GULF COAST CRISIS: GUN PURCHASES Fearful Southerners buy firearms at torrid pace

Chicago Tribune ^ | September 8, 2005 | Lisa Anderson, Michael Martinez and Ray Quintanilla

[ConservativeStatement]

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Gun sales across the South boomed after the first reports surfaced of armed looters roaming the streets of New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. And images of shots being fired at relief workers only elevated fears in some communities.

Now, as hundreds of thousands of people displaced from their homes are being resettled, gun store owners say they're being flooded by a demand for guns--particularly in Southern states and others where many of the hurricane victims are being relocated.

Mostly, they say, the demand is being fueled by "good people" wanting to protect their families and property. That includes some who might not otherwise purchase such weapons, they add.

[Conspiracy Guy]

The Mauser was nice. I think about her from time to time. But alas she was taken by another. Probably pawned for a tenth of her value.

[George Smiley]

If you were a REAL conspiracy guy you'd have photoshopped someone else's face onto the picture.

And hacked it onto THEIR website.

: ^ )

[George Smiley]

Volvo-owning, home-schooling, gun-owning conservative bump. Shotgun/rifle/semi-auto handgun - no revolver yet. I have spent about 1k in repairs on the volvo in the 4 years since I bought it 'used' with 110k+ miles on it, pushing 200k right now - still in the 'break-in' phase. Leaves more money to buy guns n stuff...

All that, and still no gun rack?

Where ARE your priorities?

: ^ )

[George Smiley]

Any bunker busters in your inventory?

Naah.

Every time I get enough of the garage cleaned out to make room for one, the wife and kids fill it up with crap they'll never use again.

: ^ )

[absolootezer0]

how do you keep so much on hand? don't you practice enough?

[George Smiley]

Yeah, but the 105 box has got at least 500 rounds each for all the firearms with the exception of the shotgun (maybe 100 rounds there) and the fifty (keep them segregated, as you don't want to lug a bunch of them around without a Real Good Reason.

[CodeToad]

"If there is a revolution, survival will depend on one's ability to evade rather than fight."


You can only run so far for so long before you must face the troubles chasing you.

[Conspiracy Guy]

How do you know I didn't do that?

[absolootezer0]

while you're suggesting ammo distributers.. know of anyone who sells 38super in bulk at a decent price?

[wolfcreek]

Oh, now they want to arm themselves, Like this was the first time they saw people getting shot at on t.v.

[hiredhand]

The detachable mags for the 12ga (can't say on the others) are 5 or 8 rounds, and yes, it will take 3" rounds.

I like the box magazines. My wife was REALLY put out with the trouble of having to "feed the tube" when empty....as opposed to popping in a spare mag. Are you gonna pick up a drum when they're available? :-)

[Conspiracy Guy]

I go to the range once a week with one or two handguns and shoot 20 to 50 rounds each. The shotguns I almost never practice, I can shoot clays off the hip at short range so human size targets are a cinch. The scoped rifles I check once a year pre deer season then hunt. The gas semis I clean and shoot with no regular schedule.

I can shoot any of my firearms accurately left handed or right handed. Left eyed or right eyed. Standing sitting laying kneeling uphill downhill moving target or still.

I love all firearms. Wish I owned a million of them

[hiredhand]

Mags used to be about $20 each, but the importer went out of biz and now they're coming in sporadically. They're now about $40 for a 5rd, $80 for an 8rd.

There is a US production line starting for the mags, and there is a new importer taking over, so mag prices should drop again.

Ouch! I hope the US producer gets up to speed soon!

[hiredhand]

The Mauser was nice. I think about her from time to time. But alas she was taken by another. Probably pawned for a tenth of her value.

The Mausers are nice. :-) That one I have in the photo of my Kitty is smooth, and SOLID. It's got quite a different feel when you lock the bolt up on it as compared to my Rem M-700.

You ought to pick up another Mauser. They're still obtainable. Have you heard of "Mitchels Mausers"? They were advertising in Dillon's Blue Press catalog a couple of months ago. I'm not sure what their www site is off the top, but if you can't find it via Google...let me know and I'll dig it up for you. :-)

[Conspiracy Guy]

If the enemy has superior numbers and superior firepower, attack and evade. To stand and fight is to die fast. I am no suicide fighter.

[absolootezer0]

well.. you definately have me beat for a stockpile, but sounds like i put in more range time. then again, i'm younger so i need the practice :)

[George Smiley]

I had never felt a need to own anything bigger than the 9mm - until Katrina.

Up until recently, the 9 was the caliber of choice by most LEOs and NATO. Now I'm told it's a .40. My 9mm Sig P226 is loaded with Remington Sabre +P JHP.

All my calibers are chosen because the military uses them.

That way, if TSHTF resupply should not be a problem.

[azhenfud]

"How is this a crisis?"

A shortage on firearms? Just guessing...;-)

[Conspiracy Guy]

Never heard of them.

[George Smiley]

The more of these articles I read the more convinced I am that I need a gun, even over here in CA, nowhere near N.O. or "the South."

Ah, California!.

Your legislators have unwittingly (and that's a double entendre, folks!) validated my choices of firearms by making most of them illegal to own in the Golden State.

Hahahahaha.