Not mine, but the same model with a different configuration.
Posted on 03/05/2009 7:26:42 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
The prospect of stricter gun control laws and a deep recession have triggered an explosion in gun sales that’s being felt locally.
Area gun shop owners say the demand for guns and ammunition in recent months has exceeded supply.
Business is booming at Trigger Time, a gun retailer and indoor shooting range in Perry Township, 3316 Lincoln Way E., co-owner Dan McNemar said.
One gun supplier told McNemar they’ve never experienced such a surge in demand.
“The whole industry is skyrocketing right now,” he said.
Some customers are concerned the Obama administration will reimpose a ban on assault weapons that expired after President Clinton left office, McNemar said. The economic downtown – and the fear of more break-ins and robberies – also has people worried.
“I think it’s a combination of everything,” he said. “People aren’t 100 percent sure as far as bans and everything, and people are panicking with the economy going down. People are getting more interested in self-defense.”
Presidential politics
According to The Associated Press, President Obama supports the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms, but favors “common sense” gun laws which could include restricting ownership of assault and concealed weapons.
The Associated Press also has reported that Obama supports the now-overturned Washington, D.C., handgun ban and a proposal that would make it easier to trace ammunition used in a crime.
Ernie Christman, of Perry Township, has been a gun owner for years, but said the sagging economy – not Obama – prompted him to buy a pistol.
“That has a lot to do with it. I don’t worry about Obama,” said Christman, a truck driver.
Brisk business
To sharpen his shooting skills, Christman practices regularly at Trigger Time’s indoor shooting range. However, Christman hopes he never has to use a gun. “I’m not going to be carrying every day in this community, but when I go into more dangerous areas I will feel more at peace,” he said. “... it’s for personal protection, not to protect the world.”
The Trading Post in Massillon, 412 Erie St. S., no longer sells firearms, but the store has been moving plenty of ammunition and other gun accessories, according to employee Keith Carpenter.
Carpenter said customers are voicing concerns about the economy and the possibility of a federal tax being levied on ammunition.
“The public doesn’t know what is going to get passed or taxed. ... It’s just that the demand is so high and the supply is so limited,” he said. “We can’t purchase it from distributors. There’s nothing available for the smaller guy.”
Business also has been brisk at Ohio Outdoor Sports, 2314 Shepler Church Ave. S.W., Canton Township, store manager Steve Wells said.
“This is probably one of the better years we’ve had in the last five years,” he said. “We’re just staying steady ... we started picking up last fall.”
Most customers are shopping for hand guns, including Rugers and Smith and Wessons. Wells said he expects the uptick in sales to continue at least through spring. He agreed the possibility of tougher gun legislation is a factor in the gun sales increase.
“I just think they (public) still have an opportunity to buy freely and they are taking advantage of that,” he said.
Policing, educating
Statistics compiled by the FBI show there were 12.7 million gun background checks performed last year, a 14 percent increase over 2007 when 11.2 million checks were conducted. An estimated 1.2 million checks have been performed so far this year.
Perry Township Police Chief Tim Escola said he is keeping a close eye on the recent gun sales trend.
“It’s always a concern when we know there are more people out there with guns,” he said. “I can also say on the flip side that when the concealed carry law went into effect we were concerned about it, but we haven’t really seen a problem with it.”
Escola urged anyone who purchases a gun to get the proper training and practice safe handling techniques. “People need to lock it up and not make it available to their children,” he said.
The influx of gun buyers is leading to more interest in training classes offered at Trigger Time. McNemar said more women and older customers are enrolling in the carrying concealed weapon classes offered the first weekend of the month.
The 12-hour course is a requirement for those seeking a carrying concealed weapon permit. The training includes 10 hours of classroom instruction and two hours of firearms training.
“We go into the law and give them hands-on training on how to shoot,” McNemar said.
Cost of the course is $100. McNemar noted the classes are taught by certified instructors.
“We’re very, very big in safety,” McNemar said. “I hope it continues because it’s a really good thing for people to be educated on firearms.”
Conceal/carry
Last year, Ohio sheriffs issued 33,864 concealed carry licenses, a 53 percent jump from 2007, according to the state Attorney General’s Office. That number however, is a 26 percent drop compared to the number of licenses issued in 2004 when the law took effect. The Stark County Sheriff’s Department issued 719 licenses last year.
The recession and possible changes to gun laws prompted Mike McElfresh, of North Canton, to get his concealed carry license.
“I have had guns but the CCW was what I was missing,” he said. “The biggest thing about the CCW is to have that added protection. It gives law-abiding citizens the opportunity to protect themselves and their property.”
And McElfresh isn’t content to sit on his license. He visits the shooting range at Trigger Time at least once a week.
“Don’t stop just because you have obtained a carrying concealed weapons license. You need to be able to shoot the gun properly,” he said.
I worry about the complete breakdown of society. Those living in urban areas may be at the mercy of the mobs.
That depends on how much firepower you have present to ward off the mobs.
Drum- or stick-mag-fed shotguns will do well.
>Drum- or stick-mag-fed shotguns will do well.
Yep, that’s an anti-mob weapon... as are flame-throwers and cannons w/ flechette payloads.
I call b.s... Obama is from gun control capital of the United States...
I don’t live in an urban area, but not too far away. The entire county where I live is in the Colorado Rockies and there are only about 4 traffic lights in the entire county. My wish is that Zer0 fails so badly that both the House and Senate swing strongly conservative (as opposed to RINO) and reverse all the spending plans and bring back prosperity. Afterwards I hope Zer0 is ashamed to show his face in public as he will be thought to be the very worst president in history for stupidly thinking socialism/communism will somehow work out differently this time!
You know, I have to say thank you to Present Obama because without him being elected I don’t think I would ever have learned how to shoot a gun, much less ENJOY shooting! I am now comfortable shooting most everything from my Walther P22 to our 12 gauge shotgun to....well...let’s just say we have a very nice variety of firearms. Seriously, I had never shot a gun of any kind until this past November.
Ping
It is possible. Then what? With total anarchy (think no electricity, no police/fire protection, no food supplies, no gasoline) would we have (1) martial law or (2) a serious takeover attempt within the US or (3) a coup from outside the country?
Ha! I like it!
There is someone working on a belt-feed conversion for the Saiga 12 shotgun. :P
>There is someone working on a belt-feed conversion for the Saiga 12 shotgun. :P
Nice!
I know it is possible too! Then no food transportation and then no food after a few days. Electricity goes out and stays out. No gasoline deliveries. Gangs robbing anyone caught travelling. I dont think martial law, takeover or coup. I think total anarchy would last until the crooks were wiped out, but most could not survive that long and especially those in urban areas. Those unable to defend themselves would not survive. Disease like cholera would also be rampant with no sanitary water in most areas. Then a gradual reset of some form of government with only 5-10% of the population left in the country. The other nations would be as bad or worse since the USA would not be the world’s policeman anymore, but it would possibly render them unable to attack us.
Not mine, but the same model with a different configuration.
What caliber?
Um, 12 gauge? That’s what the “12” in Saiga 12 signifies. :D
Oh!
LOL - I didn’t realize we were still talking about the shotgun.
Well, 21 x 12 ~.300 caliber pellets at close range beats 30 ~.300 caliber pellets when dealing with mass targets. :D
Guy bumpfiring a Saiga 12 equipped with the drum:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7rBPgBKCyE&feature=related
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