Has the world gone crazy?

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brutus51

brutus51

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Went to a local range/gun shop yesterday to get some scope rings for my new rifle.
Got there at opening time 9:00AM and there was a line a mile long to get inside.
Got behind another older fellow who was there to renew his FOID.
An employee comes walking down the line asking people the reason for their visit.
First ten folks get let in without question, after that potential buyers wait in line, those their to pick up a purchase are let in in small numbers. Fellow in front of me explains his reason and is told the computers are down and they have no communication with the state of Illinois and don't know when they will be up again, he leaves. When I tell him my reason for being there he escorts me to the door and lets me in, now inside I have to wait in another line. An hour later my turn comes up.
Go over to the optics department and as it turns out the scope rings I asked to be put on the side over the phone are the wrong ones contrary to what the guy on the phone claimed.
Turns out to be a wasted trip so as long as I was there I decided to browse for a couple minutes.
I was amazed, the shelves were pretty much picked clean of rifles, shotguns and handguns.
Glocks were nonexistent as were CZ's.
Sigs, Smith & Wessons and SA's were in supply as they must have gotten a new shipment.
I left so someone else could get their turn, when I got outside the line had pretty much doubled in size. Never seen anything like it, pretty darn scary if you ask me.:uhoh:
 
Short answer. Yes. I see you live in the People's Republic of IL.
I went to our indoor range and shop yesterday as well. First time venturing out for about 3 months. COVID.
Most of the lanes were full for a while. Then it thinned out. But this range in in rural Alabama. They had a full stockage of firearms. Full stockage of ammo.
 
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Lol, has the world gone crazy? Dude this week alone they stepped far over the line from just crazy. Seems the world now is actually endorsing violence, looting, burning and hanging flags at half mast for a criminal with a rap sheet of violence and drugs. Never before have I seen a need to insure the 2A amendment never loses ground. And it is no wonder right when firearms sales are at the highest level a week ago they are now increasing significantly.

And the reason sales increased during the Virus was because people had the insight to see what is going on RIGHT now. And we know it will get worse.
 
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Yes. Keep your rifle close and your ammo dry.

Im either lucky or subconsciously prescient because Ive made several gun and ammo purchases THE DAY before each of the recent panic-inducing events.

In a perverse way, we can thank a certain fmr President for showing us how it happens before the current, actual crisis and letting us plan accordingly.
 
I think this is an opportunity for the 2A. People are waking up to the fact that the police can't be everywhere and that their states have restricted the 2A to the point their safety is compromised. If we don't reach out to all the people that are waking up to these facts then we'll have squandered an opportunity.
 
Thanks for the tip Armored farmer but I kind of pride myself on never having been further south than Kankakee.
I work and exist in Illinois but I live in the UP where most of my family is, I had to go to college so I could get one of them high tech jobs that don't exist up there. The minute I retire I'm gone, no riots, no protesters and no looting in that neck of the woods.
Gun shops are well stocked because everyone already owns one.;)
I imagine it's much the same where you are and probably warmer to boot.
 
I work at the LGS p/t as a retirement job. We only have lines on Saturday.
Stock is down, and resupply is spotty.
Most are covid or rioting panickers and newbies.
I don't mind educating new RKBA converts but some are just plain dumb.

One guy comes in and want bullets that will wound and not kill.:eek:
IT took every bit of restraint and Christian kindness my71 y/o body had not throw him out bodily. But I didn't and educated him on less lethal and sent him on his way with a big can of Sabre Red.:evil:
 
We seem very close to discussing politics. I am not going to cross that line. I will say that people who are scared - for any reason, will try to protect themselves, which is reflected in the OP's observations. I have not been out except to get basic necessities for months. I have not been to a gun shop in a long while, partly because I work a lot of weekends and don't get the chance. I imagine the LGS and pawn shops I like to visit don't have huge lines, but they are probably busy. Small towns.
 
Weird, I pride myself on never going much further North then Springfield.

In all seriousness, I agree with this being a plus for the 2A. Much of what we are seeing with availability is due to a lot of new gun owners. Not a bad thing.
 
