Posted on 05/31/2009 3:46:48 PM PDT by raybbr
With its sleek lines and light weight, an AR-15-style weapon is considered desirable as a home protection tool because it’s maneuverable.
It looks like a machine gun. But with models as light as six pounds, it can be leveled at an assailant without tiring the carrier. In the hands of an experienced marksmen, it’s highly reliable at hitting a target.
Local firearms dealers said they haven’t been able to keep that type of firearm on the shelves for months. Scott Hoffman said that since November he hasn’t been able to immediately fill orders for items considered personal weapons. He’s back-ordered in certain kinds of ammunition, too.
“Gun sales have at least doubled,” said the longtime owner of Hoffman’s Gun Center on the Berlin Turnpike. “Business is up at least 50 percent and that’s in a bad economy. It shows you how scared people are.”
Across town at the Newington Gun Exchange, business is equally brisk. In the past six months, “Any type of military-style firearm has been selling well,” Lenk said. “We’ve been lucky to have any to put on the wall. It’s finally beginning to taper off in the past few weeks.”
In a sluggish economy when a record number of businesses are failing or cutting back, both gun shops said their sales have been booming since the November election of the first Democratic president in eight years.
The rush of first-time gun owners has tripled in some places, leaving local and state police struggling to process the overflow of pistol-permit applications.
“I’ve seen it as high as 15 a week,” said Plainville Lt. Brian Mullins, who is responsible for conducting background checks on all pistol-permit applicants in his town. “That’s a lot for a town that usually sees four to five a week. We’ve had five or six people come in one day.”
Gun salesmen like Lenk and Hoffman are attributing the boost in sales to a collision of political and economic forces. Lenk said business started picking up when it became apparent that Barack Obama, who is perceived as promoting tighter gun restrictions, might win the election.
At the same time, as the economy soured, fears of increased crime created a boom in a business that has traditionally been steady but not necessarily given to dramatic spikes.
“Traditionally when the economy is bad, crime goes up,” Hoffman said. “Add to that, that everyone who is in charge of our government doesn’t want us to have guns, and guns sales have at least doubled.”
Lenk also added that he thought dramatic crimes like the Petit home invasion that left a Cheshire mother and her two daughters dead after two felons broke into their home in July 2007 are spearheading the sales.
“That case resulted in the destruction of an entire family,” Lenk said. “In those few seconds you have to do something to save yourself because in the final analysis all the police are going to do is clean up.”
State Police, who issue state permits after individuals pass their local background checks, said they are feeling the impact.
“I think people have different reasons for wanting to buy guns right now,” said State Trooper William Tate, who has seen lines out the door for candidates waiting to have their permits processed. “There was speculation that the federal government will change legislation, but Connecticut already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. There may have been a false lack of security and it’s probably unlikely the laws will change as drastically as people think.”
State police have processed nearly double the requests for new pistol permits in the past six months than they did in the same period a year ago. In April they processed 1,945 new applications — a jump of over 1,000 when compared to the year before. May’s figures dropped to 1,246 — an increase of 400 over the year before.
The way the state’s pistol permitting laws work, applicants must first apply in their town of residence with the local police department after successfully completing a safety course. The application process includes fingerprinting for a background check. The local police chief is ultimately responsible for determining if a candidate should receive a permit.
Those with felony convictions, certain other convictions, or a history of mental instability are automatically prohibited from owning or carrying a gun. All successful local permittees then have 60 days to seek a state permit through the State Police Special Licensing and Firearms Unit.
The local permitting process can take up to eight weeks by state law. Police departments must have staff available to take fingerprints and do background checks. Mullins admitted that in the crush he fell behind the eight-week guideline, but has since caught up. His Plainville department has also bumped up to three days a week the when people can show up to be fingerprinted.
“It’s added significantly to my clerical duties,” said Mullins, who works in the detective division investigating serious crimes and functions as the department’s public information officer.
He estimates that he’s seeing triple the number of applications pass by his desk since last year.
“It’s a phenomenon that I’ve certainly noticed,” he said. “Obviously people are having safety concerns in some way.”
Several new and veteran gun owners were contacted but declined to comment citing fears that they’ll be judged by friends and co-workers. Most gun dealers also declined to allow The Herald to interview customers.
Farmington and Berlin police said their permit applications have doubled in the past six months over the same period the year before.
New Britain police, who limit applications to five or six a week due to the work involved, are scheduling fingerprint sessions into September.
