Gun sales see surge in southern New Hampshire

Union Leader ^ | 8/4/2012 | SIMON RIOS

[Qbert]

HUDSON — Gun sales in Colorado skyrocketed immediately after the shooting deaths of 12 people at a movie theater early Friday, July 20.

Background checks for firearm buyers in Colorado were reportedly 25 percent higher than the average Friday-to-Sunday period in 2012 and 43 percent higher than they were during the week before the shooting. In New Hampshire, an increase in gun sales was also seen, but it was mostly along the southern tier of the state.

Mike Goyette, owner of Pete's Guns and Tackle in Hudson, said gun sales were up 30 percent in the wake of the massacre. Talk of a U.N. Small Arms Treaty has also caused some customers to purchase new firearms, he said.

Two members of the U.S. armed forces who are about to be deployed to Afghanistan came in to buy ARs-15s, concerned the rifles would not be available when they return. Both cited the Colorado massacre and the legislation it could prompt.

Some gun enthusiasts believe something similar to the assault weapons ban that was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1994 — and left to expire under President George W. Bush 10 years later — could resurface with Democrats' support.

The treaty, an attempt to restrict the global $60 billion illegal gun market, would have to be signed by the President and ratified by a two-thirds majority in the Senate. In spite of the fact that more than half of the Senate has already come out in opposition, firearms continue to fly off the shelves.

On July 26, Goyette sold five $800 AR assault rifles and four handguns, he said. One customer cited Colorado, and two referred to the U.N. treaty.

“You just have one person say one little blip on CNN, and it spreads like wildfire,” he said.

[Gay State Conservative]

Makes sense to me.Southern New Hampshire is a comfortable,reasonably prosperous area that's just a stone's throw from two of the filthiest,most depraved and violent cities in the country...Lowell and Lawrence,Massachusetts.

[umgud]

Regardless the election outcome, I’m betting the anti’s and the dems will push enough RINO’s to at least bring us a new high capacity magazine law.

[brivette]

I lived in Townsend, Ma. Lawrence and Lowell were filthy.

[Gay State Conservative]

I lived in Townsend, Ma. Lawrence and Lowell were filthy.

Assuming you no longer live nearby I can assure you that they're now *beyond* filthy.

[freeandfreezing]

There’s a reason all the historic cannons, tanks, etc. on display in Southern NH are facing south!

[sopwith]

I’m just north of you, I work in Rindge NH live in Greenfield NH.