The Obama Effect
Gun Sales Boom—Fact or Hype?
By Richard Martin, 11-25-08
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Since the election of Barack Obama, and the Democratic near-sweep of Congress, two weeks ago there have beenhundreds of news stories about an up surge of gun sales across the West and across the country. Many of these have appeared in newspapers in the Rocky Mountain West: the Denver Post, Boulder’s Daily Camera, the Salt Lake Tribune, and so on.
All of the officials, gun sellers and purchasers interviewed agree on the cause of this brisk market for firearms: the threat of radical new gun-control legislation issuing from the Democratic-controlled Congress and signed by the new president.
“They want to do it now before they can’t do it later,” Chris Lewis, a gunsmith and clerk at Grandpa’s Pawn and Gun in Longmont, told the Daily Camera.
The problem is, while these accounts seem to present persuasive evidence, they’re almost all based on anecdotal evidence. Nearly all the stories cite one stat: “Last month, there were 62,000 more background checks of gun purchases than in October 2007, according to the FBI.” That’s about 9% over last year.
However, as the Los Angeles Times reports, “the number of pre-purchase background checks conducted by the FBI—a major barometer of national gun sales—actually rose more slowly through Oct. 31 of this year than during comparable periods in 2007 and 2006.” What’s more, gun sales have been rising throughout 2008, according to most estimates – long before Obama even won the Democratic nomination, much less became the favorite to win the presidency.
“Considered inside the context of a decade’s worth of background check data and a growing population,” wrote Slate’s Jack Shafer last week, “the 9 percent year-to-date increase doesn’t seem very significant.”
In fact, as Doug Pennington of the Brady Campaign observes, there is no authoritative source for gun-sales figures.
Fiercely lobbying to keep gun laws from making headway in state legislatures and the U.S. Congress, the National Rifle Association has little incentive to tally the huge number of guns in private hands in this country. The National Sports Shooting Foundation, the trade association for gun manufacturers, does keep such figures – but it won’t release them.
To be sure, in the month of October alone, a pre-election buying spree did likely take place. FBI background checks registered “a nearly 49 percent increase over the same period in 2007,” according to CNN.com. It’s worth noting, though, that gun sales almost always rise at the beginning of economic hard times – “No looters or thieves around here, by God!” And, for what it’s worth, not every background check equates to a sold gun. Overall, hard evidence of a gun-buying binge is tough to come by – and so is data to the contrary. Reports of a surge in gun sales, says Pennington, are “based on impressions and suspicions” – as well as interviews with individual gun-shop owners and their customers, who have pretty obvious biases in this matter.
Obama himself, of course, has repeatedly said that while he favors “common-sense” gun laws – like restricting or eliminating the sale of assault weapons at gun shows – he will not attempt to get legislation passed to severely curtail Second Amendment rights.
Nevertheless, stories about record gun sales feed the latent anti-gun-control paranoia never far from the surface in communities across the Mountain West. What’s more, they’re self-reinforcing and easy to produce: go down to the gun shop, get a good quote from the merchant, interview a pistol-laden shopper, and bingo! There may be a new tide of gun owners stocking up on weaponry. Or there may not. But the press is not doing anyone favors by feeding the hysteria.
Earlier this year, someone should have started an anonymous e-mail claiming that Obama would ban American made cars if he was elected. That would have spread around the crazy, right-wing uncles of the country like wildfire.
The wingers would have ran out and bought Fords and Chevys the day after the election instead of AK knockoffs, and we wouldn't need to bail out the auto industry.
It's not anecdotal. What has really happened is the focus shifted. There is most definitely a run on what Obanner and his cronies might try to legislate out of existence. So...instead of that long-planned Cooper, or that Citori, folks are buying Stoner-system toys or other EBR's this year. Just in case.
I'm already stocked up, thanks.
It's no anecdotal that gun purchases are at an all-time high. People know that Obama hates Guns and Gun Owners and will try to screw them any way he can.
Go and buy a gun....or ten. Buy a lot of ammunition, too. Tell no one.
