Gun, ammo sales are brisk ahead of storm (Gustov)

[Sgent]

Source: New Orleans Times Picayune

Gun, ammo sales are brisk ahead of storm
Dealers say customers arming to stay and protect property
Saturday, August 30, 2008
By Chris Kirkham

On what would normally be a slow summer weekday, the three employees at Gretna Gun Works Inc. frantically tended to a crush of customers admiring the racks of shotguns and rifles lined up behind the glass counter.

Among the patrons: a jewelry store owner from eastern New Orleans with plans to stand guard through Gustav; two uniformed Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office deputies inquiring about additional firearms; and an avid hunter who was in to pick up a 12-gauge he dropped off for cleaning.

"It's hurricane season, you definitely want it back now, right?" employee John DeRosier said with a grin as he handed the Beretta shotgun back to the owner.

In yet another sign of hardened sensibilities in post-Katrina New Orleans, managers of gun shops and sporting goods stores across the area report a spike in gun and ammunition sales this week.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-11/1220073771119040.xml&coll=1

[stillcool]

1. They should make it madatory..

that anyone who will not/can not leave should be armed. I hope anyone unarmed gets out safe.

[SheilaT]

2. Yeah, like shooting

at the storm is going to help.

Okay, so I do understand why people are buying guns, but I still can't help imaging the truly clueless out there.

[Festivito]

3. May have to shoot their way across bridges to find safety.

Last time when storm hit groups tried to cross a bridge into a higher and, ahem, more affluent area, they were met with people holding guns protecting areas from thirsty storm refugees.

Would you rather let your family starve, or would you rather fight for them. Jus askn.

[awoke_in_2003]

4. Yep...

that one incident was the sign of the future. If the economy keeps going the way it is going, we will have to fight for our basic necessities. You can't count on humanity in an inhumane country.

[SheilaT]

8. This time isn't there a real

mandatory evacuation?

I suppose a good old-fashioned shoot out at the bridges would have been a good thing. Or will be a good thing.

Personally, I would pack up my valuables, such as they are, and leave before a Cat 4 or 5 hurricane lands.

I've never owned a gun, I don't want one, and I'd probably be a genuine menace if given one. Others can and do have different opinions about owning a gun themselves.

[Festivito]

9. Could be. But, inland the storm dissipates quickly.

So, it can depend on how far inland you are as to whether or not you want to leave.

Last time the Bush admin graciously declined offers from Greyhound and Trailways, and from other countries offering aid. Bus drivers had left town. There were buses, but they left earlier, probably mostly empty. The parking lot pictures included buses waiting repair.

It's good that you'd leave, and are comfortably heeled enough not be greatly harmed by doing so.

But, still, you should take a gun class. We don't want you put into a situation where you'd be a menace. Just to learn. You don't have to own or house one.

[SheilaT]

12. Thank you, but I sincerely have

no interest in guns.

You may be pleased to know that I drive a stick shift, however, so I'm reasonably safe from carjacking. :)

[Festivito]

13. Or, you'll be stuck there with them.

Kid worked at our local grocer now liquor store. Mustang 5.0 bought on his own, stick. The jackers couldn't even drive it, left it, and him. Almost ten years now. Still hurts.

Just be sure to throw the keys and leave the scene.

[alarimer]

20. The people holding guns were cops.

Defenders of the affluent trying to keep the riff-raff from crossing the bridge.

[meow2u3]

5. Trying to murder the hurricane

by shooting at it in the air. Just when you think some of these gun nuts can't get any crazier.

[200overcast]

11. Hurricanes don't break into your house to rape your wife.

...

[michreject]

16. Did you come up with that idiotic statement on your own

or did you have help?

[ManiacJoe]

6. Be prepared.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. Until law and order is restored after the storm, you are on your own.
The top list of needs: Food, water, fuel, first-aid supplies, shelter, cutting/clearing tools, self-defense tools.

[Xenotime]

18. Bullshit. The last thing we need is gun fundies running around...

..exercising vigilante justice. For them to ignore due process and enact their own form of "justice" is irresponsible and dangerous.

[slackmaster]

21. Are you defining "gun fundies" as anyone who owns a gun for self-defense?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[ManiacJoe]

22. If that was what they were doing you would be right.

Fortunately, that is not what happens. You seem to be confusing "vigilante justice" with self-defense. Feel free to ask questions, and we can help educate you.

[Greyhound]

7. Wasn't Jefferson Parish the place where cops shot a group of people trying

to get away from the storm? Two people murdered and four wounded and the cops that did it just got off in the last few weeks, IIRC.

[CRF450]

10. I dont think its the grocery store owners who are THAT worried to buy guns

Its the people running bussinesses like the above mentioned being a jewelry store, where I'm sure theirs a ton of very expensive items that they dont want stollen, cause it can very well put their bussiness in jepardy. I can understand the looting for food and water, but their were also countless cases of people looting stores with expensive electronics, clothing lewelry etc etc...

I can sympathise with owners of such stores.

[davepc]

14. When government goes away, even for a short time, its lord of the flies

Anybody with some brains would do the best they could to protect themselves, since without a functioning government, no one else will protect you.

[lonestarnot]

15. Ammo doesn't fucking float!

And all those diamonds and crap, are they worth your life Mr. Jeweler? So sad all of it, so sad. :cry:

[ckramer]

17. Why did the government order people leave?

As if the government really cares.

It's more about the post-storm finger pointing in mind of these officials that triggered the mandatory evacuation.

Government can advise people the danger of the storm. But order them leave their home seems to be dictatorial.

[alarimer]

19. Too bad there isn't a waiting period anymore.

These people are likely to drown instead. Foolish assholes for staying.