handguns selling like hotcakes in my area

Is there something going on politically that I'm not aware of? My lgs/range is selling 300 handguns a month. I'm sure Cabelas is doing more than that but for a relatively small shop, these amounts are unprecidented. I like to shoot early in the morning and usually show up at the range as they are opening for business. Last saturday, I got there 1/2 hour early and there was already a long line waiting at the door. If your timing is bad, waiting an hour or more for a lane is a sure bet. I live outside Philadelphia and the crime/murder rate is high and the press is all over that but it has always been like that. What has changed so recently that so many more people are now interested in buying guns? I'm not complaining, mind you. It's a good thing they are and that they are eagerly seeking range time. It just seems so 'all of a sudden'.

Eight months ago, a GOP victory in November looked inevitable. Now, the polls and the futures traders put Obama well ahead of any GOP nominee. I'm not surprised to hear of the same kind of bubble-rific panic buying that happened in '08 and '09. Sigh... just as prices were starting to get reasonable.

I agree with the poster. I cannot believe how crowed gun shows and gun shops are now. They are incredibly crowed. The shooting ranges are always full too.
Yes I noticed the increase in sales.:)

The media has been hitting the violent crimes pretty hard with lots of sensationalism. I don't think the crime rate is any worse than in previous years but it's getting more air time. To me, it feels like fear is the motivating factor. And yes, with demand comes higher prices.

Obama is looking like a winner. People are ready to accept that. Buy your guns now. I believe that is what people are thinking. I'd love it if they were wrong but mainstream media is complicit and the cards are being stacked.

My LGS owner said she cannot keep used handguns in stock. They come in and out the door the same day. Now another shop has a big supply and they were crowded after the last election. Lately it has been steady in that shop but not seeing the same big crowds like before. Just weird she said that to me and here is this thread.

I hate that prices will go the way of gas!

she cannot keep used handguns in stock

I was in my lgs a few weeks ago and was admiring an older S&W revolver that had just been put on the shelf that morning. I was on the verge of buying it until I found the price tag....$550. I thanked the counter guy as I handed it back to him. I was thinking it should have gone for $350-$400. After spending an hour in the range, I came back into the shop and it had been sold.

I agree. everyone is buying guns because they aren't sure if that will be able to after the next election. I would place a bet of ammo and components becoming scarce again too. (even though it will be self inflected)

Obama has made a number of comments that he would go after guns in his second term.
If we loose the House, well. use your imagination.

The wealthy have always been the ones that wanted to be the only ones with guns...

I shoot with a LGS employee. He said they got $25K of AR's in, they were all pre sold and all were picked up in 3 hours.

I feel I should stock up on reloading components but it may turn into a self-fulfilling prophesy. If everybody stocks up and hoards there will be a shortage (again.)

I feel I should stock up on reloading components but it may turn into a self-fulfilling prophesy. If everybody stocks up and hoards there will be a shortage (again.)
Then do what I did. Buy a little at a time until you have all you need to cover your needs for a few years or 10...

Maybe times have changed this but that last time I was worried about an Obama gun ban, 50+ democrats said they would actively oppose a new, 1996 style ban.

I will just assume the Republicans are keeping their usual stance on the subject.

Politics aside it's tax time, people are getting their own damn money back and spending like they won the lottery.
Seems common around here this time of year anyway.

smart people are buying guns, smarter people are buying bulk ammo.

Now, the polls and the futures traders put Obama well ahead of any GOP nominee

that's just what the pollsters like to read...people actually falling for their rigged polls. Their mission of discouraging anyone that does not want four more years of Obama is in full swing. Do yourself, your family, and all of us a favor, ignore the intentionally misleading polls and vote for anyone except Obama in Nov.

I've noticed an increase in gun and ammunition sales all of a sudden as well. I think Obama is going to win in November due to the media's constant barraging of the message that it is obstinate congressional Republicans keeping us in a perpetual state of national malaise (at least the brainwashed masses won't be voting for Obama because they expect he will fart magical rainbows and pixie dust that fix everything wrong with the world this time around:rolleyes:). I predict the mother of all panics later this year, guess I will be taking another extended break from this hobby when that happens. I haven't forgotten boxes of .380 ammo going for a hundred bucks.

Perhaps we should smile at the growing number of people realizing their right to keep and bear arms?

Maybe we should just be happy that more people are doing what we love. Price will do what prices will do. And although I will cast a vote for President, my one vote is lost in a wave of them. President will be who the President will be. Prices will do what price will do. If these bills to ban guns come down the pipe, we'll deal with it then.

I think tax returns is playing a role. However here in Iowa handgun purchases have been soaring ever since we became a shall issue state last year.

I have a lot of friends that are first time gun owners that voted for BHO and might again. They assume that the 2A will protect them even if he wants to take our guns away. So even if they think he might be anti gun they have no problems voting for him again because they think he has no influence on 2A rights.

They would be wrong, and foolish. With four more years he will appoint more radical anti gunners to positions, more liberal judges, and if the opportunity arises, and it very well might, he will put another anti on the Supreme court, and then we are screwed. It was only 5-4 our way if you remember.

Our gun club has had a record number of new members in the last year or so. We have temporarily closed membership and are having a meeting to decide what to do. There is only so much room and time in a day. Not to mention the new folks are trashing the range like never before.

I am seeing a lot of new faces at the lgs I frequent and the numbers in the manditory orientation classes at the club I belong to are climbing as well. Rebate checks may have a bit of an impact but I think there's more to it.
I'm not sure the 2nd ammendment could be repealed. The number of gun owners in this country as well as the NRA lobby wouldn't let that happen...I hope I'm not being naive. What scares me is the ability of the government to tax things like ammo and gun related supplies to the point they would be unaffordable.

We have to hope something goes through that limits or stops states from regulating firearm related components. ********** has done an excellent job of running gunshops out of business, as has the BATF.

They have also driven costs up with their stupid list, and tests, really just an excuse for any maker to pay an additional tax for doing business in this state.

However, other areas are suffering. Try buying a TV, with a 10-30 dollar 'disposal tax' on top of a nearly 10% sales tax.

Don't know about PA, but here in MI I think we are seeing a snowball effect of CCW becoming legal some ten years ago. A lot of people are buying their first handgun because someone they knew bought their first handgun & told them about CCW. It finally got to the point where the effects are starting to get very visible.

Our gun club has had a record number of new members in the last year or so. We have temporarily closed membership and are having a meeting to decide what to do. There is only so much room and time in a day. Not to mention the new folks are trashing the range like never before.

Same thing here. There are 15 clubs within 30 minutes of my house, all are closed to new members, most have closed within the last year.

I was in the LGS this morning and it was packed. People were buying not just the usual just looking customers like me. I got a 500 ct box of Blazer 22lr, checked out the holster aisle and left. I was number 4 in line to pay and there 5 more behind me when I paid.

I live near Hattiesburg, Mississippi and both Academy Sports and Gander Mountain appeared to have sold about 75% of their handgun stock during the Christmas season this year. In January I went to Mobile, Alabama, to Bass Pro shop and their handgun stock was also very limited as result of the Christmas sales.

Picked up an ordered gun on Friday and I was #150 in line for background check (state of CO only). Dealer said last Saturday, he submitted one that was over 400 in line.

I work at a LGS...we are have always did a large volume of business..we have people coming from across the state to buy from us...main because of our good prices...this February was unreal..there was days that we would get would get in shipment of guns and be selling them right out of the shipping boxes only staying in the store long enough to be logged in then logged right back out...and its getting impossible to get some ammo from our suppliers

So is this because of tax time Yes partly but its more than that I believe upcoming elections and rising crime are all a part of it