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http://www.ktre.com/Global/story.asp?S=1208345&nav=2FH5Ewo9
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03/31/03 - East Texas
East Texas Gun Sales Rise with War
by Alex Carias
The outbreak of war has brought an increase of security here at home. Some people are arming themselves for security and sales are picking up at some local gun stores.
Gun shop owners in East Texas say the war in Iraq has some people concerned about the possibility of more terrorism here at home, concerned enough that they're arming themselves.
"I've heard several people come in and say, 'I want to be prepared in case we have a terrorist attack in Lufkin.' which to me, I don't think we will, but you never know," said gun shop owner Bill Pate.
The Texas Department of Public Safety says there's been a recent jump in the number of people wanting information about concealed handgun permits. With final tallies for March still incomplete, DPS officials already have stamped an average of more than 6,000 information packets in the first three months of this year.
Most gun buyers are buying small arms like the Glock 19, but there are some guns that dealers are having a hard time keeping on the shelf like semi-automatic weapons, which are being backordered to keep up with demand. Also, since the war erupted gun shops are having difficulty stocking certain type of ammunition.
"It's just hard to get. I don't know what they're using in Iraq, but the weapons are probably 76239," added Pate.
Pate says their sales are not as brisk as larger cities such as Dallas or Houston. But with the fear of uncertainty looming, some East Texans who don't already have a gun are taking the step to arm themselves.
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03/31/03 - East Texas
East Texas Gun Sales Rise with War
by Alex Carias
The outbreak of war has brought an increase of security here at home. Some people are arming themselves for security and sales are picking up at some local gun stores.
Gun shop owners in East Texas say the war in Iraq has some people concerned about the possibility of more terrorism here at home, concerned enough that they're arming themselves.
"I've heard several people come in and say, 'I want to be prepared in case we have a terrorist attack in Lufkin.' which to me, I don't think we will, but you never know," said gun shop owner Bill Pate.
The Texas Department of Public Safety says there's been a recent jump in the number of people wanting information about concealed handgun permits. With final tallies for March still incomplete, DPS officials already have stamped an average of more than 6,000 information packets in the first three months of this year.
Most gun buyers are buying small arms like the Glock 19, but there are some guns that dealers are having a hard time keeping on the shelf like semi-automatic weapons, which are being backordered to keep up with demand. Also, since the war erupted gun shops are having difficulty stocking certain type of ammunition.
"It's just hard to get. I don't know what they're using in Iraq, but the weapons are probably 76239," added Pate.
Pate says their sales are not as brisk as larger cities such as Dallas or Houston. But with the fear of uncertainty looming, some East Texans who don't already have a gun are taking the step to arm themselves.
