At the Cheaper Than Dirt gun shop in Ft. Worth, guns and ammunition have been "flying off the shelf" in the days since the presidential election, the shop's owner says. (LM Otero/AP / November 12, 2008)
by Frank James
When President-elect Obama was campaigning and talking about change, he probably wasn't thinking of this kind of change: people going on a gun-buying spree in reaction to his election.
Here's an excerpt from our colleague Howard Witt's report today:
HOUSTON -- A week after the election of Barack Obama, gun buyers across the country are voting with their feet, flocking to gun stores to stock up on assault rifles, handguns and ammunition.
Some say they are worried that the incoming Obama administration will attempt to reimpose the ban on assault weapons that expired in 2004. Others fear the loss of their right to own handguns. A few say they are preparing to protect themselves in the event of a race war.
But whatever the reason, gun dealers in red and blue states alike say they've never seen anything like the run on weaponry they've been experiencing since Election Day-- surpassing even the panic buying in the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
"People are terrified of losing their right to protect themselves," said DeWayne Irwin, owner of Cheaper Than Dirt, a large gun store in Ft. Worth. "The volume is 10 times what we ever expected. It started with assault rifles, but at this point people are buying ammunition, high-capacity magazines, Glocks--it's all flying off the shelf. With the economy the way it is, people are worried about instability. They are scared of civil unrest."
This trend predates the election. It was spotted back during the campaign by another colleague, Jim Oliphant, a frequent Swamp poster, as he traveled through Pennsylvania last April. He wrote::
At the Alburtis gun show, several merchants said they were stocking up on assault weapons, which includes semi-automatic pistols and AK-47s, in the belief that if either Clinton or Obama becomes president, they would soon work to reinstate the ban. "I'm buying more assault rifles, more Uzis," said Dan Miller of A&A Sporting Goods.
Comments
Boy I can see the excitement. From that picture, there could be nothing better than taking that piece and headin out bunny hunting. The only thing better would be gettin my hands on a few stinger missles for some good ol' squirrel huntin. God help us!
Posted by: bill r. | November 12, 2008 10:35 AM
No wonder Michael Moore stays in business.
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ☮ | November 12, 2008 11:05 AM
Yeah. TELL me they're buying up rifles because they're scared the government's going to make them illegal.
Posted by: Op109 | November 12, 2008 11:15 AM
We have so many idiots in this country that love to be governed by fear.
Posted by: Janstress | November 12, 2008 11:45 AM
The special interest groups are putting the fear into 'Joe 6-shooter,' who in this economy shouldn't be wasting his money on buying more guns and ammo. But people are easily misled. That socialist Muslim Pres.-to-be might try to confiscate their weapons, eh?
Posted by: mort | November 12, 2008 11:53 AM
What in living heck does a person need an Uzi for? What is wrong with people???
Posted by: Joe | November 12, 2008 12:07 PM
What a sad state of affairs. That is God-awful. NOW what did Obama say in his campaign???? And he was absolutely right! But they should be running to the church instead. It just makes me shudder to think of some scared person with a gun.
Posted by: SouthSideChicago | November 12, 2008 12:13 PM
Obama's election victory has already stimulated a small segment of the economy. At this rate of sales, Obama will soon win over the undying support of gun dealers everywhere...red states and blue states!
Posted by: Quippy | November 12, 2008 1:14 PM
It's all home protection (even if it enough to protect you against a small army).
Posted by: Karl | November 12, 2008 2:58 PM
Obama was right (again): people cling to guns and God (see "Bishops want to outlaw abortion") out of fear.
Posted by: The Truth | November 12, 2008 2:58 PM
Barack Obama is in a tight spot. Despite his promise to not take guns away from law-abiding Americans, the 2008 Democratic platform calls for a new Federal ban on semi-automatics, Joe Biden (the VP-elect) has a long history of trying to ban semi-automatics, and Obama himself has voiced support for such a ban.
In April, I stated on The Swamp that Democrats cannot allow themselves to be perceived as "gun-grabbers" if they want to effect real change in DC. The current surge in gun sales should be enough impetus for Obama to clarify his position on gun legislation once and for all.
Posted by: Amendment II Democrats | November 12, 2008 3:40 PM
If they want guns so bad they should go to Iraq.
Posted by: Paul | November 12, 2008 5:14 PM
in 2001, the US had more than 11,000 gun related homicides, more than three time the toll of 9/11. Also in 2001, the deaths on US roads achieved the 9/11 toll every 26 days.
It's amazing what we can be conditioned to fear and what we can be conditioned to think is acceptable.
Posted by: Simon Ward | November 12, 2008 5:30 PM
Yeah thats it give away all our rights.. Freedom of speech might be next.
Posted by: Mr Brady | November 12, 2008 5:34 PM
Looks like this dude prefers his squirrel pulverized. Hey, that's the American way...
Posted by: Kenny Bunkport ☮ | November 12, 2008 8:56 PM
Ok, it is time to let the south secede. I just can not fathom what goes through their minds. We are spending way too much time, money, and energy trying to teach the handicapped.
Posted by: Xcellentform | November 12, 2008 9:43 PM
I only have 1 bible. This will make 20 guns. Thank god for "Socialism". I will decide who to redistribute my wealth to.
Posted by: jack | November 14, 2008 8:13 AM
Boy, what a bunch of condesceding morons making comments here (for the most part).
Listen, I do not need constitution, or supreme court, or a puppet you call president (note lowercase), to tell me that I have the right to defend myself. Obviously your goofy pricks never been on the wrong side of a gun. I was. Grow up and realize what kind of world you live in.
Posted by: Vladimir | November 18, 2008 12:01 AM
The first thing a corrupt socialistic government does is disarm its population making them easier to control when a militaristic police state is declared. A good second move would be to create a bogus reason to censure conservative media so that the general population can be minimally informed as to the activities of the government and its enforcement divisions. Sounding familiar yet ?
I choose to own weapons for the same reasons our founding fathers did. Hunting, personal protection of my family and property, and to protect my Constitution and my Country. Register all weapons, serialize the ammunition, go as far as weapon collection, it won't be the law abiding gun owners who kick in your door......it might be the law abiding gun owner who will ultimately continue to save all of your rights and freedoms....around the world and on our soil....
Posted by: John Q | January 18, 2009 9:31 PM