Fear of ban increases gun sales

Nation-wide, gun sales are shooting through the roof. Certainly, hunting season has something to do with it, but local gun-shop owners suggest that the recent election may be influencing gun sales as well.

"Our gun sales are up tremendously compared to previous years and months," said an employee of Randy's Sporting Goods who wished to remain anonymous. "It's due in part to hunting season, but mostly to the election."

Why the sudden appeal of arms?

"People are afraid they're going to put the ban back in," the Randy's employee said.

According to factcheck.org, Barack Obama intends to "revive and make permanent" the ban that expired in 2004, which outlawed 19 kinds of semi-automatic weapons.

Controversy over President-elect Barack Obama's stance on Second Amendment rights continue to circulate as conflicting points are made by both sides.

During the campaign, Obama made a comment about people "sticking to guns and religion" because they were "bitter," leading some to wonder if he stood against those things.

The timely endorsement of the American Hunters and Shooters Association calmed some concerns by attesting that Obama was indeed a supporter of constitutional gun laws. Their Web site, huntersandshooters.com, says that Obama's support of an amendment to prevent the government from confiscating guns in a time of crisis or emergency is particularly telling of his "fundamental understanding of the meaning of the Second Amendment."

According to his own campaign Web site: "Barack Obama believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, and he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms. He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns."

Even so, conservative groups like "Sportsmen for Obama?" maintain that the former Illinois senator plans to outlaw firearms lock, stock and barrel.

They've compiled archives of information, claiming the new president is setting his own agenda. It shows a list of gun bills and how Obama voted on each, emphasizing his "anti-gun owner" sentiments.

It cites bills he voted against such as SB-608, which said that someone who has an order of protection issued against another person may carry a concealed weapon.

"I am not in favor of concealed weapons," Obama was quoted on the Web site. "I think that creates a potential atmosphere where more innocent people could (get shot during) altercations."

Whatever the case, the reaction to the perceived firearms threat is creating a booming gun business for Stephen "Cratin" Gatreaux of Collectors Point in Hattiesburg.

"Gun sales are great; they don't get any better than this," he said. "We need to elect more of those liberals. More liberals in office, more guns get sold. Happens every time."

Gatreaux believes one of the first proposals that will be considered in an Obama presidency would be to close the "Gun Show Loophole." Obama voted in favor of closing the loophole in the Illinois Senate in 2005.

At gun shows, there is a direct transfer of weapons from private sellers and licensed gun dealers to customers. Background checks are not required to purchase firearms. This is a point of concern for many, who believe it increases ease-of-access for criminals.

Gatreaux said that not only are people worried about guns being taken away altogether, they're also concerned that in the short-term Obama will impose a hefty tax on firearms and ammunition.

"Certain ammunition has been completely bought up," he said. "People are getting it by the tens of thousands. Obama guaranteed there'd be a new tax on it so people are stocking up now."

Sophomore David Linney of Jackson, an avid sportsman, said he's not worried.

"This isn't China," he said. "If anything were to happen, it would be caught in time to stop it."

"I'm aiming to stock up just in case," he added. Linney said he plans to attend the Gun and Knife show Nov. 29 and 30 at the Forrest County Multi Purpose Center.

"My dad and I go whenever we can," he said, "and I bet we'll never see as big a crowd as we will next Saturday."