Rise in Private Gun Ownership?

[amprecon]

After our mayor's carefree attitude and cavalier statement regarding the crime "crisis" in Memphis, it appears that private citizens are trading their faith in their local law enforcement for faith in their own abilities to protect themselves.

"-we need to exercise an abundance of caution" was the statement made by our mayor not too many months ago when Memphis was inaccurately labeled the No. 1 most violent city in America. The citizens were not much more at ease when it was discovered that their ranking was reduced to the No. 2 spot due to a compilation error.

In my recent visits to gun dealers in the area, looking for a more concealable firearm myself, one which I could have on my person 24/7, I have been astonished at the crowds and lines at these establishments.

When one looks at the big picture and notices the increase in interest in private firearm ownership locally here in Memphis, one has to wonder about this rate nationwide. Is the interest localized due to our violent crime ranking? Or are other communities experiencing the same phenomenon?

Where has the trust and faith for our law enforcement gone? Have they lost their effectiveness because of the rates of violent crimes per capita and fear for their own safety (which is their real priority)? Or are they so stretched that they are just physically unable to respond to all the crimes in time?

Whatever the reasons, I see that there are alot of people whose previous opinions regarding guns, of which I am not aware of, are out in force and they are buying guns or ammunition for their guns or are doing both.

This observation also leads those who are politically inclined to wonder how prominent the issue of private gun ownership will be for the upcoming national elections, or if it will be an issue at all. If it does become an issue, how will the constituents react to the pro- and anti- private ownership advocates.

Whatever the reasons are, I am personally both excited at the recent apparent rise in interest in private firearm ownership and nervous about it. Either way, it is encouraging to see that human beings are still able to recognize threats to their safety and still have the ability and will to take their personal safety in their own hands. To take on responsibility and are willing to protect themselves and those they love. It is encouraging to live in a state which recognizes that personal safety is a personal priority and does not intervene in it's achievement. Very encouraging.

 

[El Tejon]

Good to hear. I just hope interest in training is going up as well.

Sometimes it takes a bad stretch to make people realize that the words of politicians are empty.

As a yearly visitor to Memphis, I have awakened to the sounds of screams, gunshots, and police sirens many times. I am always in Condition Dark Yellow in Memphis. Always have a good time though.

 

[ProguninTN]

Memphis

I certainly hope the law-abiding citizens of Memphis are arming themselves for safety. As for the following

Where has the trust and faith for our law enforcement gone?

, I find it hard to trust any officials in Memphis. Considering the antics of the Ford family, Sen. Bowers, Sen. Dixon, and others, how can anyone in that area be trusted ? I also understand that many are suspicious of Mayor Herenton.

 

[amprecon]

Range USA on Old Whitten Rd. has just recently been recognized as the top CCW training establishment in the entire state of Tennessee holding more classes and training more prospective CCW permit holders than any other location in the state. So not only is there an apparent rise in firearm ownership, but interest in the safe and legal useage of firearms also appears to be on a parallelling increase.

 

[wally]

Guns sales at Houston gun shows seems to have picked up a good bit since Katrina -- to the point I usually have to wait in line to fill out the paper work, I also regularly see non-English speakers denied sales when they can't read to fill out the paper work or try to have a buddy fill it out for them!

--wally.

 

[nobody_special]

(Ooops, sorry nothing to see here move along)

 

[vito]

Its not that people have lost faith in the police, its just a recognition by more people that the police cannot protect you from crime in most cases, they can only come around afterwards to try to solve the crime. I am no longer astounded when I speak to people who acknowledge that if they are about to be a victim of a violent criminal the police are extremely unlikely to be present and thus prevent the crime, but these same victims in waiting oppose the right of citizens to carry or even possess firearms. The older I get the more I think that the only solution to the endless assaults on our 2nd Amendment rights is to get more and more people to become comfortable with guns. I work in health care, and the anti-gun bias is almost universal. I have successfully convinced several nurses that I work with to try out target shooting, and some of these women are now gun owners and regular shooters.