Gun sales continue despite the economy ...

[spin]

FBI: March 2010 Gun Sales Fifth-Best Month Ever
April 7, 2010

(GunReports.com)--Data released by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reported 1,300,100 checks in March 2010, ranking the month the second highest March (fifth highest month overall) for most NICS checks.

This figure, while being a 3.3 percent decrease from the 1,345,096 checks conducted in March 2009 -- the early stage of an ongoing surge in firearms and ammunition sales -- is an increase of 24.9 percent over checks in March 2008.

The total number of background checks reported since the beginning of NICS is 113,680,372.
http://www.gunreports.com/news/news/FBI-NICS-Gun-Sales_1970-1.html

A Surge of a Different Sort--Firearm Sales Remain Strong in Weak Economy

Research by National Shooting Sports Foundation
(April 06, 2010) in Society / Guns

Those who have been tracking the sales of firearms recently will not be surprised at the accompanying chart, which shows the leading months for background checks based on the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System. All federally licensed firearms retailers must conduct a mandatory NICS check before completing the retail sale of any new or used firearm, making NICS statistics a solid indicator of firearms sales.



This sustained boom in the face of an unprecedented recession is evidence that Americans are sticking to their guns in times of uncertainty. And the boom continues at close to record high levels.

The obvious force behind the ranking is the election of Barack Obama as president in November of 2008, the month No. 1 month overall. Fear that a new internationally-minded Administration would support legislation both here and abroad that would limit civilian ownership of firearms resulted in an unprecedented surge in firearm sales that lasted through 2009 and is still being felt in the early part of 2010. The top six months for NICS checks--and 12 out of the top 17 months--have been since November 2008. The election’s powerful effect on firearms purchases actually began before the votes were tallied since sales began to spike in October 2008 (No. 15 on the list) in anticipation of an Obama victory and the swing to a less gun-friendly Congress.
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/a-surge-of-a-different-sort-firearm-sales-remain-strong-in-weak-economy

[onehandle]

1. Well, un uptick in racism and hate groups will do that.

America! Fuck yeah!

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. So private firearms are primarioly the province of racists and hate groups?

[onehandle]

16. Really? I hadn't heard that.

Thanks for the footnote.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

24. Not surprising you would deny that which is your thesis

[Name removed]

33. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

34. Deleted message

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[cowman]

39. Yeah

like post #33

[Chulanowa]

41. No, it's what you're hoping he's saying

Because then you can feel oppressed and bitch about it.

Imagine that, an uptick in groups that arm themselves coincides with an uptick in gun sales.

Doesn't say anything about private gun owners, as you and ProgressiveProfessor are desperately hoping and grasping at. Just that the upswing in gun sales coincides with an upswing in paranoid motherfuckers who think Obama's going to send them on a gulag.

[Kurska]

44. Do I really need to teach you what cause and effect is?

Effect- Increased gun sales
Cause- (According to the poster in question) "Well, un uptick in racism and hate groups will do that."

Must we forsake the ability to analyze a cause and effect agruement to play "gotcha" semantics with other posters?

In case you need more practice
http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/causeeffectfactopinion/HolidayCause-Effect2.pdf

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

45. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

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[spin]

17. I suspect the majority of people buying firearms ...

are neither racists or members of a hate group.

I know several women who are considering buying a firearm or getting a concealed carry permit. My daughter carries and often her friends are interested in discussing the subject with her. Many women are taking firearm classes today, far more than in the past.

A recent study conducted by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Southwick Associates found that 70 percent of gun-shop owners reported more female gun buyers in 2009, according to the Washington Times.

Ken Collins, manager of Range Masters of Utah, has also seen an increase of female gun buyers locally.

“I’m sure it’s unique for each individual female, but a lot of it has to do with more females are on their own and without companionship,” Collins said.

The study found 80 percent of females who purchased a gun said they did so for self defense, 35 percent said it was for target practice and 24 percent bought it for hunting. Some respondents cited more than one reason for their purchase.

“Girls generally are not gravitating toward guns, but lately people have kind of noticed that guns are good to have around,” said Norman Van Wagenen, manger of Van Wagenen Finance and Guns in Orem.
http://universe.byu.edu/node/7708

Democrats have long been associated with pushing new gun control laws. Obama, a politician from one of the states most opposed to firearm ownership, and a Democrat controlled Congress swept into office after the last election. It's not surprising that many people who had considered buying a firearm in the past decided to run to the gun store.

Fear of Crackdown Leads to Gun Sales Increase
Friday, November 07, 2008
By Dena Potter, Associated Press

Midlothian, Va. (AP) - When 10-year-old Austin Smith heard Barack Obama had been elected president, he had one question: Does this mean I won't get a new gun for Christmas?

That brought his mother, the camouflage-clad Rachel Smith, to Bob Moates Sports Shop on Thursday, where she was picking out that special 20-gauge shotgun - one of at least five weapons she plans to buy before Obama takes office in January.

Like Smith, gun enthusiasts nationwide are stocking up on firearms out of fears that the combination of an Obama administration and a Democrat-dominated Congress will result in tough new gun laws.

