Gun Sales Soar On Obama Victory

NY Times:

DENVER -- Sales of handguns, rifles and ammunition have surged in the last week, according to gun store owners around the nation who describe a wave of buyers concerned that an Obama administration will curtail their right to bear arms.

"He's a gun-snatcher," said Jim Pruett, owner of Jim Pruett's Guns and Ammo in northwest Houston, which was packed with shoppers on Thursday.

"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, of President-elect Barack Obama.

Read the whole story: NY Times

Comments

[EmilyU]

From Obama's "Transition Foundation" questionnaire for all applicants in Obama's administration:

(59) Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide
complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever
lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been
the cause of any personal injuries or property damage.

I'll take a stab it it:

"Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? " - None of your darn business and if you fail to hire me because of this answer, I will take you to court for unlawful discrimination.

"If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever
lapsed? " - If I do own a firearm, I am not required by this state (like most states) to keep any ownership documentation nor am I required to register it.

"Please also describe how and by whom it is used " - Well, you grab it by the handle, point it at what you want to poke a hole in, and pull the trigger. By anyone I deem suitably mature and able.

"and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage. " - Ask Ted Kennedy about his station wagon.

[STG 44]

Fear that government that fears your gun!

[Unrepentantliberal]

Gun manufacturers and deals must be laughing hysterically at all the NRA sheep flocking in to buy their weapons at inflated prices. Who would of thought we'd have a 'firearms bubble' in the USA? People are going to feel pretty dumb when absolutely nothing happens and millions are stuck with overprice weapons. I guess that's one way to stimulate the economy.

And, oh by the way, I am a gun owner.

[EmilyU]

The same thing happened when Clinton got elected and those who bought the so called "assault weapons" prior to the passage of the '94 law and then resold them later saw a nice profit. So the manufacturers and dealers more than likely realize that what the buyers are doing is a pretty smart move.

[STG 44]

Every time anyone buys another gun or another box of ammo it's another vote for freedom in the ongoing battle between liberty and servitude.

[EmilyU]

"People are going to feel pretty dumb when absolutely nothing happens "

Are you one of the people who did not read Obama's campaign sites?

[HisXLNC]

With people like Barack Obama in the world, you can rest assured that guns will always go up in value. Especially if they are guns that have no "sporting use". So even if someone is stuck with an overpriced weapon now, they can always turn it around for a profit the next time a democrat wins a presidential election.

[EmilyU]

For those who are firearm terminology challanged:

Assault Rifle: A type of full-auto firearm AKA machine gun. Not affected by the 1994 Assault Weapon Ban. Extremely strictly controlled by the federal government and very expensive to legally purchase.

Assault Weapon: Defined in 1994 as certain semi-auto firearms. Not machine guns.

Full-auto: AKA machine gun. Fires multiple shots per trigger pull (1 trigger pull = bang, bang, bang, ...).

Semi-auto: Fires one shot per trigger pull (1 trigger pull = 1 bang).

TEC-9 (inc. AB-10 and TEC-DC9): Semi-auto 9mm pistol

AR-15: Semi-auto small caliber, lower power rifle.

SKS: Semi-auto medium caliber, lower power rifle.

MAK-90: Semi-auto medium caliber, lower power rifle.

Civilian AK-47: Semi-auto medium caliber, lower power rifle.

Military AK-47: Full-auto medium caliber, lower power rifle. Not affected by the '94 AWB.

M-16: Full-auto small caliber, lower power rifle. Not affected by the '94 AWB.

[Toonadude]

EmilyU --- you should also provide an analysis for those who are "firearm capability challenged­."
You should list how each of these weapons would perform up against the Type 96. That would be the Type 96 Chinese Main Battle Tank which carries a 125 mm gun. This will enable our children and grandchildren who had their futures mortgaged to the Chinese by George (your hero and defender of the 2nd Amendment) Bush to understand what they are facing when the bill for the last 8 years comes due and they can't pay.

[EmilyU]

Which has nothing to do with the subject at hand.

