Posted on 12/13/2008 11:29:09 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
LEE COUNTY, Fla.- The Suncoast Gun Show in North Fort Myers is attracting huge crowds this weekend.
"It's definitely one of the most crowded ones I've been in," said Robert Supon.
Ray Nadaeu says there's a reason for the crowds...President-elect Barack Obama.
"I think they're scared. I think they are scared their gun rights are going to be taken away from them and they should be," said Nadaeu.
"We have to buy these before the new regime possibly gets in," said Greg Thorn, a Civil War gun collector. He stopped by the show to pick up ammunition.
But, the President-elect said earlier this year he would not ban guns if he took office.
In a statement after the Supreme Court ruled against Washington D.C.'s gun ban he said, "As President, I will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners, hunters, and sportsmen. I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals."
Since election day, gun shop owners say gun sales have gone through the roof.
James Black, manager of Tactical Weapons in Fort Myers tells WINK News in their five years in business, they've never seen sales like they have in the last month.
"People are afraid, people are afraid this new incoming president is going to ban everything," said Black.
The rush to buy a gun is impacting the cost of a gun.
"I would say a good 25 percent," explained Black, "It's all supply and demand. Right now, I don't have enough rifles in stock in order to sell them."
Anyone looking for ammunition is also taking a hit. Black says the cost is up 50 percent.
Even gun enthusiasts admit, they don't know for sure what will happen in five weeks, but they're buying what they can now, just in case.
Black said, "Once you can't get em you're going to have to use a stick to protect yourself."
“I was in walmart today and they had 2 Remington 700
with scopes for $337.00 each, 7 MM or .300 Win Magnum.”
Those are very good prices. Where is that Wal-Mart?
“I picked up a Winchester 1300 new for $187.73 walk out price about 1 year ago.”
That’s because Winchester stopped manufacturing firearms. They are cheap because there is no after market source for any repairs or improvements, unless you want to pay through the nose.
In Tucson the Wal-Mart on La Cholla and Magee sold long guns and ammo the last time I was there about 3 weeks ago. The new one in Oro Valley doesn’t sell any guns but has a pretty good assortmant of ammo.
According to the manager the Oro Valley government refused to allow gun sales. Dick’s Sporting goods a few hundred feet away in the same shopping center does sell guns.
Dick’s has a stupid corporate policy. My 8 year old daughter fell in love with a .22 rifle in pink cammo. When I finished filling out the federal paperwork they handed me a Dick’s form demanding my home address and the names and ages of any and all minor children living at home. I handed the rifle back and told them the only way I’d ever buy anything from them would be at their going out of business sale.
I had one of the local gun shops in Tucson order the rifle direct from Remington and my daughter will open it on Christmas morning.
I’m also telling everyone I know and meet about their stupid corporate policy.
I know people who are buying AR-15’s and 1911 pistols for the first time. They figure that they will later be able to get parts and ammo on the black market.
See if you can get a AR15 type rifle. I have a Mini 14 and it is hard and expensive to find good after market high capitcy mags for it.
I love it, but you cant get goodies for it.
I’ve been looking for an AR in Tucson for three weeks. Can’t find one anywhere.
I have in the last three weeks bought two 9MM semiautos with 17 round mags, two .22 rifles, one 12 gauge shotgun, 2 SKSs and as much ammo as I can afford for them and my 7MM magnum, 10 gauge semi, .44 MAG, .357 MAGs. and .22 pistols.
My wife and 8 year old daughter are both excellent shots. My wife even likes shooting my 10 gauge.
LOL!!!
Things have changed greatly in the last few months - commodity prices for ammo-related items such as metals and oil have taken a nosedive down to levels not seen in years. And, the demand for ammo production for Iraq has probably eased. Yet now it looks like the looming "Obama crisis" has spurred a demand for ammo that will keep prices high despite the easing of the factors that originally caused the price spikes.
I'm not going to hold my breath and hope that prices come down anytime soon - rather I'm going to get a case of .38 special +P ammo for my recently-acquired J-frame S&W, and perhaps another case of .45 ACP, and I may even pre-buy ammo in some calibers for which I don't yet have any firearms (.223, .308, and maybe also 30-06). Not to mention reloading supplies (and I don't yet have any reloading equipment, although that's been on my wish list for a long time). And, that doesn't even include any consideration for stocking up on future "trading material". What was that Boy Scout motto again?
I have a raincheck for 2 cases of 9mm. Went in a few days ago and was told that it was sold as soon as it was unpacked! What is the point of rainchecks if they sell your stuff?
I heard Winchester shut down its manufacturing plant and headquarters in Connecticut. Where are they manufacturing now?
Do you take in Tenants?
Damn! I thought I was through buying guns for now. May have to rethink that.
“They did, but their expensive rifles will be made in Belgium and Japan, where they make brownings.”
Ahhh.... Glad to hear the model 70 is still being manufactured. It is an excellent rifle.
bump
What, no congressional investigation for price gouging?
“Most people have made potato guns ...”
- - -
I would like to see the data behind your polling.
I bought 5 boxes of winchester white box 9mm at wal mart 2 weeks ago and plan to get some more this coming weekend.
It will never go bad.
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