Gun and Ammo Sales Breaking New Records
Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
As many manufacturer's are curtailing their production; cutting hours, laying off employees, and even closing their doors completely, gun and ammo production and sales seem to be going through the proverbial roof. Gun store supplies can't keep up with consumer demands and gun and ammo manufacturers can't keep up with gun store orders.
Several reasons lay behind this surge in weapons buying passion. First, and probably most significant is the fact that Democrats are known for being anti-gun. Everyone expects some type of legislation, which will further restrict the legal buying and selling of weapons-guns. But no amount of legislation will keep guns, especially assault type weapons, off the black market and out of the hands of criminals. However, a large percentage of armed robberies and assaults, especially in more rural communities, are committed with smaller weapons such as the .38 special, .22 pistol, or the nine-millimeter handgun.
In a small town in Arkansas a young gunman surprised a barber working alone in his shop. When the barber didn't take the young man seriously, he was shot in both legs for not immediately handing over his meager day's earnings. Now the barber cuts hair with a handgun holstered under his uniform shirt.
Concealed carry permits being issued are also on the rise. Arkansas usually averaged about 700 permits issued per month during the years 2007 and 2008. But, suddenly in November the number rose to 1000, then 1700, then 2500, and by February it was up to 3000. These permits are not just passed out haphazardly by any stretch of the imagination. Very detailed background checks are made and training courses are required before the permits are issued.
One young man from Arkansas found out the hard way that you can't just change your name and expect to receive a concealed weapons permit. He was one of the two young boys who in March of 1998 shot and killed several young students and teachers at the Westside School in Jonesboro , Arkansas . His parents had had his name legally changed but a background search turned up fingerprints belonging to the real person and his permit-thank God-was rejected. Fayetteville police on New Year's Day 2007 picked up his older fellow culprit who was carrying drugs and a loaded nine-millimeter handgun in his van. I would hazard a guess that he didn't come by that weapon legally.
In rural communities many children are raised in families where guns are normal household objects. Deer, squirrel, rabbit, wild turkey, geese, ducks, and other wild animals were and still are a familiar source of protein on many tables. Many of us can relate to our parents and grandparents having hunting rifles in racks over the mantle or in the back window of the family truck. Young boys, and even girls, learned how to handle guns at an early age-long before the going thing was sniping from a clock tower, a schoolyard hillside, or the hole in the trunk of a moving vehicle.
Fear of home invasion is another reason for the increase in gun sales and concealed carry weapons permits. An older couple traveling in a motor home may feel more secure in the knowledge that they can protect themselves when camping in remote areas. Homeowners may feel that just the knowledge that they may own a gun might cause a criminal to have second thoughts about breaking in. Although, someone high on drugs may not give a possible weapon a second thought; as one couple found out, when an intruder used his driver's license to jimmy the lock on the door. His license broke with the end that had his name on it falling inside the house. In terror the intruder kicked the door in to retrieve his license only to be facing a homeowner armed with a handgun. The intruder ran away before any shots were fired leaving his license behind. The Sheriff's Department quickly picked him up.
Needless to say there are pros and cons about gun ownership and keeping guns in a location accessible to young children. Too often good judgement goes out the window when parents or other adults proudly display their gun collection in the presence of children or inexperienced youth and adults and allow them to handle lethal weapons carelessly. The father who took his young son to a gun show only to watch him die a horrible death must certainly still be suffering from his poor judgement. Too often we tend to be a population that is reactive rather than proactive. And as my Grandfather always said, "We close the barn door after the horse has already gotten out."
I, personally, have nothing against guns-I do have an aversion to people who do not keep them locked away and separated from the ammo. I and my husband both have had concealed carry permits for many years and probably will have until we are too old to expect to use our guns safely. I lean mostly toward the saying that "it is not guns that kill people, it is people who kill people." We keep our guns locked away unless we are traveling and have alarms on our doors and windows, so that should it be necessary, we would have time to get a gun out-one from each side of our bed!-and hopefully one of us doesn't get caught in the cross-fire.
Wishing everyone a wonderful SearchWarp Week.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Great article. Well done.I understand your point about gun ownership being linked to the ecconomic crisis. I see the atraction of a gun - not that I own one - it gives the owner a sense of security.I think maybe, yes and no. We have several guns, but to use a gun against another human being is not an easy pill to swallow--even in self defense.Thanks for reading and commenting, Connor.SandraI guess the guns are not for self-defense. Are they for target shooting? Or what?Yes, the guns are for self-defense. I just pray that we never find it necessary to use them as I think I would find it hard to live with the fact that I killed another human being--even to save myself. My priorities have changed over the years and I am trying to hard to live by the teachings in my Bible. I realize it sounds silly to own guns, if you don't intend to use them. But, we do use them for target practice, killing poisonous snakes (we live in the country and have a pond where we find water moccosins, copperheads, and ground rattlers). I would like to think that I could just shoot an intruder in the knees rather than kill him, so I keep practicing my aim.SandraOK... I get it now.Thanks
Sandra, thank you for such a well-rounded article on this issue. I think it would be devasting to outlaw guns. In this case,the only ones who will have them are the criminals. It is the heart of man that needs changing and it is people who kill people. Granted there are needless accidents with guns, but then there are also needless car accidents as well. And a baseball bat works just fine to inflict death....oh no, you got me started :-)I happen to own several guns. My children were taught safety and respect and they learned how to use them. If there is going to be a gun in the home, everyne in that home must be comfortable in use and trained proper handling etc. If there is one in the home with emotional issues, there should not be a gun in the home. I first handled a 22 riffle at age 6. I have enjoyed target shooting ever since.Sorry for the rant -- excellent article! Hugs, TeresaThanks, Teresa; and may we never have to use them against another human being--God willing.Sandra
Sandra,Such a great article to add to the Warp! Thanks for sharing this with us.Just one opinion among many. If only there were a way to stop criminals from aquiring guns, then no one would need them. As Teresa said, a ball bat would do the trick.Thanks for reading and commenting, Ronyae and have a good week-end.SandraTeresa's a genius!You noticed that too, huh?Sandra
Thank-you for sharing!I agree with your statment that it is not guns who kill people, but people who kill people.I personally am terrified of guns, but not for the obvious reasons. I'm such a clutz sometimes, I figure it I has one I'd end up shooting myself in the foot with it!!!A heathly fear of guns should be had by any one. They aren't something to take lightly. Training and education should be in the forefront of all gun purchases.Thanks for reading and commenting, Nila. Have a great week-end.Sandra
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