kind of image law-abiding gun owners out there would want representing them ... tough t-shirts as a badge of honour that people can't back up with good sense. The kind of weapons handling one sees on half the Youtube gun videos truly does give one pause as to how with-it some owners are when it comes to safety (or basic intelligence / self-preservation instinct). The answer isn't bans, it's being qualified and educated. Otherwise, find a safer hobby.

[TomBB]

"... see a dangerous trend."

More guns is much safer then fewer guns!

America is a scared and scarey country.

[ben]

“We’re not really sure who is promoting the concept that a change in federal administrations might affect firearms possession rights,” an agency spokesman, Lance Clem, said...

How about Obama's own website:

http://origin.barackobama.com/issues/urban_policy/

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.

[Lane Felton]

he better not try to take away my gun, you can have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.

[A.B.]

Of course Obama's going to take guns away he just WON'T SAY IT!

I've already bought a rifle but I need to get a handgun before he gets sworn in!

Obama's a LIAR! He HATES the 2nd Amendment. Proof?

"I am on the record in opposing a concealed weapon" -Obama in 2004

"I believe in suing the gun manufacturers lobby" -Obama in 2006

"There may be an individual right to guns...but that's also up for interpretation" Obama in 2004

Obama has VOTED AGAINST THE 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHT MANY TIMES! He voted to make a gun owner who protects themselves the CRIMINALS even in self defense!

[Andrew brown]

When you look at the appalling state of policing here in the UK, the idea of having a gun in your home for self defence seems quite appealing. If an intruder gets into your house, can you really rely on the police to turn up quiclky and deal with it? I doubt it.

[Glenn]

Some Media and Gun Shop owners are pressing the American public into panic, just as much, if not moreso, than the groups of panicked people buying up the guns.

Do I condone the people stocking up? Yep. I'll support it. I'll do it myself - it's my right. But there is no hard evidence to support that Obama is "coming for your guns".

Posting a picture of a guy looking like he's about ready to go psycho with the revolver he is holding does just as much to hurt our legal gun ownership as anything that Obama might do. Why do gun owners always have to be displayed as psycho looking guys or the "tactical ninja" types, all decked out in black, or wearing SWAT or SEAL Team shirts (yeah, right... you're a SEAL...)? Heck, come take a picture of me - dressed in plain clothes. My weapon may or not be on me, but it's nowhere in sight. I'm a gun owner too - but I don't post pictures of myself looking like I'm about to go on a shooting spree.

I hear and see people all the time that post on various websites and speak out loud in public on the virtues of supporting and defending our rights. Yes - I'm all for supporting and defending our rights. But there is a proper way of doing it, and the way they carry on is not the right way. We are in jeopardy of losing our firearms, but not just because of something you may think Obama has in store for us. We are our own worst enemy. Do the right thing - own your guns. Cherish the right you have to own them. Don't "flaunt" your guns, because to do so only gives the anti's fuel for their fire.

Disagree with me if you wish - it's also one of your rights - but do me and the American people a favor - THINK about what I just said. Fight the good fight - protect your rights to own the firearms you have. But always THINK about HOW you are doing it. Don't let your efforts be self-defeating.

[Mark]

Grow up! The time for playing cowboy was when you were seven years old with a cap gun. Sorry you weren't born in the 1800's but the west has already been won. Cute ring on his hand though. He looks like a duck bill platypus, locked and loaded! D-bag!

[Sam Robb]

To the meathead in the picture - what part of 'a well-regulated militia' don't you understand? It exists now - it's called the National Huard. So you don't need a gun in case of a militia call out, the National Guard has its own, all safely locked up. Thus government does have the right to ban private gun ownership. Geddit?

[James]

....“They are educating themselves on the Internet.”

Having lived in the US (Nevada and Texas mostly, with spells in Kentucky and Georgia as well) by my observation the gun owners I knew were largely pig-ignorant and not blessed with discrimination or judgement. The thought of that lot now further "educating" themselves by reading the twaddle peddled on the internet makes me want to run for the hills.

[John]

where did my gun go baby

[setas]

Here's how It will go down. Shortly after "the one" gets in office congress will present him with a "Crime Bill". It'll be a marvelous piece of legislation that will promise to save our children from predators, quadruple the number of police on the streets and generally end crime as we know it. Entangled deep within
it, however will be, At minimum an "assault weapon" ban (all semiautomatic weapons), a "saturday nite special" ban (banning all handguns under $1000) and a "ammo tax"
that will increase a box of shells to 5 to 10 times their regular price. Oh and NO grandfather clause.

Obama will insist that he HAS to sign it because of "the benefits to our society".