"I think they're going to really try to crack down on guns and make it harder for people to try to purchase them," said Smith, 32, who taught all five of her children - ages 4 to 10 - to shoot because the family relies on game for food.

***snip***

Obama has said he respects Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms, but that he favors "common sense" gun laws. Gun rights advocates interpret that as meaning he'll at least enact curbs on ownership of assault and concealed weapons.

As a U.S. Senator, Obama voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to lawsuits; and as an Illinois state legislator, he supported a ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter restrictions on all firearms.

***snip***

But Mark Tushnet, a Harvard Law School professor who has written a book about the gun debate, said new firearms regulations will be a low priority for an Obama administration and Democratic Congress facing a global economic crisis and two wars.

"Maybe the gun-show loophole will be closed, but not much else," he said in an e-mail. "I'd be surprised, for example, if Congress enacted a new assault gun ban."
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/39023

It's very easy to blame racism and hate as the cause for the increase in gun sales, but often simple explanations are wrong. Democrats have a bad reputation as the party of gun control, deserved or not. Few people seem to realize that many Democrats own firearms and support RKBA and when informed find it difficult to believe.

While it's obvious that gun control isn't a high priority of the Democrats in Congress or the President at this time, many people feel that it may surface in the future. Many Democrats in office feel that the reenactment of the assault weapons ban would be a great idea. Until the party reassures people that it has no plans to ever implement such a total failure again (which is unlikely) people will continue buy now rather than regret not buying later.

[PavePusher]

25. And you can support that claim with evidence? n/t

[Callisto32]

36. You're so out of touch it hurts.

[Tejas]

52. Our resident worry wart speaketh

Hope you're not too bummed out with the lack of Nazi's and Charles Manson's posting about how they plan to let loose the dogs of war with their .25 Lorcins and stuff.

Don't lose hope onehandle, maybe one day your dreams will come true and then you can tell us all "I TOLD YOU SO".

But for now, you'll just have to live with the fact that racism and mass murder etc is absent from the agenda of law-abiding gunowners. Try your best to live a rational life.

[benEzra]

2. I wonder how much of that is driven by people getting their income tax refunds back.

FWIW, unlike (say) people buying flat-screen TV's, most of the money spent on lawful gun purchases stays in the USA.

This does suggest that the ammunition market is going to remain a little tight for a while, though supply does seem to have mostly caught up.

[onehandle]

3. I wonder how much of that is driven by people making straw purchases to arm hate groups.

And school kids.

[spin]

5. Anyone engaging in such activity should be held responsible ...

for the results of their activity.

[marcus5aurelius]

7. Have you ever thought about...

Why so many shootings all revolve around schools or federal buildings? The answer: soft targets.

Schools and government buildings forbid carrying of firearms, whether they are concealed or open. That translates to an entire building that has no virtually chance of stopping an attack before the maximum damage is done. Saying a building is a "gun free zone" does little to stop people like those pictured above. However it does stop a legally licensed, law abiding citizen from defending himself in case of an emergency such as that.

The reason why many gun enthusiasts say that gun control only allows criminals to have guns is because they are the only ones that are not effected by these laws. Even if one in 50 were carrying concealed, they would at the very least have a chance to defend themselves instead of being cornered and executed by those monsters.

[spin]

9. Welcome to DU. Good post. (n/t)

[marcus5aurelius]

10. Thanks!

Glad to be here :)

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[marcus5aurelius]

18. Mostly related to College Students

In the case of highschools though, security and licensed adults are forced to disarm before entering. It makes it way too easy for those who intend to inflict massive bodycounts. That isn't necessarily saying highschool students are incapable of safely handling a firearm, but I do agree that similar to a driver's license you should be of a certain age before being able to officially carry.

[spin]

19. Nobody is recommending arming high school children ...

Licensed and trained adults with a concealed carry permit, yes.

At a minimum, teachers and high school personnel who have completed advanced firearm training designed for a school environment should be allowed to carry or have access to firearms.

[GreenStormCloud]

23. Allow teachers to be armed.

There is a high school in Texas that does that. No reports of any problems there. The town is Harrod, TX.

Link to a NYT handwringing article: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/us/29texas.html

[spin]

27. I like the plan of arming teachers at the school in Harrold Texas ...

The school board decided that teachers with concealed guns were a better form of security than armed peace officers, since an attacker would not know whom to shoot first, Mr. Thweatt said. Teachers have received training from a private security consultant and will use special ammunition designed to prevent ricocheting, he added.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/29/us/29texas.html?_r=1

I have suggested this idea before and I'm glad to see that someone in Texas has implemented it.

This is so interesting an article that I suggest that you post it and start a new thread of discussion.

[GreenStormCloud]

42. I will wait until the school year is finished.

Then I can also say, "...and nothing happened. No blood running in the hallways."

[spin]

43. Good plan...

It should provoke some interesting responses.

[PavePusher]

26. Hahahahaha!!

That "security" is mostly fairly rudimentary, and easily bypassed with some thought and effort.

I recently sat on a court martial board, in a Federal courthouse. Not counting objects provided by the court, I never failed to have a minimum of two weapons at all times.