[Sneaky]

Kind of frustrating that media outlets never try to find the articulate and charismatic speakers in the firearms world, yet they have all the time in the world to find them for so many other topics of interest.

[rascalov]

Generally speaking, the more guns a person has, the less balls they have to actually use them.

[Sneaky]

Speak for yourself.

[EmilyU]

More watercooler psychoanalysis

[OldSFMJT]

rascalov,
You're in the habit of checking gun owners balls? How....SPE­CIAL!!!

Old SF MJT

[Hirnlego]

"You can take away all my rights but you're NOT taking away my Guns"

"I loves me guns"

[Pdubya]

why worry about gun control when you can pass legislation registering all ammunition with a serial number?

http://ammunitionaccountability.org/Legislation.htm

[HisXLNC]

Just more nonsense designed to increase the cost of gun ownership.

1. Criminals will smuggle ammunition or file down the serial numbers.
2. It decreases the supply of ammunition for law-abiding people by outlawing imported surplus ammunition, thus driving up the cost of ammunition.

Serialized ammunition sounds perfect for the criminal who only needs one round and would just steal ammunition, but for people like me who use 60 rounds every two weeks, it would break the bank.

And people think i'm crazy for hording cases of the stuff.

[texastrixie]

I think the new administration has way too much to worry about to give a fig about gun control. Yes, we would rather that no more school children got blown away with AK47's or semi-automatic weapons, but having said that, this is basically a states' rights issue (at this time). At least people are buying something, even if its guns.

What is the right going to obsess over in two years when none of their scare tactics have born fruit (except taxes may go back to the Clinton era levels).

[HisXLNC]

Most people get blown away by semi-automatic weapons, since they've essentially dominated firearms sales for the past 50 years.

And can you tell me how many school children are blown away with AK-47s per year?

[research]

not the AK47 in particular, but over 3000 children a year are killed by guns.

http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Safe_Start_Gun_Report&JServSessionIdr001=gh4iktlw54.app7b

[research]

BushCo funds private mercenary armies on American soil.

BushCo tortures people. Spys on everyone, Gives Billions to cronies, corrupt the justice system, shreds the constitution, makes plans for a state of Emergency American dictatorsh­ip...

And you folks worry about Obama limits that still allow you buy state of the art hunting semi automatic hunting rifles?

I think all sane people should the means to protect themselves.

So go ahead and buy those guns.

But go reread the Declaration Of Independence and tell me:

Which president resembles the Declaration's "tyrant"?

[HisXLNC]

Both of them. What Bush didn't touch, Obama intends to touch. And with Joe Biden as VP, we might as well just keep Dick Cheney around. After all, it was Biden who helped author the first gun ban, help author the Patriot act, and renew the Patriot act.

[research]

There is no reason to believe Obama plans to continue down that path.

There is every indication he will do things very differently.

Obama listens to his people, but he makes his own decisions.

I know we are not used to that.

If you look into it, you will realize that the assualt rifle ban did not stop you from getting an assualt rifle, just certain assault riffles.

So what?

[Pdubya]

i found more hate on these postings than i did standing in line at the gun show last week.

[brandon102]

Why are the looniest of these nutbags always associated with talk radio or religion?

And I don't get why people need all these guns. Are they going to take over the country or something?

[EmilyU]

"Why are the looniest of these nutbags always associated with talk radio or religion?"

How is this related to or germane to the conversation?

"And I don't get why people need all these guns. "

Why do you need books or a computer at home?

[HisXLNC]

"And I don't get why people need all these guns. Are they going to take over the country or something?"

The first picture should answer your question:
http://olegvolk.livejournal.com/491861.html

[JBS]

"Why are the looniest of these nutbags always associated with talk radio or religion?"

Because even lunatics have a Constitutional right to free association.

[Pdubya]

they may end up being the ones to save this country. you should get to know your neighbors.

[byla]

Paranoid much? Let's see, the economy is crumbling around us, the car industry is about to bite the dust, there are no jobs, people are losing their homes, AIG has once again taken tax payers money and gone on vacation with it, and you guys are worried about your guns?

