Sales of rifles, pistols and ammo are surging in parts of the United States, as many gun owners fear President-elect Barack Obama’s administration may seek to tighten ownership of certain weapons.
“The day after the election, I had many more calls than usual from people looking for semi-automatic rifles,” said David Greenberg, the owner of the Second Amendment Family Gun Shop, in Bisbee, Arizona, who sold out of AR-15 rifles in recent days.
“There seems to be a fear they will be banned, and it’s fairly likely,”he added. “Obama and Biden are driven to eliminate firearms from theface of the country.”
Gun stores and trade groups have reported a spike in firearms sales inthe run-up to the November 4 election victory of Democrat Obama andVice President-elect Joe Biden, who many perceive as strongly pro-gun control.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation,a trade association for the shooting, hunting and firearms industry,reported a 10 percent jump in gun sales this year based on its analysisof an excise tax placed on firearms and ammunition, and a spokesmansaid the increase had grown dramatically ahead of the election.