Where did all of the people come from?

[Rshooter]

I was in a gunshop this weekend to buy a rifle and it was packed. Men and women looking mostly at handguns. I have never seen so many people in a gunshop in all of my life. The four counter guys were hopping.

 

[newbuckeye]

One word. politics. December alone seen a 25% rise in gun purchases. I expect the next 10 months prior to the election to be no different.

 

[Ghost Tracker]

Social/civil/political unrest. Folks (from church, school, the Post Office, everywhere) who know that I've played with guns for quite a while are ringing my phone off the hook asking for sources & advice.

 

[GEM]

General sense that one has to protect oneself. Economic bad times brings that to the fore.

 

[Shovelhead]

Folks are switching from stockpiling water and food to steel and lead.

 

[poor man]

Rshooter were you by chance over near cookeville ?? i was there and the shop there was packed because of an auction of confiscated guns going on all weekend...

 

[472x1A/B]

+ one to Ghost Tracker. Strange, it's the same thing for me too.

 

[fatcat4620]

Its not just guns. The ammo shelves are bare as well. Even wal-mart now sells AR15s and Remington 870 HD shotguns.

 

[Murphy4570]

Better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

I myself am in dire need to find a modern combat arm for myself. The best I have so far is my '03 Springfield, and I just put a deposit on a P17 Enfield.

I find that firearms are also a good investment, they hold their value through the ages if kept well preserved. The value of some go up, and others stay the same. This is better than the other thing I "invest" into, cars!

 

[wannabeagunsmith]

Christmas money? I was in a normally desolated hobbyshop 2 days ago and it was packed, then picked clean of all the products.

 

[Lilrascal]

Gunshops are packed here too. Though I contribute a lot of it to Wisconsin just passing CCW.

 

[k-frame]

It's a continuation of a trend that began in 2008 and is being influenced now by market factors such as an increase in disposable income for middle and high income earners, good marketing on the part of gun makers (especially aimed at women, pardon the pun), and good price points.

I saw an analyst's comment yesterday (can't find it now) that said high-end buying was down for items such as jewelry but purchases in the $500 - $1,500 range were up over last Christmas. And that's right in the sweet spot for guns.

God help us all, it's even affecting Real Housewives. Gun fun begins around the 4:00 mark but note that the video player uses a countdown timer, not countup.

http://www.bravotv.com/the-real-housewives-of-atlanta/season-4/videos/atlanta-first-look

 

[Onward Allusion]

Fear of crime and changing politics are both powerful motivators. Let's put it this way, even my rabidly anti-gun ex-wife mentioned something the other day about getting a gun for the house for protection. Yeah, had to pick my jaw up from the floor on that one...

 

[SigMic]

Two direct examples in my life....

- On Friday, I took a couple of my girlfriends friends out shooting because one of them, who has never fired a gun before, wants to get one and wanted to learn. I was glad to help (and get out and shoot my new M&P R8.
- Today, my brothers (in New York) call me to tell me they are at the gun shop. One bought an AR and one an AK. First guns either of them have ever owned. I am so happy for them!!

 

[Ryanxia]

Plus we hear a lot about break ins and store/bank robberies and that get's people thinking their little bubble may not be so safe. Glad to see more people buying guns, maybe we'll become less of a minority.

 

[Quoheleth]

Too, we're coming out of last quarter. No one who is a shop owner wants to have inventory on hand, b/c you pay tax on it. So, with inventory scarce PLUS Christmas money needing to be spent, you have lack of supply plus demand.

I think this is a relatively temporary scarcity. Don't panic. Stocks will be resupplied and back to normal in a month of so.

Q

 

[hso]

Ummm, post holiday and early tax return money to spend? Retailers make a lot of money in January off of people spending money they got, money they made from returns and money they expect to get off of tax returns.

 

[PastorAaron]

NDAA passing has got people nervous. Many of my friends and people in the congregation are getting firearms and asking for training. Extreme days....

 

[Dishsoap]

Lol after one time to range she tells her husband that he can trust her.

 

[ralphie98]

My own personal experience with some newbies I've taken to the range lately is that they are just getting comfortable with the idea of being around guns. I also think gun owners are maybe more comfortable talking about them with friends which leads to more education and curiosity about guns. I think its awesome except that I have to put my name on the waiting list every time I go to the range now.

 

[JustinJ]

Can somebody please post a link to the statistics showing crime is on the rise? Has there ever been a moment when people didn't claim to be living in troublesome times?

Anyways, Christmas money, end of year bonuses, tax refunds and some concern over the upcoming election.

 

[Powerglide]

Everytime Ruger adds a couple new toys to their lineup, this happens. I ain't kidding.

 

[hso]

No one can post a link to any authoritative source that crime is on the rise because...violent crime has actually been on the decline.

Hysteria is on the rise, though.

 

[HGM22]

Don't want to derail this thread, but possibly guns are becoming more popular with the mainstream crowd due to Sons of Guns, American Guns, and other shows often have an episode featuring range time.

 

[Hardtarget]

I really don't think about the "why" people are buying firearms. I just hope they learn...how to shoot, be SAFE, enjoy their range time, and pass it on. We will be better off with more responsible shooters out there.

Mark