Posted on 11/16/2008 11:36:00 AM PST by LurkedLongEnough
NEW MILFORD -- Auto sales are down. Consumer confidence is in the gutter.
The U.S. economy is facing its biggest challenge since the Great Depression.
Guns and ammo?
They're holding their own and then some, thank you very much.
Nationally, there were some 108,000 more FBI background checks for gun purchases last month compared to October 2007, according to The Associated Press.
Connecticut residents purchased 7,088 guns this October, according to the state Department of Public Safety -- the highest volume of sales in six months.
The past few weeks have been the busiest ever in the seven-year existence of Housatonic Valley Firearms at 331 Kent Road in New Milford.
"I've never seen it like this," said owner Tom Whitcomb, pointing to about a dozen boxes of weapons behind his counter waiting to be picked up by customers.
A reporter saw Whitcomb sell $2,500 worth of guns and ammo in less than an hour Friday.
A few miles away, Vic Benson, owner of the Freedom Shoppe at 25 Old State Road, said he was at a gun show two weeks ago where he sold double the number of handguns he usually sells.
What's going on?
Uncertainty is fueling the gun runs, according to press reports and discussions with gun enthusiasts.
First, avid gun owners are worried about the Democrats taking over Congress and the White House.
Simply put, they think Barack Obama is going to take their guns away.
The Associated Press quoted Mark Tushnet, a Harvard Law School professor who has written a book about the gun debate, as saying new firearm regulations will be a low priority for Obama and Congress.
Nevertheless, the fear -- mentioned by three gun owners in New Milford who were afraid to give their names -- is causing enthusiasts to flood gun shops, buying weapons they think the Democrats will eventually ban.
Benson said one of his customers, a hedge fund manager, just purchased parts he will use to build nine AR-15 semi-automatic rifles, which look like the military's M-16 rifles.
AR-15 type rifles are also flying off the shelves at Whitcomb's shop.
The AR-15 costs about $1,000.
But it is not just collectors and enthusiasts purchasing weapons. Whitcomb said he's seeing a surprising number of first-time gun buyers.
"What I'm seeing in the past few months, a lot of people are first-time buyers coming in to buy a gun for home defense. One guy, a few houses in his neighborhood was broken into. Another guy, he said there was a wild animal around his house," Whitcomb said.
But for many, the reasons aren't so obvious.
The uncertainty of the economy, the uncertainty of what lies ahead, and the notion that crime may increase are bringing more people into the gun shop, Whitcomb said.
"People are concerned with, I believe, the economy," he said.
Whitcomb isn't far off, according to Dr. Carole Lieberman, a psychiatrist in Beverly Hills, Calif. "People are spending money on weapons, despite money being scarce and in part because of it," she said. "The reason people buy weapons is to combat their feelings of powerlessness. Indeed, the gun is a phallic symbol."
According to Tom Whitcomb, owner of Housatonic Valley Firearms in New Milford . . .
BEST WEAPON FOR FIRST-TIMERS
20-gauge Mossberg 500 Shotgun, Persuader/Cruiser series
Whitcomb said a shotgun loaded with bird shot is often better than powerful hand guns for novices looking to protect their homes. Whitcomb recommends firearm training through instructor Herb Fuhrman. "It is an inexpensive, good gun. It's made in Connecticut. There's no Connecticut company out there making junk guns." Price: $335
MOST POPULAR HAND GUN
Sig Sauer P-239 with laser grip and night sites
"It is an extremely reliable, accurate gun that is easy to maintain." Price: (with the laser) $987
2008 Connecticut firearm sales January -- 6,610
February -- 6,166
March -- 7,140
April -- 6,320
May -- 5,840
June -- 5,355
July -- 5,412
August -- 5,920
September -- 6,202
October -- 7,088
November (to date) -- 4,045
Data includes handguns and long guns
Source: Connecticut Department of Public Safety
Typical liberal. Everything is a symbol of a sex organ to them.
I'll bet you the price of a new AR and a case of ammo Dr. Lieberman has never cured a single patient.
Ugh. Another example of a mindless generalization.
The whole state of Connecticut didn't "VOTED for Obama". 620,000 people in Connecticut voted for McCain. 49,000 people in Connecticut have bought new guns this year.
Let me guess, you spell California with a "K" don't you?
“Connecticut citizens...you help ELECT that MARXIST, so please return the guns to your neighborhood gun shop - (or if you want to help spread the wealth, to your neighborhood CRIMINAL!!)”
There is something seriously wrong with this ignorant statement.
I was trying to be funny...unfortunately, I didn’t succeed. Sorry...
If you have a detachable mag and pistol grip = no collapsable stock.
My apologies for going off. It’s been a stressful couple of weeks and I guess I’m getting testy.
That’s ok...it been stressful for us CONSERVATIVES...
Sometimes I have a hard time counting to two... :-)
Uhhh, Right.
I bet... I bet... you watch television!
You never know. That's the power and the beauty. Let's keep it that way.
Yes, bird shot. I load my Maverick 88 20 gauge pump home defense shotgun with #5 long range turkey shot. Nice tight pattern at 25 feet, too, movin’ at 1350 fps comning out of the muzzle, even with the 18 1/2 inch cut off barrel.
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