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A Call To Arms
By GREGORY PHILLIPS Of The Record Staff
“We went to war last night,†The Daily Record reported on Jan. 17, 1991. “Now it seems, the world is on fire.â€
That campaign sought to expel Iraqi forces that had invaded Kuwait. Although a success in that regard, Operation Desert Storm saw United Nations forces leave Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in power. More than 12 years later, American forces have again entered the Middle East, this time without the backing of the U.N. and with the sole objective of removing the Iraqi dictator from power.
Safety concerns of American citizens at home were minimal during the Gulf War; this time around, the specter of the terrorist attacks of 18 months ago could have many citizens a little less certain of their impregnability.
Betty Pate at the sheriff’s department said almost 100 pistol permits have been filed already in March, which she said was “more than we’ve had in a while. Much more.â€
Mrs. Pate said the requests have come form a variety of citizens. “They seem to have been coming out of the woodwork,†she said.
Anyone desiring a pistol permit must submit a written application with three non-familial references and each applicant is investigated, according to Mrs. Pate, who said successful applications are often approved after a week or so, “depending on how many we have at the time.â€
Charles Edwards of Erwin owned and operated X-Caliber guns in Erwin for 20 years until closing the store in 1999.
He said he saw “quite an increase†in sales immediately prior to and during the Gulf War and would expect another increase now. “When people are very concerned,†Mr. Edwards said, “they have a natural instinct to protect themselves.â€
Mr. Edwards said the events of Sept. 11, 2001, also precipitated a boom in gun retail.
“There was quite an increase in sales everywhere when that happened, and that’s not unusual,†he said. “That’s the norm, really. It’s just human nature to want to protect yourself, just that anticipation creates that need or desire.â€
At Gunner’s Choice in Dunn, proprietor Dwight Weaver said he had noticed and increase in sales, but didn’t attribute the growth to citizens’ concerns about war, so much as personal protection against crime.
“There’s robberies going on, quite a few murders and so on,†Mr. Weaver said. “People realize they need protection, and the police community can’t always be there.â€
Mr. Weaver said he felt among his customers there was “a lot of insecurity†about crime in their neighborhoods, rather than terrorist threats resulting from the war in Iraq.
In addition to the kind of weapons recommended for home protection â€a good handgun and a good shotgun,†according to Mr. Weaver), Gunner’s Choice also has some of the weapons that are being used in the war. He described a $3,500 military M4 automatic weapon with navigation lights and a blinding searchlight (often used by special forces personnel searching caves, Mr. Weaver said) as “a bad, bad boy.†He also had on display an MP5 German-made weapon apparently used by U.S. Navy Seals that fires 750 rounds per minute.
Mr. Weaver said talk among his customers was wholeheartedly in favor of American presence Iraq.
“I haven’t heard hardly anything different from that,†he said. “People around here are pro-America, pro-liberty, and know something has o be done and completed.â€
http://www.dunndailyrecord.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=43480
By GREGORY PHILLIPS Of The Record Staff
“We went to war last night,†The Daily Record reported on Jan. 17, 1991. “Now it seems, the world is on fire.â€
That campaign sought to expel Iraqi forces that had invaded Kuwait. Although a success in that regard, Operation Desert Storm saw United Nations forces leave Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in power. More than 12 years later, American forces have again entered the Middle East, this time without the backing of the U.N. and with the sole objective of removing the Iraqi dictator from power.
Safety concerns of American citizens at home were minimal during the Gulf War; this time around, the specter of the terrorist attacks of 18 months ago could have many citizens a little less certain of their impregnability.
Betty Pate at the sheriff’s department said almost 100 pistol permits have been filed already in March, which she said was “more than we’ve had in a while. Much more.â€
Mrs. Pate said the requests have come form a variety of citizens. “They seem to have been coming out of the woodwork,†she said.
Anyone desiring a pistol permit must submit a written application with three non-familial references and each applicant is investigated, according to Mrs. Pate, who said successful applications are often approved after a week or so, “depending on how many we have at the time.â€
Charles Edwards of Erwin owned and operated X-Caliber guns in Erwin for 20 years until closing the store in 1999.
He said he saw “quite an increase†in sales immediately prior to and during the Gulf War and would expect another increase now. “When people are very concerned,†Mr. Edwards said, “they have a natural instinct to protect themselves.â€
Mr. Edwards said the events of Sept. 11, 2001, also precipitated a boom in gun retail.
“There was quite an increase in sales everywhere when that happened, and that’s not unusual,†he said. “That’s the norm, really. It’s just human nature to want to protect yourself, just that anticipation creates that need or desire.â€
At Gunner’s Choice in Dunn, proprietor Dwight Weaver said he had noticed and increase in sales, but didn’t attribute the growth to citizens’ concerns about war, so much as personal protection against crime.
“There’s robberies going on, quite a few murders and so on,†Mr. Weaver said. “People realize they need protection, and the police community can’t always be there.â€
Mr. Weaver said he felt among his customers there was “a lot of insecurity†about crime in their neighborhoods, rather than terrorist threats resulting from the war in Iraq.
In addition to the kind of weapons recommended for home protection â€a good handgun and a good shotgun,†according to Mr. Weaver), Gunner’s Choice also has some of the weapons that are being used in the war. He described a $3,500 military M4 automatic weapon with navigation lights and a blinding searchlight (often used by special forces personnel searching caves, Mr. Weaver said) as “a bad, bad boy.†He also had on display an MP5 German-made weapon apparently used by U.S. Navy Seals that fires 750 rounds per minute.
Mr. Weaver said talk among his customers was wholeheartedly in favor of American presence Iraq.
“I haven’t heard hardly anything different from that,†he said. “People around here are pro-America, pro-liberty, and know something has o be done and completed.â€
http://www.dunndailyrecord.com/Main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=43480