John Browning
Quote: "Obama himself, of course, has repeatedly said that while he favors “common-sense” gun laws – like restricting or eliminating the sale of assault weapons at gun shows – he will not attempt to get legislation passed to severely curtail Second Amendment rights."
Only a complete moron believes anything Barack says. Barack is a professional liar. He's a politician and politicans lie. It's their job to lie. Only a complete moron would believe anything any politician has to say. If you collect Former Soviet Union and Eastern Block firearms like I do, then you know that Barack will sign an Executive Order as soon as possible to ban the importation of firearms and ammunition. Just follow his past record on Second Amendment issues. Better stock up now or else don't snivel about how you were betrayed.
I'm betting there will be a rebirth of the KKK...
Comment By Thomas William Ullom Sr. C.P., 11-26-08I LOVE IT buy more GUNS, and AMMO, because all heck's gonna break out!! Because we're gonna have rabid communusts in the federal govt. So be warned, and stock up!!!
Comment By House of Mayhem, 11-26-08Has anyone stopped to think that maybe this gun buying panic was started by the pro-gun entities to drive up gun sales? In other words--to make a buck?
Comment By Sunder, 11-26-08Its not all that bad.
Historically this seems to be a continual event, that when a Democrat is elected in to the presidential cabinet, and a over whelming number of Democrats in the houses. There well be restrictions put on weapons, and that is why I can see people worried and purchasing more product. I'm a strong democrat I don't own a firearm but I am a strong supporter of the second amendment. However I don't believe that the resurrections in placed are going to significantly impact the industry. Either way the weapon industry well prophet greatly even if its a short term prophet. I trust the president elect and his promises.
Go to any gunshop. Just try and buy ammunition or "normal-capacity" magazines online. Do it!
EVERYONE AND THEIR DOG is sold out of everything!
What? You don't believe me? Just look online. Go visit websites like Aimsurplus, Brownell's, and Midway USA for example. Many of them are so backed up that they won't even pick up the phone. Just try to order the most popular rifle magazines from these sites. Most of them have backorders in the 10's of thousands on certain items. With waiting lists that will take months to fill.
Not to mention all the places that sell ammunition. .223 Remington/5.56 Nato, 9mm, .45 ACP, .40 S&W;, etc. is flying out these places by the pallet! And you can forget about walking into a gunshop and purchasing an AK or AR-15. Those two rifles (and all of their variants) have been sold out nationwide.
People are not stupid! Folks in this country are hording magazines and ammunition like the country is about to be invaded by the Chinese! And on November 4th it was invaded! By the Leftist Liberals and their precious Marxist "Messiah"..
He's for gun rights? What a bunch of crap! If you believe that I've got some oceanfront property that I would like to sell you on Mars. He is ANTI-Gun, and he will do his best to completely destroy your 2nd Amendment rights! Only a fool would believe what the idiot Demonrats on Capital Hill who march in front of PMSNBC and CNN's cameras would tell you.
WE WILL RESIST!
Comment By L. J. Martin, 11-27-08Obama said he'd protect the 2nd Amendment, but did not say he'd protect your right to buy ammunition. So be aware, and fight for those protections in other states as Montana will be among the last to be in the limelight of liberal agenda. Thank God for the peaceful transition of power in the United States, and thank our forefathers for our right to defend that peaceful transition with the right to BE an armed militia, an armed citizen. Don't ever believe that even those of us who read and participate in a liberal electronic rag such as this one are not watching and voting with both our dollars and our voting machine levers. The great swing vote who were mesmerized by the messiah may just awaken as their rights are infringed. Pray they do.
Comment By flounder, 11-27-08You all keep chasing your conspiracy theories (OMG!!! Obama never said he'd protect camouflage underwear! Buy it by the pallet now!): Stock your ammo, build your little Ruby Ridge and Waco playgrounds, keep flogging your fairness doctrine fantasies; and while you are all good and distracted maybe the adults can fix some of the things that are wrong.
Comment By L. J. Martin, 11-27-08I presume by Flounder's comments that the adults are going to fix the attacks on the constitution by the liberal left?
Comment By jed, 11-27-08White Supremacists will be armed to the teeth by January 20th...
