ALLENTOWN, Penn.— U.S. gun enthusiasts thronged to shows around the country on Saturday to buy assault weapons they fear will soon be outlawed after a massacre of school children in Connecticut prompted calls for tighter controls on firearms.
Reuters reporters went to gun shows in Pennsylvania, Missouri and Texas, and found long lines to get in the door, crowds around the dealer booths, a rush to buy assault weapons even at higher prices and some dealers selling out.
The busiest table at the R.K. Gun & Knife show at an exposition center near the Kansas City, Mo., airport was offering assault weapons near the entrance.
West Plains, Mo., dealer Keith’s Guns sold out of about 20 AR-15 style assault rifles in a little over an hour, owner Keith Gray said.
An AR-15 type assault weapon was among the guns authorities believe suspect Adam Lanza stole from his mother to use in the massacre of 20 school children and six adults at a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school on Dec. 14.
The killing of innocent children at the school shocked the nation and prompted a number of politicians including President Barack Obama to call for a ban on assault weapons and ammunition clips that allow the rapid firing of multiple bullets.
Rather than tighten gun ownership restrictions, the National Rifle Association, the powerful lobby for gun rights, on Friday called for armed guards at every school.
D.R. Woody was one of those able to purchase an assault weapon at the Kansas City show on Saturday. He bought the gun for target practice because he is concerned they soon will be banned. “I didn’t expect to find one. No gun stores have them,” said Woody of the AR-15 type of gun.
RUSH TO BUY
The story was the same in Allentown, Penn., where Shirley Donley, a gun shop owner from nearby Quakertown, had an endless stream of customers. “Everybody wants assault weapons,” she said, adding that she had sold more than 100 of that type of gun since the Connecticut tragedy. “I’m sold out.”
Assault weapon is a broad term commonly used to refer to semi-automatic or automatic weapons that can fire multiple bullets rapidly. From 1994 to 2004, certain assault weapons and ammunition clips of more than 10 bullets were illegal.
The ban was allowed to expire when Republican George W. Bush was in the White House.
Prices for assault weapons have surged since the Connecticut shooting. At the Kansas City show, Jerome Ratliff bought an AR-15 on Saturday for target practice, paying $925. The same model would have cost only about $400 a year ago, he said. Most models were selling for $1,500 or more.
Bob Hofmeister, whose wife owns Xtreme Sports, a gun dealer with a table at the Kansas city show, said the business sold 15 to 20 AR-15s in the past week.
“Some of these people just want to show their rights to own guns,” Hofmeister said.
The Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms, and most gun enthusiasts at the shows on Saturday said more restrictions on guns would not stop mass killings such as Connecticut.
Adam Ouart of Mansfield, Texas stood in a line with about another dozen people at the Lone Star show in Forth Worth, Texas, in hopes of buying a gun.
“The answer is not to limit people having guns. If someone wants to hurt somebody they are going to find a way to do it,” Ouart said.
Several dealers and buyers interviewed at the shows supported the NRA proposal to put armed guards in schools.
More than 200 people lined up at each of three entrances on Saturday morning to pay the $8 entrance fee to the Will Rogers Memorial Center in Fort Worth, which has an exhibit hall spanning 25 acres. They crowded the aisles of the show and stood two-deep at booths for assault weapons and ammunition clips.
At all three shows the attendees were overwhelmingly white men, with some women and very few ethnic minorities.
GUN SHOW ‘LOOPHOLE’
Thousands of guns shows are held in the United States every year. Under federal law, licensed dealers must conduct a background check before selling to a buyer at a gun show.
But in what critics call a “loophole,” which some gun control advocates hope to close, unlicensed collectors and other private sales do not require a background check.
A 2009 undercover investigation at seven gun shows by the city of New York found that 63 percent of sellers failed an “integrity” test by selling a weapon to a buyer who admitted he probably could not pass a background check.
Pennsylvania dealer Donley said on Saturday that since the Connecticut shooting the telephone wait for dealers to get through to the State Police unit that provides background checks has increased from 15 minutes up to 45 minutes.
While most people interviewed at the shows were not in favor of gun controls, not everyone opposed some regulation.
Bruce Abernathy walked away with an assault rifle after sitting through a 30-minute background check at the Texas show.
“There should be more strict background checks,” said Abernathy, a Dallas resident. He said there should be a 30-day waiting period to buy weapons and a thorough background check that includes five references.
Gun sales control?
What did the Democrats/Liberals expect? Obviously they didn’t learn from history! (Do they ever?) They couldn’t wait to uncover the facts in the case, they desperately needed to jump on this atrocity as the chance to advance their agenda. Never mind that the last ban did nothing to stop this kind of massacre! (Columbine occurred DURING the last ban!) Or that it only spurred sales of the very firearms they sought to ban! No, ignore history and you are doomed to repeat it! Now, thanks only to their whining and screeching, millions more Spooky Guns are out there! And let’s not forget all the other guns sold that weren’t of the Spooky variety!
