Going for the guns: Consumers aren’t taking chances on 2nd Amendment rights

The St. Joseph News-Press ^ | November 11, 2008 | Jennifer Hall

[2ndDivisionVet]

Gun enthusiasts are stocking up on firearms out of fears that a Democrat-led administration will result in tougher gun control.

Last month, as polls showed a Barack Obama lead, background checks for gun purchases jumped by 108,000 compared with October 2007 — a 15 percent increase — according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gun sales as of Oct. 26 were up 8 percent for the year.

Jerry Sharr said gun and ammunition sales have increased significantly since October.

“It’s usually been hunters and homeowners,” said Mr. Sharr, owner of Jerry’s Guns & Shooting Range in Maryville, Mo. The variety of customers walking through his doors not looking for the high-powered rifle for upcoming deer season are homeowners looking for handguns and home defense shotguns, he said.

Business is good, but the gun owners may be getting ahead of themselves in an effort to buy weapons before January.

According to Mr. Obama’s official Web site, the president-elect doesn’t plan on taking away hunters’ weapons or a homeowner’s line of defense. The administration says it would like to keep guns away from children and criminals and support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent.

Mr. Obama has said at many of his campaign rallies that he respects Americans’ Second Amendment right to bear arms but that he favors “common sense” gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he’ll at least enact curbs on ownership of assault and concealed weapons, said Jesse Angst, of St. Joseph.

“I just worry that subtle changes will be just the foot in the door to infringing on our Second Amendment rights,” Mr. Angst said Monday while readying for deer season at the Pigeon Hill Conservation Area shooting range.

The avid hunter hasn’t scurried off to the local gun dealer but said he knows many who have.

“It’s just a paranoid reaction,” Mr. Angst said. “It’ll pass. But if (Obama) starts taking away gun rights, it would be kind of a ‘I told you so.’”

As a U.S. Senator, Mr. Obama voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to lawsuits, and as an Illinois state legislator he supported a ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter restrictions on all firearms, according to his Web site.

While Mr. Sharr appreciates the increase in his gun business, he doesn’t anticipate the average hunter or homeowner to be affected by any change in gun laws. Those owners aren’t necessarily interested in automatic weapons and assault rifles, which could possibly be banned under the new administration.

“I’m not worried at all,” said Galand Conard, another St. Joseph man shooting at Pigeon Hill.

Mr. Conard has been hunting since he was 5 years old. He feels that since he is a law-abiding citizen, he and his two sons he hunts with shouldn’t be affected by any change in gun laws.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Sounds like Jennifer drank the BHO Kool-Aid. That's okay, Jen, we'll take him at his word that he wants to ban guns & ammunition and make the appropriate decisions based on his record.

[SoldiersSister]

According to Mr. Obama’s official Web site, the president-elect doesn’t plan on taking away hunters’ weapons or a homeowner’s line of defense. The administration says it would like to keep guns away from children and criminals and support making the expired federal Assault Weapons Ban permanent. Mr. Obama has said at many of his campaign rallies that he respects Americans’ Second Amendment right to bear arms but that he favors “common sense” gun laws

The problem is that his actions have proved otherwise every single time! Like we are going to believe anything that comes from Obama anyway!

[Marie]

I wonder how many folks are waiting for payday or a tax return. I have a funny feeling that gun sales are going to stay high until February.

[VeniVidiVici]

As an Illinois state legislator he supported a ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter restrictions on all firearms, according to his Web site.

Well, there goes my .22 Ruger.

[300winmag]

Those owners aren’t necessarily interested in automatic weapons and assault rifles, which could possibly be banned under the new administration.

Duhhh, those weapons have already been banned since 1934 (unless I missed a memo somewhere). Either this dealer isn't very bright, or the writer just interpolated a few sentences to make a point.

From my own personal experience in the last week, people are lining up to buy the stuff that will be banned first. They were doing a brisk business in shotguns and handguns, but the M4 clones were flying out of the racks.

If you want a rifle for defense, something like the M4 is eminently suitable as a "starter". I wanted something a bit more exotic, since my basic needs are already filled. Something like this will "dry up" even faster than the AR15s.

[2ndDivisionVet]

That’s what’s called a “bullpup” isn’t it?

[Caipirabob]

GUN PORN BUMP!

*drool*

[El Laton Caliente]

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

Address Gun Violence in Cities: As president, Barack Obama would repeal the Tiahrt Amendment, which restricts the ability of local law enforcement to access important gun trace information, and give police officers across the nation the tools they need to solve gun crimes and fight the illegal arms trade. 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.
______________________________________________________

Sounds like he wants to ban guns to me....

[EGPWS]

According to Mr. Obama’s official Web site, the president-elect doesn’t plan on taking away hunters’ weapons or a homeowner’s line of defense.

Every time Obami states his "love" for the 2nd amendment, gun sales increase another 25%....

[saganite]

I was watching Squawk Box on CNBC this morning and right at the top of positive movers yesterday was Smith and Wesson.

[Spktyr]

VERY nice. I want one, but I can’t afford to get that and the other items on my list. The Keltec RFB is high on that list.

[Spktyr]

Yup - bullpup rifles (and shotguns, and smgs) have the trigger and handgrip ahead of the magazine and action.

Me, I’m looking for .308 MBRs and bullpups now....

[TLI]

He (Galand Conard) feels that since he is a law-abiding citizen, he and his two sons he hunts with shouldn’t be affected by any change in gun laws.

"Law-abiding citizen." Right.

"shouldn’t be affected by any change in gun laws." Yea. Ok.

He is due a wakeup call of the First Degree. His Magnificence Lord Barry Hussein Barak Soroto Obama the Merciful and all-wise will have a new job waiting for him.

Camp rules enforcer.

[SVTCobra03]

I have seen anecdotal reports that people are buying guns and ammo not only in anticipation of another AWB, but because they sense a storm coming.

[meyer]

I have seen anecdotal reports that people are buying guns and ammo not only in anticipation of another AWB, but because they sense a storm coming.

Absolutely. Signs of a storm include not only Obambi's past voting record regarding firearms, but also his desire to start a civilian security force (Gestapo) as well equipped as the military. The parallels between his campaign and Hitler's rise to power are becoming apparent.

[Fresh Wind]

Gosh, I hope we don’t get to the point at which individuals feel they have to tool up to make unregistered firearms in their basements and sell them through underground channels to other patriots.

That would be wrong.

[ArrogantBustard]

Duhhh, those weapons have already been banned since 1934 (unless I missed a memo somewhere

You missed a memo somewhere.

In 1934, a $200 "transfer tax", and registration were imposed on automatic weapons. In 1986, transfer of automatic weapons not already registered was prohibited.

You can still, for example, buy a M1928 Thompson Submachinegun. Got $17,000?

[MarkL]

Mr. Obama has said at many of his campaign rallies that he respects Americans’ Second Amendment right to bear arms but that he favors “common sense” gun laws.

Part of the problem is that Obama considered the DC gun ban to be a "'common sense' gun law."

And I loved Biden's quote of "Nobody's taking away MY Berretta!" Well, of course not, since you're going to be the VPOTUS. On the other hand, Biden wants to take guns of all sorts away from millions of law abiding citizens.

Mark

[nonsporting]

I hate bullpups. They're unwieldy and their triggers suck. I've tried the Steyr, Bushmaster and a few AK BP's. It's the trigger linkage which is the culprit.

They do have one BIG advantage: With the short OAL, you get a decent length barrel (20") which is critical for 5.56 lethality.