As I have said in other posts along the way, I believe this is the new normal. The first time I said that I was referring to the ammo shortage of 2004 to 2016. Then the more recent ammo shortage. Now its firearms that are in short supply. They will come back for a time but I believe that another event in the future will cause a panic buy again. It seems like the horses are getting spooked frequently these days.
 
Has the world gone crazy? Yes. Thankfully, most of us here were either raised with or developed the prescience to plan ahead for such things. Many in this world do not think far enough ahead to plan their next meal. I hope the 2A community gains many new converts who take the time to learn how to use that new gun properly, in the physical, tactical, and legal sense, as well as develop the proper mindset and situational awareness.
 
brutus51 said:
Thanks for the tip Armored farmer but I kind of pride myself on never having been further south than Kankakee.
I work and exist in Illinois but I live in the UP where most of my family is, I had to go to college so I could get one of them high tech jobs that don't exist up there. The minute I retire I'm gone, no riots, no protesters and no looting in that neck of the woods.
Gun shops are well stocked because everyone already owns one.;)
I imagine it's much the same where you are and probably warmer to boot.
Click to expand...
Where in the UP? I lived in Baraga county for 15 years. I was up there to see my nephew before he went to basic training.
The gun stores were full of people, but the shelves were stocked.
 
In my neck of the woods, it is not crazy in the sense that places are sold out of everything. I was in my local Fin Feather and Fur yesterday browsing. The firearms counter was busy, but they had full displays of all brands of handguns and the rifle racks were also full. Ammo shelves were fully stocked. While browsing a gentleman asked me if I needed any help, my question had to be answered by another person who took care of ordering. While talking about the 2 firearms I was interested in (1 they had in stock, the other they didn’t carry the manufacturer but could order it) he offered me a great deal on the gun they had in stock. I pick it up on Tuesday! Didn’t have the cash on me at the time and I pay cash for almost everything.
 
The world is an unsettled place at the moment, so it isn't shocking that people are trying to hedge ugly outcomes. We also need to remember that it is an election year. Even if things were otherwise calm I would expect a bust year for guns and ammo.

I ordered my last bit of supply top up in February. If the kids don't go too crazy blowing out my 22 stash, I am set.
 
It's been like this at Bass Pro since late March. At the other gun showroom I go to even more, not as bad, though selection is limited.

It was just starting to relax somewhat before the latest "movement" began. Even TP has been on the shelves on a regular basis.

Now, being Florida, we just need someone to shout "hurricane!". :scrutiny:
 
Now is a good time to maybe initiate a conversation with those you know who are not necessarily anti firearm, but are on the fence. Hard core anti gun folks are hard to change over, usually deluded about several issues. It's not a time to argue, but to discuss things. There are a lot of fence sitters and now is another time to help them see the light. If you have a range nearby that you frequent, offer to take a fence sitter to do a little shooting.
 
I admit to being quite frustrated. I usually buy fresh ammo in April/May, each year. Places were largely picked clean, by this past April. It is not that we were out of ammo, but our newest defensive shotgun ammo was 3+ years old, and we had recently added two shotguns, plus, his-and-hers Winchester 94 AE Trappers, so I needed to up our supply of buckshot and .45 Colt. Well, there was plenty of .45 Colt, in stock, but buckshot was rare. I had to really follow the inventories at several on-line retailers
 
I am shocked that people on this forum (presumably well-informed gun owners) would now be rushing out to buy. We should have been well stocked before this, having learned our lessons from the panics of the past. The only thing that affects me is the lack of gun shows, but those are mostly for entertainment anyway.
 
In a word, yes. The Chicago suburb I live in was targeted for rioting last week and I heard more than one conversation regarding who had guns to protect us and how they can buy one. Fortunately the police, local business owners and residents showed up in force and the would be rioters were driven off with no violence. I've heard a couple of commentators stating that the argument over the 2A is over for a while as many people now understand the need to protect themselves and their families. I hope they're right and that this lesson is not soon forgotten, although given people's short memories and the anti's determination to do away with the 2A I'm sure this battle will never be over, just paused for a while.
 
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