That's the way to put things in perspective! That's the way to be a critical thinker!

Obama's comment, once again, has been skewed to fit the fear mongering that is so rampant in this society. So you think he wants to take away your religion too?

All he's saying is that there's more happening in this country than obsessing about guns and religion. And how do you react? Oh, you obsess MORE about your guns and religion.

Ignorance is bliss and a goodly portion of this country is very, very blissful. I guess that's what happens when you put more money into an illegal, imperial war than you do into your educational system.

[EmilyU]

"Obama's comment, once again, has been skewed to fit the fear mongering that is so rampant in this society."

There is no skewing of what he said. His website and he have made it crystal clear, no interpretation needed. He inteds to bring back the idiotic Assault Weapon Ban. It was a platform item for him.

It never ceases to amaze me how many of the posters here have not actually READ what Obama's website said or what he actually said.

[byla]

The comment has still be skewed, because the Right and then NRA are making it seem as though he wants to take away ALL guns. I put the comment as a generalization because apparently that's all the wing-nuts can understand.

Divisive issues about guns and religion is not looking at the BIG picture. He's a big picture person and he's trying to get everyone to see it as well, to put things in perspective instead of nitpicking.

[HisXLNC]

"Paranoid much? Let's see, the economy is crumbling around us, the car industry is about to bite the dust, there are no jobs, people are losing their homes, AIG has once again taken tax payers money and gone on vacation with it, and you guys are worried about your guns?

That's the way to put things in perspective! That's the way to be a critical thinker!"

Economic problems are temporary. On the other hand, losing your rights is permanent. Guns can always be sold for money in the future, however only the wealthiest of people are able to buy their rights back.

[phoenics]

Judging by this thread - Obama has been COMPLETELY vindicated in his 'bitter' statements. Proof's in the hysterical and paranoid pudding of people more worried about guns than the crumbling economy, healthcare, or education.

I think Obama has bigger fish to fry, honestly.

[Ljeff79]

The gun issue is the one area my Bostonian brain just can't wrap around.

People are effin' crazy.

[EmilyU]

Maybe you need to get out more.

[Pdubya]

Maybe you should study some Boston history.

[dagdavid]

Listen, do we really want angry republicans arming themselves to the teeth? I hope beyond hope that Obama and the Democratic majority ban automatic weapons and require ALL GUNS to have a fingerprint lock. It is time the NRA loses its grip on Washington. You want to kill animals, use a bow and arrow or a rifle. In a nation where an inordinate number of whackos go on shooting sprees in schools we should have MORE gun control.

[EmilyU]

" require ALL GUNS to have a fingerprint lock."

A very flawed technology with many pitfalls.

"It is time the NRA loses its grip on Washington. "

The NRA has the influence it does because it represents a large swath of the US.

"You want to kill animals, "

The Second Amendment isn't about hunting.

"use a bow and arrow or a rifle. "

Rifles are what people are buying in droves.

[HisXLNC]

"I hope beyond hope that Obama and the Democratic majority ban automatic weapons and require ALL GUNS to have a fingerprint lock. "

Automatic weapons are already essentially banned. You can't buy one in gun store unless it's a class 3 dealer, it can't be built before 1986, and you have to get the permission of the ATF and your local chief law-enforcement officers to buy.

As for finger print locks, i'd rather have a gun that works and doesn't cost a fortune.

"It is time the NRA loses its grip on Washington­."

If the NRA truly had a grip on Washington, no politician would even consider a gun ban unless they wanted to commit career suicide.

As for an inordinate number of whackos going on shooting sprees, that's simply not true. The US has anywhere from 190-200 million guns in private hands. Shooting sprees are nowhere near as common.

We don't need more gun control. We need better background checks, bigger prisons, and longer sentences for those who use guns in commission of a crime.

[Pdubya]

yes, lets give the nice policeman more police power.

especially in those chain linked free speech zones.

[djkrlsn]

Full auto firearms were tightly restricted in 1934 and even more tightly restricted in 1986. I will accept "fingerprint locks" on my firearms AFTER the locks have several years of proving on police guns