Comment By L. J. Martin, 11-27-08I would hope that white, black, red, brown, and yellow Americans, and all the mixtures of the above, would be armed in order to protect themselves and their families...as per their right under the Constitution, and that they'd be prepared to protect you and your family, should you decide to get loaded in the cattle car and shipped off to "relocation." An unarmed man is a subject, or potentially so, an armed man is a free citizen, and proudly American. You have a gun in your house because you can't have a cop.
Comment By scott, 11-28-08Gun sales are up--the proof is there. Liberals can say what they want but urkel will, with the aid of the congress, try to pass restrictive firearm laws that will hurt/disarm the everyday tax paying citizens of this country. Period. He can say what he likes, but his past actions prove otherwise. PS... "Evil black guns/Assault Weapons" not one in the same. The so called assault weapons that you can purchase are semi automatic(like your shotgun or common deer rifle) firearms that fire ONE round per trigger pull. That is all. Full autos have been restricted/banned since the 30's.
Comment By Beau Chenault, 11-28-08Hey, the OBAMA TSUMANI has arrived! We're gonna be knocking on your doors with Federal Warrants! We're gonna come in with Black Helicopters and take every one of your firearms away from you! It won't matter how many thousands of dollars you spend on firearms and ammo right now, it's just a waste of hard earned money in these hard economic times. It's just a fact.
So hey, maybe you should just try and get over it! We'll be seeing you all...VERY SOON!!!! [heh, heh]
Simple minded people like yourself Beau should be the ones worrying. Hope you enjoy your community service time. I'll honk as you are out in your orange vest picking up the trash. But don't fear, urkel will take care of you. Promise Promise
Comment By flounder, 11-28-08I hope Obama does deal with the attacks on the Constitution. No more illegal warrantless wiretapping of American citizens. No more arrest and holding of American citizens without habeas corpus, right to representation, due process, or speedy trial. No more torture by the U.S. Government.
I do have to say that I have never heard Bush or Cheney called the "liberal left".
We agree on the wiretapping, and on the US citizens; unless they are caught fighting for the enemy(whether here or abroad)then all is fair. At least we don't behead them . If waterboarding is the least we do to them to gather information to protect(yes, Protect) American lives than so be it. When you mention the Constitution does that include the First and Second Amend. also? Urkel does not seem to care for that part of the Document at all....
Comment By flounder, 11-29-08You hedge your support of the Constitution with weasel words like "unless", "at least we don't", and "if [torture] is the least we do"...
Not very proud of our defining document are you? Sad.
The last time I looked emeny combatants from a different country( ie. not a Citizen of the US) engaged in the killing of US Service men and women do not have ANY PROTECTIONS provided by our Constitution. Short and Simple.
Comment By Velvet Jones, 11-29-08The Second Amendment ain't about hunting ducks.
I am very happy to see gun and ammo sales clearing the shelves of nearly every gun shop nationwide. The more guns and ammo we get into the hands of law abiding Americans the better to make any "ban" utterly meaningless as there will be decades of supply on the market.
Since the election I added three CZ-82 handguns, a Saiga-12 shotgun (with two 20-round drums), two new converted Saiga SGL 10 AK-47, Romainian AK-47 and Romak-3 PSL Dragunov-style rifle to my collection as well as 5,000 rounds 9x18mm, 12,000 rounds 7.62x39mm, 4,800 rounds 7.62x54R and 500 rounds 00 buckshot. I'm still adding and if Obama-bin-Biden don't get a "ban" instituted then thats fine! But then I also have two years supply of nonperishable food and basic necessities, I am completely debt free, and have safe investments that haven't been hurt by the economic downturn (precious metals).
Why? Because I bloody well can! Don't like it? Too bad - move to France.
- Velvet Jones
Have another look Scott. The President, current or better, can declare anyone, American citizen or not, an enemy combatant at any time for any, or no reason(s) at all. Your home, library and financial records can be searched with no more than a letter, no suspiscion needed, just a letter with no oversight. Phones are being tapped without evidence of wrongdoing and mail being opened. Want a lawyer to protest, nope. Habeus Corpus and the Geneva Conventions are quaint. The America we all grew up with and studied in school is gone, these are scary times indeed.
