Business brisk at Tucson gun show week after rampage

Reuters ^ | 1-15-11 | Tim Gaynor

[Justaham]

Thousands of shoppers browsed for guns at a trade show in Tucson on Saturday, a week after a shooting rampage that killed six people and raised questions about permissive gun laws in the United States.

"People see it as either guns are going to get banned, or I'm going to get shot," said stall holder Randall Record, 27, explaining the mood at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show on the outskirts of the city. "Either way, it drives sales."

The show was held a week after college dropout Jared Lee Loughner allegedly opened fire on a crowd gathered outside a grocery store with semi-automatic pistol, killing a federal judge and a 9-year-old girl and four others.

Thirteen people were injured by the hail of bullets, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who remains critically ill in a city hospital, shot through the head.

[tet68]

Always wanted to go to Crossroads it’s supposed
to be a big show.

[bgill]

"People see it as either guns are going to get banned, or I'm going to get shot,"

Or they want to protect themselves and their family.

[devolve]

[The Comedian]

If I didn't hate everything about the entire Glock product line, I'd buy one just as a show of solidarity.

I might anyway.

Frowning takes 68 muscles.
Smiling takes 6.
Pulling this trigger takes 2.
I'm lazy.

[2ndDivisionVet]

In other news, business is brisk at the Safeway where the people were shot. So what?

[Batrachian]

It's odd how as much as the left hates gun ownership, they've never been able to stop, or even slow it down, various legislations notwithstanding. Quite the contrary. It's also a fact that despite how much we conservatives dislike abortion, we've never been able to stop, or even slow it down.

There's an important thought hovering around in my brain about this, but I can't quite figure out what it is. Too bad. I'm sure it's very clever.

[Blood of Tyrants]

My wife has her carry permit but rarely does and started realizing that a nut can go off literally at any time.

[marktwain]

State bans cannot be effective in a free country unless the people vigorously support them?

[Kickass Conservative]

I’ve got an AR-15 for sale. $10,000 and it’s all yours. LOL

[cripplecreek]

It's also a fact that despite how much we conservatives dislike abortion, we've never been able to stop, or even slow it down.

I think the media has a lot to do with it. They make a (rightfully) big deal of George Tiller's murder but virtually (and wrongfully) ignore the murder of men like James Pouillon.

[marktwain]

Gun prices are likely to be up. Why not consider getting some reloading equipment and supplies? I see some at gunshows and it is often severely discounted. You can often obtain a complete quality reloading outfit for $200, that likely cost three times that when new. Good equipment tends to last through several owners.

[TaMoDee]

BIG Crossroads of the West Gunshow at the AZ State Fairgrounds in Phoenix the weekend of 22-23 January.
The Fair Grounds are at 19th Ave and McDowell Rd.
See’ya there!

[Graybeard58]

I live in Illinois where it is still a felony to think about guns.

Yes, I’m trying to get out. Missouri looks awfully inviting.

[goldstategop]

And the MSM is blaming the American fascination with and love of guns as the reason for last week’s shooting!

Go figure.

[Batrachian]

"I think the media has a lot to do with it."

I think the real truth, about abortion anyway, is that it's just too useful to give up. Convenience will trump morality any day of the week. Unfortunately, morality is what upholds societies.

I wonder what genius or leader or savior was destroyed before it was even born, a loss to the world that can never be calculated or understood.

[Larry R. Johnson]

Absolutely...get some good reloading stuff. Ammo will cost you a third of what it does for store-bought. But, semi-auto pistols throw the husks quite a ways off, and I find that aside from the fact that many will be lost in the weeds during practice, some will also be damaged or nicked in the ejection process. Also some semi-autos are very finicky about reloads (my 1911 Springfield doesn’t cycle them well at all). This, of course doesn’t apply to revolvers. It’s easy to save every case from a revolver. Of course your capacity is limited to 6 or 7,but it is important to learn to be a good shot. My fave is the Ruger GP100 (.357Mag) Go for it! Still, 9mm and .45 auto ammo isn’t THAT expensive yet. Practice, practice practice!

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

I think a good move by those States reaffirming the second amendment would be to help bring back “family gun culture” by the State producing, for free distribution, DVDs about guns for retailers to give away with free with any gun purchase.

Such DVDs could be packed with useful information, to include cleaning, proper storage, transport and handling; current gun laws and restrictions such as not taking guns into federal buildings; the location of public gun ranges; and lots of information about hunting, etc.

The value of doing this is in restoring “family gun culture” that has faded away for the last several decades. And it’s a lot better to learn gun lessons from a DVD than mistakes.

[Klaatu Barada Nikto]

<< If I didn’t hate everything about the entire Glock product line, I’d buy one just as a show of solidarity.>>

Tactical Tupperware - I wouldn’t carry anything else. And, I can clean it by dropping it in the top rack of the dishwasher (just kidding).

Regardless of your feelings about Glocks, the secret is to become competent with whatever you own, and carry it with you all the time.

[marktwain]

Used 9mm and .40 cal brass is ridiculously cheap, about scrap price. If you practice with reloads, you will become very good at clearing malfunctions. Just use high quality commercial self defense ammunition (find a police or sheriff department that endorses the brand you have decided on) for carry purposes.

Reloading is lots of fun in itself, and most people are fully capable of doing it. I started when I was 12, as I recall.