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Gun Sales Shoot Into The Stratosphere

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By Carl  Orth | The Suncoast News

Published: March 10, 2009

Updated:

PORT RICHEY - The November election produced an unintended stimulus package for one industry: gun sales.

About as soon as Democrats took control of both the White House and Congress last fall, people began lining up to buy guns at local shops. Ammunition has been flying off store shelves, merchants say.

"Yes, there was a big rush," Christopher W. Drum, owner of CRS Weaponry in Port Richey, said. Sales boomed as much as 60 percent since November, although sales seem to be leveling off of late, he estimates.

"It was kind of wild for a while," Drum observed, with even grandmotherly types shopping for firearms. Costs of guns have been going up accordingly, with 21 manufacturers raising prices.

"Gun sales are going through the roof," said Bill Bunting, a Republican state committeeman, long-time leader of the Pasco Republican Party and life-time member of the National Rifle Association.

"Guns, guns and more guns!" proclaims an advertisement for the first Sportsmen's Dinner the Republican Party of Pasco will hold Thursday, April 2. The dinner will feature auctions and drawings for guns.

Democratic liberals traditionally have sought gun controls opposed by Republican conservatives. During the presidential campaign, Obama declared that individuals have a constitutional right to own firearms that is subject to "commonsense regulation."

Obama's choice for attorney general, Eric Holder, however, did nothing to reassure gun-rights advocates, Bunting said. Holder, for example, has called on Congress to restore the federal ban on assault weapons, which was allowed to "sunset" in 2004.

Liberals and conservatives clash over the definition of assault rifle. For example, Bunting said, many people mistakenly believe the semiautomatic Colt AR-15 rifle, which bears a resemblance to the M-16, is an assault weapon.

Bunting was chatting recently with a gun show promoter who was feeling a bit fatigued after putting on 11 gun shows in 12 weeks. The promoter joked he might have considered voting for Obama if he had known his post-election business would be this brisk.

"We've never seen so many women" seeking the firearms training the Second Amendment Club offers, Bunting said. About 35 college students, mostly women, attended the most recent class.

Classes at CRS Weaponry also have been well attended in recent months, Drum said. From 10 to 15 people typically are in each training class since laws require a minimum three hours of safety education before people can apply for concealed weapon permits.

People should get more politically involved with groups such as NRA to maintain the rights of individuals to own firearms, Drum believes.

"I'm not saying it should be like the Wild West," Drum said, but people should defend the right to bear arms.

"It's not the gun" that kills people, Drum said. People kill people.

"I don't think the Democrats are going to be nuts" with gun-control legislation, Drum predicts. He thinks Democrats today realize they have a lot to lose over this issue.

The Democratic Party paid a high political price after passage of the "Brady bill" gun-control legislation in 1993, Drum believes.

During a recent press conference House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said "we need to enforce the laws we have right now" rather than restore the assault rifle ban.

Sportsmen's Dinner info

7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 2

Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, San Antonio

Tickets $35

For information, call Bill Bunting, 727-862-1063 or Republican HQ 727-863-5400

Carl Orth can be reached at 727-815-1068 or corth@suncoastnews.com.

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