I'm not surprised there may be a run on guns, but I doubt it has much to do with our new leader and more to do with past past failure. You may remember the Supreme Court rulling last year upholding the 2nd Amendment and against D.C.. It is a right guaranteed under our Constitution. Yes, a right like the 4th Amendment, but I see that never slowed down Bush.
scott is likely not defined by the constitution, flounder.
I think rather he is one of those undefinables generally characterized by upper case strokes from the top of the keyboard.
So how do you explain Jose Padilla and Yaser Hamdi? They are as much U.S. citizens as you and I.
Comment By Sunder, 11-29-08For the first time in a long time I get to say something you white trash Republicans have told me since 2000. "If you don't like our president you CAN GET OUT, you unpatriotic bastards." So you all how complained about us I think you all are bunch of little cry baby's "Oh I might not be able to buy ammunition to protect my self from the radical Obama. Because my semiautomatic weapon well protect me from everything including missiles. My mind is to small and compact to be able to figure out the complex process of making my own ammunition. What ever shall I do. I know I shall post a comment saying We Will Resist, this way my fellow xenophobes will know that the rebellion has started right here on this website VIVA LA REDNECK!!!!" Pansy's want to start a fight that you already lost. Its OK though all of you have gotten to the second stage of the process and all that is left is bargaining, depression, and acceptance. You'll get though it like we got through eight years of it, sucks to be on the other side of the fence doesn't it.
Comment By MOLAN LABE, 11-30-08keep buying guns and ammo. obama might be able to restrict what is available to buy, he'll never be able to take these things away.
MOLAN LABE!!!
"So how do you explain Jose Padilla and Yaser Hamdi? They are as much U.S. citizens as you and I."
Read my earlier words--I said if they are "enemy" combatants trying/attempting to kill US servicemen and women. You guys are smoking some good stuff if you believe that urkel is going to abolish all of the violations of the Constitution. He has put n place a group of ex clinton thugs who violated your rights during the 90's, but did it quietly. Wait and see- And since we are talking torture, when urkel closes Gitmo, what would you like to see done with the prisoners there? If they are tried and found guilty, do we put them in our prisons, deport them, or what? Do we just do a blanket release so they can go back and jihad some more(proven- they do go back and kill again)? Do we find them not guilty and release them into the public?
Back to the original theme: Most of the msm has decided to label anyone buying a firearm after the election "right wing redneck racist scared repulicans". I have many friends who voted for urkel(lifelong dems/libs), and have never owned a firearm. EVERY single one has purchased at least one firearm in the past 15 days. I am not really worried what the "one" does to the 2nd amend., I already have what I need, but my lib/dem friends most certainly are. And, gasp, one of the friends was black. Ponder that if you will.
Comment By flounder, 11-30-08Jose Padilla never tried to kill anyone. He ran his mouth about killing someone...big difference.
Now on this website there used to be frequent commenter who went by Rose Mary, and she was very popular with the other right wingers.
She said that if Obama ever came to her town, she would be ready with an illegally sawed-off weapon. She quit posting after I illuminated her death threat, but her sin is basically the same as Padilla's.
Now under your standard, since she threatened to kill the future president, she is an "enemy combatant" and you appear to have no qualms about disappearing her for 3 1/2 years as happened to Padilla, as long as some President or another decides that is what they want to do.
I have enough pride and faith in the workings of American Democracy that a trial for such as her would be well handled and perhaps even illuminating about the malevolent types of people in our midst. I suppose that is the difference between you and I...you would side against the Constitution, while I side with it.
P.S. McCain's best friend G.Gordon Liddy once told his radio audience that if Federal employees come to your door, you must kill them, preferably with a "head shot". According to your definition for "enemy combatant" (i.e. thoughts and not actions), it appears that McCain was "pallin' around with terrorists" so to speak. If only the traditional media hadn't been so in the tank for McCain, we might have had a real discussion of this topic.