In this obama recession, ALL gun sales were slow. (Along with everything else.) But thanks to the efforts of the Democrats/Liberals, gun sales are now (in only 1 week!) through the roof! Well done!
They stimulated the economy, created work for thousands, got gun factories humming again, Distributors are jumping to keep up with demand, and gun dealers will see the best Christmas season in years! Well bone! THAT is what I call a bailout!
Perhaps obama should come out in favor of a car ban! (After all, the killer did DRIVE his mother’s car to the school!) The auto industry could use the boost! Or what about an appliance ban? Perhaps a jewelry ban? (Jewelers would probably like their diamonds to fly off their shelves!)
Heck, just ban everything! The economy could sure use the boost. And it would obviously work better than anything else obama has tried in the last 4 years!
Only in obama’s America could it be considered protecting someone’s Constitutional Rights by infringing on those rights!
Who cares if the bans don’t work, they aren’t designed to! They are only designed to make Dems/Libs ‘FEEL’ better.
Well Dems/Libs, fell better now? Take a bow, you did this! You own it! YOU are responsible for this influx of weapons! Well done!
uh mass murders were WAY down during the ban and increased significantly after the bann expired… that is just plain fact and eveyone KNOWS it ( but you apparently.) What you are trying to sell isn’t substantiated by the facts PERIOD.
Prove it! Don’t just come here and spew your own personal wishes! I used FBI crime statistics. YOU use wishful thinking on the part of the blood-thirsty Left!
Being misinformed is no excuse to shoot your mouth off! You just sound PRETTY FOOLISH!
You might want to check your facts. The AWB had no positive effect at all and there were certainly as many, if not more, mass shootings during than before the ban.
Citation, please.
pretty, here are the facts
“Crime stats compiled by a Northeastern University professor, the
Census Bureau and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel show the number of mass shootings since the 1980s has fluctuated annually, but without any
major upward or downward trend.
From 1985-1994, there were 173 mass shootings and 766 victims. From
1995-2004 (starting with 1995 because it was the first full year the law
was in effect), there were 182 mass shootings and 830 victims.”
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/12/24/history-gives-mixed-grade-to-impact-assault-weapons-ban/
Thank you for playing the blame game so well. Did you get hold of Wayne LaPierre´s “speech” writer?
“Follow the money.” – yet another right wing crook, 1972
Hey, YOU are to blame! you want them gone, then you do exactly what it takes to make them sell faster than anyone else!
You want blame – go look in the mirror! I know it’s a harsh reality but YOU and your kind did it! YOU OWN THIS!
What’re you – an out of work comedy writer? Great stuff!! Ha, ha, ha, ha!!
In this obama recession, ALL gun sales were slow.
Gun sales have been extremely robust since Obama took office. Not familiar with Obama’s “greatest gun salesman of all time” title – given to him by those that deal in weapons?
This is not a well kept secret. For someone that claims so much expertise on guns, how can you not know this?
http://www.shtfplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/nssf-nics.jpg
I was speaking of the last 4 years, no the last month (since the election). I didn’t realize you needed it spelled out for you!
obama IS a great gun salesman! He may have been eclipsed somewhat by the Democrats in general this past week, but I’m sure that’s only because he had more pressing matters to attend to – like packing for his latest vacation!
I have spent the last 40+ years dealing with weapons! First as a hobby, then in the service as an armorer, then as a gunsmith and officer of a gun club! If that isn’t expertise, I don’t know what you would need to convince you!
Besides, if you have ever even handled a firearm you know more about them than most of the Liberals posting on here! It’s a safe bet that most of them have never even held a firearm. Way too scary for them!
After all, they’re metal and plastic! Who in their right mind would want to touch metal and plastic! Just too scary!
Yes, the last 4 years. Gun sales have been extremely robust the last 4 years. That’s exactly what I was referring to and exactly what the image I linked to shows.
Though what made Obama the great salesman, given he made no moves toward gun regulation in his first term? It seems to me that most of the people flocking to buy guns, even in the midst of a recession, got their guidance from the good folks at the NRA and the paranoid right wing media. Could it be that both left wing overreaction and right wing paranoia both have played a part?
I’ve target shot a few times with rifles and pistols. The guys I shot with are big into that thing, though didn’t do much for me. Though whatever floats ones boat I suppose.