“We feel as though we have to stick with the five or six people a week guideline,” said New Britain Detective Harold Gannon, who does fingerprints one day a week and conducts background checks. “We’ve always had five or six people a week come in but what we’re seeing now is that we have to schedule them out farther.”
At the same time, New Britain Police Chief William Gagliardi told city police commissioners in his monthly report that the crime rate in the city has continued to go down over the past few months.
Tate said for the first time in recent history, he watched as people lined up outside the lobby of the State Police Middletown office to get permits in February. “Considering the times and that everyone seems to be having financial problems, gun shops seem to be pretty busy,” Tate observed. “It used to be when you walked in on a Saturday there would be a few customers standing at the counter. Now you can see at least five or six, even during off times when you don’t expect people to be looking for guns.”
Lenk said the best sellers have been self-defense firearms, including military rifles like the AR-15 and handguns.
“All the gun manufacturers are going crazy. They’re backlogged on anything resembling a self-defense type firearm,” Lenk said.
I'll stick to my SOCOM, however the gist of the article is well taken although obvious considering.
When available, I'll take a DPMS AR-10 to fill a void in my safe though. ; )
I am a woman and not familiar with all of this but I read somewhere that ‘brass casings’ would no longer be given back to ‘ammunition makers’. This is the best I can recall from the site I read.
Hmmm....
For home protection, I’ll stick with my Remington 870 18” bbl loaded with 12 ga. #6’s.
Shot doesn’t have to travel far to git ‘er done, lethality and ease of aim are guaranteed, and it won’t go too far beyond the house itself.
Nothing wrong with AR-15’s, mind you. They should be utilized in a broader militia role, JMHO.
Dang... That makes several months now that the sales of firearms have skyrocketed! I guess that the lowly citizens do not trust Government - my suspicions...
Mercy, I had better get out and buy my shotgun and handgun before they are extinct or illegal...
“It looks like a machine gun. But with models as light as six pounds, it can be leveled at an assailant without tiring the carrier. In the hands of an experienced marksmen, it’s highly reliable at hitting a target.”
After a major outcry from us, that order has been changed. The military is allowing the ammo makers to refill their used brass once again. There is still a serious ammo shortage though. People are saying buy what you need at any price...it may not be available in the future.
-Roscommon
Cheaper than dirt has new stocks of ammo !!!
I think what you read was that the Obama administration Department of Defense had announced that they would no longer supply once-fired brass from the military to civilian companies that reload the brass and sell it to the public.
This announcement was addressed by many pro-gun people, politicians and organizations and the policy was reversed within a few days. We're back where we started and the Obama administration is on notice that pro-gunners are paying attention.
I’m kicking myself for not getting an AR-15 a year ago. At least I have the Remington 870 for the home.
Strictly speaking, they were never "given back" to the ammunition makers. They were sold to ammunition makers, thus providing another revenue stream to the US Government.
The policy was rescinded, as someone else mentioned, and these sales have resumed.
I've had that for 30 years, good choice.
You know... I keep saying that I’m gong to arm myself but keep putting it off.. I think that it is high time to delve deep into self-defense. I doubt that this government will last another four years... Scary isn’t it?
Still no .380 or 762X39 though
Did you notice any 30-06 or .308 at Cabela’s?
My M1A is hungry and eats a lot, ‘specially on weekends.
;^)
I'm with you. I haven't really had a lot of money to spend but soon I am going to get a few bucks. I've been looking at the Mossberg 500 - comes with two barrels (12ga and 20ga) for about $289.
I also am looking into getting my pistol permit. I will have the time and the money soon.
BTW, I am contemplating my next purchase and the SOCOM 16 is at the top of my list - how would you rate your SOCOM?
Yes... you’re right on... I do need a shotgun for home and a pistol for quick and easy access... At my age though, it is necessary only for home use.
I do hope that the rest of our Democratic public will see what is going on and prepare...
Shotguns are much better for home defense....
The Mossburg 500 series is an excellent choice....
It has two rails which in high stress situations prevents you from torquing the slide....
110% on a scale of 0-100.
An EOTech sight is a highly recommended add-on. ; )
110% on a scale of 0-100.
An EOTech sight is a highly recommended add-on. ; )
Yeah... Unfortunately, I think it is time to scrape together the money to protect the future. Not exactly a great outlook to me...
an AR-15-style weapon... looks like a machine gun. But with models as light as six pounds, it can be leveled at an assailant without tiring the carrier. In the hands of an experienced marksmen, it’s highly reliable at hitting a target.
"Sounds like an assault weapon to me."
Good that an outcry worked for now blam, as you say, it may not be available in the future.