"she is an "enemy combatant""
No, she is an idiot. You keep moving this away from my original post--If you are an enemy combatant, with the intent to harm US Military members on the battlefield then you have no protection under the constitution. Short and Simple. But you have failed to answer what YOU would do with the "bad" guys from Gitmo. Unconditional Release( because once they get in front of some of the liberal judges and they consider that we denied them of TV priviledges- game over man) Deport Them--Fat chance; Put them in prison -- Fat Chance #2.
You obviously don't get it.
Jose Padilla didn't harm anyone on the battlefield. And what he was saying he was going to do had nothing to do with any battlefield. He got deemed an enemy combatant for having a big mouth and having the e-mail of some al Qaeda guy.
Yet for some reason, you don't understand that by simply calling U.S. citizen Jose Padilla an "enemy combatant", without any sort of input from a judge or jury, completely outside of what is dictated by the U.S. Constitution, means that you, me, G.Gordon Liddy, or Rose Mary could have the same thing happen. Anyone that had G. Gordon Liddy's e-mail address could be called an enemy combatant under such terms. I bet half the right-wing hate machine has his e-mail address, including your losing presidential candidate.
You might think that is just regular and normal, but I happen to think the implications of such extralegal activity poses a far greater effect to our Constitution than any law requiring trigger locks or banning private ownership of M-60 machine guns.
It's definitely not over-hyped. Here in Colorado, you cannot find an assault rifle - period. And the big chain stores, like Bass Pro, have almost no ammunition left. I have never seen a time in my life when you couldn't go get some 9mm, but there are numerous stores that are empty! Even Wal-mart. The American people are preparing for war.
Comment By jlbraun, 12-02-08I, as a liberal Democrat, did not vote for Obama. Why?
I am in favor of gay marriage. Obama is against it.
I am against the Iraq War. Obama voted to continue it.
I am against warrantless wiretapping. Obama voted for it.
I am against the Patriot Act. Obama voted to continue it.
I am for women, minorities, and gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgendered people to be able to defend themselves against attackers with firearms. Obama would have these people unable to resist attackers with effective tools.
I, again a liberal Democrat, own a semi-auto AK-47, have a concealed carry permit, and take part in combat shooting matches. I bought 1000 rounds of imported 7.62x39 leading up to the elections, because I think an executive order is coming from Obama to ban import of cheap practice ammunition.
Well said......
Comment By sunder, 12-02-08Three things you should know:
1.This is not about why you voted and for whom, and or your opinion on marriage or other topics. Think FIREARMS.
2. Second Amendment was a great concept to help protect American Citizens encase the government became to powerful. Back when doctors where bleeding people out to solve their illnesses and most races including Native Americans and Black's where thought to be of a different spices of human. Lower then whitey in every possible way.
3. Humans unfortunately look at things in the now.
You people are fighting probably the worst case about a constitutional right that well continue on and on.. and on. Until one side either commits mass suicide and or you decided to disagree and end it. Honestly I think the second amendment is a great policy, If our government became radical we have the right to succeed our on government how cool is that. Plus for that fact that I can post this with out worrying about being hunted down and shot is amazing in most country's. However this amendment was written in 1789 (yes this amendment was write for the porpoise of militia, case president Sate of Colombia Vrs Heeler where the amendment won), think of that 1789 they didn't even have toilet paper back then let alone a understanding on how to construct a machine gun invented in 1884 ninety five years after our counties birth, before warfare was completely changed. Forward to two hundred and nineteen years latter and where we have rockets and other weaponry so accurate the person can land a missile in someones coffee mug from millions of miles away.
Yet you people still think that your little 9mm machine guns and .308 colt assault rifles are going to be able to shutdown the worlds strongest weaponry military. Your kidding yourselves. Look if your going to complain about not having any weapons to protect yourself, how about pushing for some useful weaponry like a Hughes AIM-4 Falcon. Sure its might be big, bulky and about a million dollars to make, at least it has a slight chance to stand up against our military. Obama may or may not get rid of weapons and or ammunition. However ammunition is easy to make and if the day comes where we initiate an act banding it. This is Montana home of vigilance and righteous action the numbers 3-7-77 should mean something to us. For all of those who do read this and own a firearm, pleas tell me how many people you have shot at or killed with in the past year out of self defense. Better yet when was the last time you had to defend you self with a firearm. Now are you afraid that you might use your gun or that you might not get to. Montana is so well known for its high crime rates and homicide ratio...... or what I m sorry that's my disillusion paranoia kicking in.... MUST BUY GUN CANT FELL LIKE AN AMERICAN WITHOUT IT.