[Pavulon]

22. Not as much Budweiser, and DWI (in kids too)

stacks far more bodies than firearms. Drug laws and mental health drive gun death.

[east texas lib]

32. Why don't you go attempt a straw purchase and find out?

You'll not have to wonder anymore.

[SteveM]

49. Klebold. His Dad. Both opposed CCW in Colorado. Why? nt

[T Wolf]

4. I sincerely hope that many of those buying weapons are on our side because the enemy

is armed and obviously willing to kill for their side.

Aggression by us may not be acceptable, but failure to defend oneself is even more unacceptable.

[tburnsten]

29. Yes, failure to protect yourself against aggression is a crime against nature

Otherwise we would not have such a highly developed sense of self-preservation.


I am not convinced that more than a vanishingly small portion of people with politically opposed views are violent by nature or willing to murder other U.S. citizens over political discord.

There is a very major reason why we have had so many peaceful transfers of power in this nation over the course of our history, and it has very little to do with the threat of government forcibly smiting those who would destabilize the nation. It has very much to do with the fact that by and large, Americans tend to be a people who take care of one another and harbor little malice towards one another. This century we have had the spectre of prohibitions to contend with, which has massively disrupted our culture, but overall we are still exceptionally good neighbors.

Even those on the other side.

[SteveM]

51. While it doesn't take nearly a majority to "take over," I'm not worried about armed...

uprisings from the worst of the far-right. Are there some who would "...kill for their side?" Certainly, but they would have to be extremely competent or have a much larger warm-body base. As of yet, they have neither.

IMO, the "new" gun purchasers includes many much more moderate, even liberal folks.

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. I'm on all kinds of waiting/wish list for a Bersa Thunder.

They are getting scooped up by someone.

[spin]

8. They have been in short supply since they first came out. (n/t)

[dashrif]

12. my

gunsmith has a 9mm and 380 or he did 2 weeks ago I have not been by lately

[Bonhomme Richard]

14. I talked to the importer and............

they get about 100 in at a time but they go to the distributors and then out to the dealers which must go to their favorite customers. I am looking to get the high capacity 9mm thunder pro. It comes with 2 17 round mag.

[onehandle]

15. Walmart has Super Soakers by the gross. nt

[spin]

20. Walmart also has power tools, pots and pans and womens panties ...

What's your point.

[cowman]

21. Wal Mart

also has rifles and ammo. whats your point?

[Tejas]

50. bought a used .380 Bersa for 200 FTF

Man at a gunshow was walking along with one, looked it over and liked what I saw. Took it to the range and really like how it handles, very user-friendly.

[jazzhound]

28. Back when gun/ammo sales were first beginning to spike I spoke to the

manager of a large local gun store/shooting range and discovered some interesting things. He informed me that he was involved in some capacity with a firearms dealers association --- and mentioned that the percentage of sales to first-time gun owners traditionally runs at around 25% of total sales. That figure had jumped to 65%. Additionally, first time gun buyers are asked to state the purpose of their purchase on one of the required forms. I don't recall seeing this question when I purchased my first gun, but it's been quite a while. At any rate, roughly 50% stated home security or nervousness about the state of the economy as the reason for their purchase, and the rest stated that they feared the government was on the verge of banning personal firearms. The range where I do almost all of my shooting told me that their waiting list for firearm training classes was booked six months out ----- a historical anomaly of great proportion.

Of course these new gun owners are going to be voting their interests -- one of the reasons gun "control" is toast.

[tburnsten]

30. My first five or six were face to face private sales

so my first from a shop is still fairly fresh for me, and there was no question like that on the forms.


Maybe this is an informal thing that dealers ask people they personally don't recognize, or a state-specific thing?

[jazzhound]

31. I'm guessing state-specific........

........since I live in California. Need we say more? :crazy:

[Callisto32]

38. I hope they are asking people who they don't know, or who act a little odd about buying one.

I would like to think that there are responsible gunshop owners out there who are going over the basics of safety with unknown customers, or at least asking if they want them to. If I had my druthers, they would also (voluntarily) hand out contact information for professional firearms instructors.

[tburnsten]

40. I would fully support shops including a sheet

with contact information for every firearm-related class in the same county as the shop with every gun sold, and I also wouldn't mind a publicly funded general safety and handling class, I can think of few better uses for a police department, carve out two hours a couple nights a week maybe.

As long as it isn't mandatory, I think it would be the tits.

[Callisto32]

47. If it wasn't publicly funded, I would agree.

But, that shouldn't be a surprise if you're familiar with my other posts. :)

[jazzhound]

46. Even after shooting at my range for some time one of the employees

made me demo loading/unloading when I purchased a semi-auto from them. And *again* when I bought another a couple of years later! I didn't resent it --- only took a minute. I believe it may be the law in CA.

[Callisto32]

48. I never thought about it, but I guess this is a good idea.

A lot of people manage to "think" they unloaded an auto...

[Callisto32]

37. As opposed to the people that forget which box they need to mark "yes" on.

:rofl:

[Biker13]

35. K&R