Posted on 10/03/2001 10:17:49 PM PDT by freedomnews
Americans brush aside gun fears in desire to bear arms
By Betty Liu in Atlanta, Sheila McNulty in Houston and Christopher Bowe in Chicago
Published: October 3 2001 One result of the terrorism crisis has been a rush by Americans to the nation's gun stores in a spending spree that promises to complicate the already complex debate on gun control.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) claims last month's attacks on New York and Washington are yielding a whole new group of supporters who in the past had not thought much about gun control.
For those who purport stricter gun laws, it has suddenly become harder to focus Americans on issues such as gun violence in schools - a central point in the debate this past year - when most are immediately interested in protecting themselves from terrorist assaults. Indeed, any gun control legislation in Congress is likely to remain untouched until the end of the year.
"One of the challenges is that most of our educational opportunities are enhanced when we have a bill to promote but that's not going to happen right now," says Desmond Riley, spokesman for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. "Things have been put on the backburner. It's not the time to debate such things."
If nothing else, the surge in gun sales has helped back those who advocate greater freedom to own firearms. In Texas, gun shops report sales increases of 10 to 25 per cent, with the clientele shifting from traditional hunters to white collar professionals.
"These are oil men and oil ladies, level-headed people in management positions," says one Texan gun shop owner.
At Landry's Guns in Louisiana, Dale Landry says customers are pouring in to buy bullet-proof vests and "ammo sales are through the roof". The purchases are often linked with other survival items such as military gas masks.
People are also crowding into shooting ranges across the US, some taping pictures of Osama bin Laden on to target boards.
The gun purchasing fervour is also boosted by the renewed sense of patriotism Americans are feeling now - helping to strengthen a belief that the right to bear arms is a part of all that is free in the US. In Florida last week, a state lawmaker introduced a bill to create a new licence plate that would celebrate the right to bear arms, featuring a revolutionary war soldier carrying a musket. In Ohio, state legislators are considering a bill that would allow citizens to carry concealed weapons.
Even the Air Line Pilots Association, the largest pilots union in the US, is lobbying for firearms in the cockpit for self- defence.
Not surprisingly, the NRA is finding itself in the spotlight. The association is publicly supporting the pilots' union and has been inundated with phone calls from people seeking firearms training or knowledge about guns, says Wayne LaPierre, chief executive of the association.
"Whenever you see fear or the possibility of a threat, people go back to their Second Amendment freedoms and run to the NRA as a defender of those freedoms," he says. "A ton of folks have called us saying 'I used to be against you but forget that now.' "
But this may also, in the end, benefit advocates of stricter gun control as well. Although the issue of gun violence in schools has been somewhat overshadowed, many are pointing out another contentious issue: lax procedures in purchasing firearms at gun shows.
"People can buy guns at these shows from certain dealers without undergoing background checks. A terrorist could purchase all sorts of weaponry from these shows," says Mr Riley. "For us, it's a great opportunity now to educate Americans about how easy it is to get guns because the ones buying the guns could be terrorists."
Though the gun control debate is likely to stay in the background for the months to come, problems surrounding gun ownership, of course, will continue. In Virginia recently, a three-year-old boy shot and killed himself while playing with a gun his father bought for protection against terrorists.
Such risks, gun control advocates say, outweigh any benefits - which they consider small - of carrying a weapon as a defence against terrorists.
They're pretty damn uncomfortable but better that thoracic perforation by projectile.
If you want to restrict the ability of private individuals to sell firearms, then just say so. But, don't use inappropriate language (the lie) to promote that agenda.
A more significant result is that a higher percentage of Americans will be capable of taking care of business if it becomes necessary. About time.
An important part of making concealed carry comfortable is having a quality holster. It makes a world of difference.
I carry a Sig Sauer P229 in .357 Sig / .40 cal. It's not a small gun, but it fits comfortably in a Milt Sparks Executive Companion inside-the-pants holster. Many people consider Milt Sparks to be the best in the world; I certainly do.
Check 'em out. There's a 4-6 week wait for your holster, as it's made for YOU. It's worth it, and the prices aren't bad at all.
Me too. I'm at the very end of my estimated wait for a VMII holster. Spoke with Scott yesterday and he said my holster was currently being handcrafted by James and was on the "floor" right now. He said that early next week I'd be seeing the UPS man. I feel like a kid on Dec 24th right now!
Milt Sparks Holsters. Best gunleather on the planet.
LOL - I know the feeling :)
It's amazing how good those holsters are. To carry a Sig P229 behind your hip and be comfortable sitting in a car seat is a Wonderful Thing. Wouldn't have thought it possible before I got my first Milt Sparks holster.
Who is the anti-gun journalist in these three? Or were the last four paragraphs added by the Editors.
Someone who shoots defenseless kids....wouldnt that be a terrorist? the very kind of people that the gun newbies are arming against?
Speaking of carry, would you mind helping out a few disarmed eskimos on the frozen tundra?
Wisconsin CCW Petition
One of the 9/11 hijackers was a naturalized citizen with no criminal record. How would a background check have prevented him from buying a gun?
I fear I will never be able to afford all the guns I want. That's the only fear that really matters.
(I've been doing okay, in spite of my fears.)
You know, I thought the same thing...right up until yesterday, when the first bus was hijacked. I ride a bus daily. Hmm...an armed hostage is not a hostage...
I agree 100%
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