FIREARM SALES SOAR, CRIME FALLS

Since the surge in firearms purchases began in October 2008, if one believes the oft-repeated mantra that "most crime guns are rapidly diverted from retailers to the street via straw purchasers," then there should have been a surge in homicides and other violent crime. There was not. In fact, preliminary figures released by the FBI today show that all forms of violent crime were down in 2009 from 2008, with homicides showing the greatest percentage decline (7.2 percent). These declines in crime came during a year when firearm sales were at historic highs.

More proof that contrary to the claims by the anti-gun alarmists, more guns in law abiding Americans' hands does not equal more crime. In fact, according to the FBI more lawful Americans owning guns equals less violent crime, especially homicides as the FBI report clearly shows.

Unfortunately for people like myself whose piggy banks are not exactly bulging with surplus greenbacks, firearms and ammunition prices are not going down along with the crime rate, they're going in the opposite direction at warp speed. Economics 101, the law of supply and demand works for the supplier and against the buyer.

I’d guess that most folks could easily afford 22LR rifles and ammo to be able to practice, practice, practice.

Well yeah, I suppose that's true. But the same 550 round boxes of Federal and Remington .22LR ammo that Walmart was selling for around $9 or $10 as recently as 1-1/2 years ago are now going for $19-$20 and up IF, big IF, you can find them on any store's shelves. Most centerfire handgun ammo has gone up even more percentage-wise, and that's another big "IF" you can find any.

Although I didn't buy guns or ammo from Walmart before this shortage and don't intend to now unless all else fails, I remember noticing a Marlin model 60 .22 rifle at the local WM priced at around $110-115 a couple of years ago. I was in that same WM recently, and IIRC it's now listed at $169.97. However, it's currently out of stock and the firearms department personnel don't know when or even if it will be in stock again.

If groceries had gone up as much as guns and ammo in that same time period my wife and I would probably be eating a lot more soup beans and cornbread, and a lot less prime rib and pork chops.

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