Yes, it is about who I as a liberal Demcrat voted for. One of the reasons I did not vote for the man for the same reason these people are buying firearms and ammo - he will come down hard violating people's 2nd Amendment rights given his past history and disregard for other parts of the Constitution.
Second, the right to arms was clarified this year in Heller vs. DC. Perhaps you should go read it. The right to arms has been found to be unconnected to service or membership in any militia, army, or National Guard. It is unequivocally an individual right. So sayeth the Supreme Court of the United States.
Third, consider the Vietcong vs. the US, Afghanistan vs. the USSR, Iraq vs. the US. All losses for the technological superpower, or on the way to losing. And that's in cases where the superpower's manufacturing base wasn't hittable by the irregular forces. If it is, it gets even easier for the irregulars. Sure, modern weapons are powerful, but put even the tiniest kink or break in the logistics train that supplies it, it falls.
Small arms make a difference. Sure, you can't shoot down a pilot in a bomber with your deer gun, but if you know where he lives... or know where the bombs are made... If anything, modern information technology has made guerrilla warfare even easier for the guerrillas.
This gun owner at least hopes that I don't ever have to use my gun, which is why I avoid conflict in all that I do. I don't go to stupid places or hang out with stupid people, all of which might result in me having to use my firearm. Someone cuts me off in traffic, I smile and wave.
Lastly, firearms defend civil rights. Look up the "Deacons for Defense". The "Battle of Athens". Firearms allow oppressed minorities to survive until laws can be made and court cases won to protect their civil rights.
Wow I have never wished I would be struck dead by God for my stupid acts of personal view prior to reading you post. Now I wish I could jump in my Delorean go back in time so I do not make the mistake of writing my second post that with your great "liberal" wisdom has destroyed my argument in the wake of your superior intellect. You must think everyone is intercultural inferior I knew of Deacons case, they were "minority's" trying to protect themselves from rednecks how had firearms. They need to find an even ground to protect them selves, and the other was exactly what I said the 2nd amendment (all amendments are civil rights) was for, to protect us in case the government gets to powerful. This was in the 1970's you could buy the same firearm the military was using. But you can not say we lost Vietnam because we were defeated by guerrillas, we were only defeated for multiple reasons not the one. because we were afraid to use the atomic bomb again for good reasons. Yet this conversation is pointless and off topic and leading to this in evadable conclusion you think I m wrong, I think you are gun toting jerk face that well jump every time the NRA gets a hemorrhoid.
Truth be told you can make ammunition, you can still buy guns in country's where they are illegal. I don't under stand why someone would need a concealed weapons permit for a assault weapon that you would need a trench coat or in your case a moo-moo to conceal. I hope you get the point I am calling you fat and yes I know its a childish but I don't care anymore.
here is some forgotten facts 1986 Regan signed national firearms act banning any firearm that could be turned into full auto by easy means
Delete
On July 7th, 1989 military style rifles were banned from importation by the Secretary of the Treasury under the Presidency of GEORGE HERBERT WALKER BUSH. On that day, he banned the "SKS style rifle with [a] folding stock, folding bayonet, or detachable magazine
1n 1991 Clinton signed into law brady bill requireing background checks from purchasers who used gun dealers And They called this the "Clinton gun ban" Trying to keep dealers from selling guns to known felons and ileagals. Right after he did this America woted out dem congress and replaced it
sfcn8 No Democrat Got away with banning any gun on a national level And there is nothing in the consitution saying they can't make sure your a full citizen/non felon before buying one from a gunstore
But both Regan and Bush exeutive orders Just outright banned guns by type
What a collection of gibberish!
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