Something odd is happening in my home town. For years there were two large gun stores, and I do mean large. Both had an inventory I would guess at over a thousand guns.
For years both did a good business but I noticed one closed a couple of years ago and now the other is having a closing sale. There was also a small pawn shop which carried guns but it is also closed tho I don’t remember when.
Unless there is one I am not aware of there will no longer be a gun shop there. All this at a time when gun sales are at historic highs.
Paperwork issues? We lost our gunshop due to an “error” [they claim it was minor] on a form, the first in over a decade.
They were essentially told to hire an extra person to complete and monitor the paperwork compliance or give up their license. They were already operating on a pretty thin margin, so chose to close.
BATF is wagingd a quiet war against all gun stores but especially small local ones. I’ve known a couple who closed due to minor paperwork issues. Of course the media gives them a pass because they also want an unarmed populace. I don’t know if that’s the case with your stores but it wouldn’t surprise me.
The internet happened.