Posted on 09/14/2001 3:55:55 AM PDT by TomServo
BOSTON (AP) - The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington have deepened worries about personal safety, spiking sales of handguns and ammunition, according to dealers and a trade group.
"People in Peoria don't have to go out and buy a handgun to protect themselves from a stolen 747, but people are afraid, and they go out and look for something that will make them feel better," said Andrew Molchan, director of the Professional Gun Retailers Association in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He said some dealers sold out their whole stock this week.
In the Boston area, some people were nervous about the possibility that terrorists who helped plan the attacks might be hiding nearby. The two hijacked airliners that flew into the World Trade Center towers Tuesday took off from Boston.
"People are saying, 'Jeez, if the government can't protect us, then we're going to protect ourselves,'" said John Costa, who sells handguns at his sporting goods store in Raynham, 25 miles outside Boston.
He normally expects to sell one or two handguns a week, but said he had sold six in the three days since the attack. He said he is selling about 15 boxes of ammunition a day, compared to the usual one or two.
In North Hollywood, Calif., Rick Garcia, who manages B&B Sales, said he was handling about twice as many customers.
"I wouldn't say it was a hysteria or panic," he said. "I'd say it's just a calculated, just-in-case type of mentality."
Historically, gun sales have often swelled in times of national distress. After the social turmoil of the 1960s, the boom lasted for decades.
Since the terrorist attacks, the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has advised dealers to be especially careful to keep their guns safe.
While not surprised by the spike, gun control advocates fretted about what it portends. "A handgun purchased for self-defense is more likely to be used against yourself, your friends or your family than to kill a criminal or to stop a terrorist," said Josh Sugarmann, director of the Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
Activists said they fear the industry will seize on people's fears over terrorism as a marketing opportunity.
But in Fresno, Calif., gun shop owner Bill Mayfield said he was advising customers not to stockpile guns or ammunition as a reaction to the attacks. "I can think of a lot of reasons to buy firearms," he said. "This simply isn't one of them."
(Slaps forehead) Duh!!
Maybe, just maybe, Americans are realizing why we have a Second Amendment. We're arming up for one hell of a long struggle.
Now, Jeffie..........go back to mama's house; you forgot your sack lunch.
Hey, Josh....let's expand those "statistics" to knives and boxcutters now. There's a good boy.
You idiot. Add another 20,000 innocents to the 55 million killed by their own governments in the 20th century and the numbers killed/raped/mutilated by criminals. Government cannot protect you. The number killed by their own guns is miniscule, especially considering the number of privately owned weapons in this country. We're tired of your kind. Go away and shut up.
She's originally from NJ, and called a childhood friend that worked at the WTC.
Her friend was okay, and recounted that as she walked home to Brooklyn, she noticed that there were numerous citizens that were openly displaying handguns, shotguns, etc.
The columnist stated that her friend stated, "I didn't feel threatened, actually, just the opposite, I felt comforted that citizens were armed."
Only if you miss.
SOLUTION: Don't miss.
Now, that's the Real America!
Spread this far and wide!
Lock and load.
lol - absolutely...
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