Uncertainty fuels sales of guns and ammo (CT)

The News-Times (Danbury, CT) ^ | November 16, 2008 | Eugene Driscoll

[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

[EagleUSA]

Simply put, they think Barack Obama is going to take their guns away.
:::::::::::
The Second Amendment was added to the Bill of Rights for a reason.

[Gaffer]

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."

Dr. Lieberman, had your Jewish brethren taken the same tack, things might have worked out differently in pre-war Germany, before Herr Hitler had the time to consolidate his power.

Taking license with your own words, "Indeed, Ms Lieberman, you are the symbol of idiots."

[Kozel89]

Connecticut....Blue state. You get what you vote for.

[natch]

just, wow .. and maybe if women didn’t dress so nice they wouldn’t be raped, right?

[Larry R. Johnson]

ROFLMAO when I read:
“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.”
Anybody know where I can get myself a semiauto phallus with laser sights and moa accuracy? And what does this “psychiatrist” charge per hour? The reason people buy guns is for sport and for security against all manner of dangerous critters and creeps! What a twit! Don’t get me started. Save me from idiots like this!

[RaceBannon]

not all of us voted that way, and some of us will vote with out feet when we can...

[Gaffer]

You ascribe a mysoginistic taint to my post that wasn’t there in my estimation. It has nothing to do with rape, hate of women, nor anyting ‘female’ in particular. It has to do with liberals casting free Americans who have a right to firearms possession as erectile disfunctional males hoping to get some of that “male” power feeling back, when, in fact, it is a genuine distrust of liberals and those that provoke them with perjoratives.

[Myrddin]

I visited the local SportsmansWarehouse last Friday night. Sure enough, there was ONE varmint class flat top AR-15 left on the shelf. All the other stock was gone. A visit to the bullet aisle showed all the .22 cal rifle bullets were sold. Few .30 cal bullets were left as well. There was no loaded .223 ammo in the store. A box of 250 .45Auto (230 gr hardball) was priced at $99. Last time I purchased Speer 45Auto (box of 50) to plink at the range, it was $11.99...or $60 for the equivalent number of rounds.

A recent Natchez flier has 20 rds of .223 priced around $8 +/- about 30 cents.

[jwalsh07]

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."

This is my weapon, this is my gun, this is for shooting, this is for fun.

[AirForceMom]

I’m more worried about being able to afford ammo. Stock up time!
On a side note, this proud Mom just got a text message from her baby girls tree stand asking to be wished good luck! ;)

[ASOC]

I love FR, I learn somehting new everyday - I didn’t think folks in Ct (or MA) were even allowed to have firearms/weapons - esp semiauto, magazine fed, gas operated rifles. Whudda thunk.

Thanks for posting.

[OneWingedShark]

Indeed? I was thinking that your repliee was trying to say, sarcastically, that it is actually a misappropration of ‘blame’ based on some illogical ideal that has nothing to do with reality. (IE That rape is the fault of the woman who was raped, now it is true that the woman can put herself into situations where this is more likely to occur, but the ultimate fault lies with the perpetrator. [Though this also works the other way, with the female being the rapist; though that isn’t reported nearly as often even when it DOES happen.])

Now, as to WHY the gun sales are up. I think it is that the people are getting uneasy, feeling the effects of a government that has no care about its governed, but only itself and its powerful’s interests. {Witness the ACORN investigations, and how their obviously fraudulent activities were for the most part allowed, which I think most people will say will not result in convictions.}

When the state cares about Justice like the mob cares about justice (ie they fear the light of truth) then it’s time for the citizenry to pull a “Frank Castle” and, exercising their right as “the governed”, withdraw their consent of current “government”... violently, if need be.

Read the Declaration of Independence and tall me that the above paragraph ISN’T what they’re saying, in part.

[Hazwaste]

Simply put, they think Barack Obama is going to take their guns away.

Although I believe that he will try also, I don't think that's why a lot of people are buying them. If it were because he was going to take them, then why buy them to only have them taken?

I think the real reason for the run on guns is deeper, and based on what you wrote in your second sentence, I think you know too.

[Hazwaste]

Indeed, the gun is a phallic symbol.

Typical liberal. Everything is a symbol of a sex organ to them.

[Gone_Postal]

Typical liberal. Everything is a symbol of a sex organ to them.

yep they sure like to screw everybody....WTF no spray can of Vaseline

[Zeppo]

I've been reviewing the CT "scary-looking black rifle" ban to see what kind of Bushmaster XM15 or Carbon15 in 5.56mm can be sold in the state. If it comes with a flash-suppressor, then it probably rules out the collapsing stock (but I need to double check). At least the CT law does not ban hi-cap magazines...

Anybody here in CT have a Bushmaster?

[Fido969]

"The reason people buy weapons is to combat their feelings of powerlessness. Indeed, the gun is a phallic symbol."

She's right. If some bad guy tried to attack me and I don't have a gun, I just flog him senseless with my pen#s.

[FreeAmerica2009]

Wait a second...didn't Connecticut citizens VOTED for Obama??? And now they are buying guns because of him??

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!!)

[Oldpuppymax]

A Beverly Hills psychiatrist. No doubt a big Reagan supporter. I would imagine that virtually everything is a phallic symbol to Ms. Lieberman.