That’s frightening if they ever devise ways to cause you to use up what you have. Don’t know what those ‘ways’ could be but if I can think of it they certainly have.
As usual, the media is trying to spin this into a “bad guns are being sold” sort of event!
AR-15s look like machine guns. OK, so what. They’re NOT machine guns. And they repeatedly state that AR-15s are “military weapons,” when they’re most decidedly not!
I HATE THE “MEDIA!!!!!”
Mark
Mossberg 500 would be my choice. I have a Fox double left over from my bird hunting days. right barrel #2 Buck & left with slug. I have also a Marlin guide gun in 45/70 and a Camp Carbine in 9 mini/mousegun. I stuck with a lever action for that sad day when the brown shirts come seize the semi autos.
I dont feel I need the pray and spray of the .223’s.
We are all sunk if we have to face the military. I feel I can handle random thugs though.
barbra ann
Yes, thank you William. I’m glad it got ‘reversed’ for now.
I'm beginning to see some ammunition available, but it's just too damned expensive. The last time I bought some Remington .223, it was from Walmart @ $24 for a box of 50. But I just refuse to pay that. I just have to hope that I've got enough to ride out the panic buying, which I hope will only last about another 6 months, and then prices will get reasonable again... Or so I hope... I used to buy .223 reloads for about $7 a box of 50, back when I was shooting competitively.
Still no .380 or 762X39 though
AmmoMan.com just got a shipment of wolf 7.62x39 yesterday (or was it Friday?), so they may still have some.
Mark
Thank you Duncan, would you believe me if I said that my ‘given back’ meant resold? Lol Nothing is free.
That incident certainly has led to more ‘stocking up’, I'm sure.
Yes...I am feeling a bit lonely and sorry for not getting into the purchase line sooner (it seems very long these days). At least a shotgun for home protection - and a handgun for close work... Sorry that I haven’t responded before the crisis began...now it is either a very long wait or forget it...
[plentiful in CT right now]
That’s good. Buy it while you can, and while you can still afford it!!
I think that it is high time to delve deep into self-defense.
Don’t save your money. Guns, Ammo, and Gold are the currency of the future.
I think that has been said here on FR a number of times.
Damn... Sorry to say that your are right! I think I go ahead and go into debt a bit for protection. Thanks...
Decisions, decisions, decisions.
The application process includes fingerprinting
That's about as "registered" as you can get.
who limit applications to five or six a week due to the work involved, are scheduling fingerprint sessions into September.
That's criminal!
When the action moves outdoors, and it's time to join up with the local militia, just load it with magnum deer slugs. It's a formidable weapon.
I hate to be picky but double isn't a 50% increase.
There is a local gun shop where I live that has at least 25 AR’s in stock.
That's about as "registered" as you can get.
Could be DNA...
who limit applications to five or six a week due to the work involved, are scheduling fingerprint sessions into September.
Sounds more like a stalling tactic.
Not to be picky but I've been to Hofman's many, many times and there's a lot more to his business than just firearm sales. He sells, ammo, gunsmithing services, blackpowder supplies, reloading supplies and has an indoor shooting range. His firearm sales could have doubled and his overall business could be up 50% if the other segments haven't kept pace.
[buying it when the price comes down a bit.]
Is that likely to happen? I would think the opposite, plus they will start coding each shell and will know who has what. By 2011 all are to be coded.
.
I’ve still got ammo as old a Colt .38rf Short (copper cases) - a late 1950s Pocket Navy Colt converted in Hartford by Colt (in 1872) and shipped back to a former Reb officer in New Orleans that came upon it during some times of disagreements
It fires just great!
The thing with ammo is not just to fire endless boxes of it - It is to make every shot from the first count
At this point you will no longer need to fire so many cartridges at the range - perhaps go to the range more often and get better scores
Moving target practice is something many do not consider - That and night firing
If and when that day come -
It will not be a huge round target on a KD range that will come for you and yours
LOL!
or implanted ID/tracking devices..
Everything is frightening now, especially when even Pravda is saying Obama is turning us towards socialism.
I’ll take your word for it.
Just remember ... quoting the Great Maharushi ... “Words Have Meanings”. ;-)
I’d be stocking up more ... if I could find something usable to buy.
Good luck finding powder or primers, though.
.
There are many methods of making ammo that a revolver or rifle will fire with great accuracy
A facist tyranny will only encourage creativity
I’d be interested in how caseless ammo can be registered or traced or if frangible projectiles can even be matched to any caliber or barrel
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