A year or so later, after the bill fails to end crime as we know it, get ready for round two.

And thus our second amendment rights erode

[Al]

“He wants to take our guns from us and create a socialist society policed by his own police force,”

Sounds like somebody bought the line of crap John McCain was selling. And by the way - wouldn't his "own police force" actually be Federal law enforcement?

[August West]

Yeah, it is about that time...to go shopping at the local gun store. I'll take one of those, two of these, and...yeah, that big one over there.

[patricia kennedy-fisher]

my opinion on the gun sale i think is a bit much , i think the people are buying guns for other horable reasons and i pray they will use there brains and think about there evil thoughts

[Pam Edwards]

I know that he will do everything possible to amend the constitution to take away our right to bear arms. The dems are lying to keep Americans from buying weapons now before they do this thing. Never trust a SOCIALIST and that is what he is. Educate yourselves on his total background and you will see the truth.
He is one arrogant, scary individual with a scary agenda and it is not American friendly unless of course you are AFRICAN AMERICAN. It is plainly anti-white sentiment that is behind him and this election.

[Expert markswoman with minimal firepower]

Quick, ramp up the paranoia! Circle the wagons! Hide the wimmen and childrun!

I'm pretty sure you folks who have handguns and shotguns in your home won't have some jackbooted Fed taking them away from you -- but it's awful strange and a little whacky to want a semi-automatic "black rifle", and to condemn real hunters who object to using them because it's unsporting (I've seen articles online describing this).

What are the wild-eyed defenders of assault rifles afraid of, the elk/deer/bear/moose standing on their back legs and aiming their own firearms?

Or are you still entertaining survivalist whacko fantasies that Palin's Putin WILL rear his head over Alaskan airspace and come down into the lower 48 to invade (a la the Patrick Swayze movie Red Dawn)?

Geez, enlist, if you want to sleep with your rifle...

[Matt]

That's pretty stupid! I live in Vermont, with the least gun laws in the 50 states....we have a socialist senator in Washington and he protected Vermont gun rights. What the hell are these gun buyers reading?

[Joseph Duvernay]

"Nothing to fear but fear itself".
Disappointed with TimesOnline's
juxtaposition of an angry 'average joe' holding
his manhood high on a page containing
many pictures of the President-elect.
I sense it was/is more than not smart it is
incendiary, irresponsible and oddly (odd like
most right-wing hauts) unpatriotic in that
'working-class' way some like to think they
have about them, that garners for them
rights and privilege, they seem to say, other
citizens are not to look for.
Signed - not just a gun owner, but one
wanting a cabinet position for Peace, who
nevertheless rather likes the sound of shell
leaving chamber, who also finds that and all
this gun huff notice served of unmanly
shortcomings and nothing to brag on.
No wonder mankind strains mightily making
Any progress, with such small men and women about.
- P.S. A lover of the Constitution, sallying
forth for the, hoped, good of all.

[gilly]

Don't you just give up on the US.
How many students need to be killed and presidents assassinated etc etc for the american people to realise that their "right to bear arms" has a lot to do with their crime rates, drug addiction, overloaded prisons and every other sort of criminality.
They still live in the wild west and cinema.

[Chris]

Hardly a ringing endorsement is it?

[Armand Tamzarian]

why don't all the people who find it necessary to be armed to the teeth with military grade weapons for a perceived armageddon "according to the bible" do everyone a big favour and shoot each other up sooner, rather than later.

[Cletus Yokel]

Not that it adds anything, but I just thought I'd point out that this gentleman is Mormon. The ring on his gun hand is called a CTR (for Choose The Right) ring, and is an icon in Mormon culture.

[DonTreadOnMe]

"That's pretty stupid! I live in Vermont, with the least gun laws in the 50 states....we have a socialist senator in Washington and he protected Vermont gun rights. What the hell are these gun buyers reading?"

Posted by: Matt | 12 November 2008 at 02:55 AM

They're reading the "Communist Manifesto"
Maybe you should it too.

[jimbo]

these comments are insane. I am happy that people own guns. it's the only thing preventing a communist style takeover. if you don't like guns, then don't buy one!

[fred simpson]

I'm just waiting for you Obama voters reactions when things don't go your way as he promised.A politician will say anything to get your vote!!!!

Fred

[paul]

With the conditions of the borders and the Mexican Drug cartels sweeping accross the border and setting up shop all over the U.S. there are still jerks who insist that we trust in our government to keep us safe at all times and turn in our only immediate self defense in the name of "WHAT" ?????? Get to your doctor and demand he give you something for your lack of common sense....