In an article in the PPH today it appears FEW AR15 are owned ,used or being sold here in Maine.( according to owners of various shooting clubs, they NEVER see them being used at the ‘clubs”) So It appears they are rarely, if ever, used at shooting clubs here for target practice . Apparently they are just too dangerous to be ALLOWED in the shooting ranges. And people serious about fine tuning their own sharp shooting abilities ( the real purpose OF target practicing) DON’T want to be around them. REAL sportsman reject their use on the target practice field and in the woods. So it appears the ONLY ones buying them are the “rightists”. And If they ARE using them for ANY target practice they are using them in their own back yards or back 40’s. And no one who calls himself a sportsman would dream of bringing it in to the woods to hunt bambi..It would be considered UNsportsmanlike .
so basically 2 of the reason for NEEDING to own it are total baloney ( target pratcice and hunting) — leaving only one primary reason — politics— 2nd ammendment rights—clarion call to prepare for “the revolution” and lastly there is killing another human being.
It also stated that…”The media has done a good job demonizing this piece of equipment.” As have you!
The media didn’t “demonize” this equipment, nor has anyone here. Adam Lanza did all of that in a matter of minutes. Have the funerals stopped yet? Just so you will know they used a Bushmaster XM15 .223 semi auto iin the DC sniper attacks in 2002. 10 people died.
The DC sniper used SNIPER tactics! ANY rifle would have worked! Even a single shot! Do we use that argument to ban ALL rifles?
Why should the law-abiding majority have to suffer for the actions of a few criminals!
You are seriously misinformed! First off, ALL variations of AR rifles are FLYING off the shelves here in Maine. At the store where I bought mine, they sold 5 more in the time it took me to make the purchase and go through the NICS background check! They had sold 72 since the shooting! When I left, they were down to one! That’s all thanks to you Leftist and your paranoia! S much for that part of your argument!
Second, it’s clear you have NEVER set foot inside a gun club! As a ranking officer in one of the largest gun clubs on Maine I can tell you that they are used at our club, and all others, ALL THE TIME! Don’t want to believe me? Fine, come see so with your own eyes (if you have the courage to do so!). Soon I will be joining them, thanks in large part to you and your ilk! Many of our members compete in the Camp Perry National Matches, and practice year ’round with the very rifles YOU want banned! So much for that part of your argument!
Thirdly, as for your assertion that using a semi-auto to hunt with is somehow unsportsmanlike, that shows an astounding lack of intelligence on your part! Semi-auto rifles have been used to hunt in Maine since their inception! to think otherwise is just folly and ignorance! Like every other style of rifle (bolt, lever, single shot, pump – since you seem to know not what you are talking about) Semi-auto rifles have changed in appearance, but NOT in how they function! After WWI, many used Springfields and Mausers. Now they use Brownings, Winchesters and Remingtons. By your assumption, perhaps THEY should be banned too! SO much for that part of your argument!
Before you come here, spreading your ignorance waist deep, you should educate yourself on the topic! Yes, you are entitled to your opinion, even if it is totally wrong and baseless!
You would have much more credibility if you just spoke the truth – that you are scared of Spooky Guns because of they way they look! At least you would be honest! Ignorant, but honest! Pretty foolish – it fits!
Well said!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You should send that to the editorials as well.!
Thanks, but it would be a waste of time.they already have their minds made up – it’s whatever the Democrats tells them to think!
On the day before the Newtown shootings, I had brought one of my rifles to the local gun dealer for him to sell for me. When I went in to pick up the money a couple of days after the shootings, he told me how many AR-15’s, and guns in general, he had sold immediately following. Just my personal observation.
Here’s the link to the PPH article prettyfoolish references http://www.pressherald.com/news/ar-15-rifles-rare-in-maine-firearms-enthusiasts-report_2012-12-23.html
The article makes reference to 100 Rod and Gun clubs in Maine and then specifically mentions five Scarborough Fish and Game Association, York County Fish and Game Club, Falmouth Rod and Gun Club, Lincoln County Rifle Association & Durham Rod and Gun Club. Not sure how you extrapolate based on 5% of the clubs that AR-15s are “rarely, if ever, used at shooting clubs here for target practice”.
Where in the article did it say that an AR-15s are “too dangerous to be ALLOWED in the shooting ranges” or that other shooters “DON’T want to be around them”?
The balance of your post is personal opinion. Actually the whole post is personal opinion as nothing in your post is supported by the article you referenced.
You know Liberals, they only see what they believe! They never believe what they actually see!
What seems to pop out when reading about this tragedy are the types of guns this young man left and the type of guns he chose to take with him.
The more typical bolt action or lever action game “hunting” firearms were left behind while the more aggressive ones meant to spray as many bullets as possible, with a larger scale destruction were used.
Any gun can kill most anything but the truth he is took the ones capable of inflicting the most damage in a short amount of time.
I didnt realize his mother “hunted”! Do you have a source for this extrordinary information?
I made an observation about the guns not whether the mother hunted or not.
Why ask that question ?Are you assuming I am anti gun?
I wonder if they will try to ban the Ruger mini 14…..Had to laugh Bob sheaffer seemed surprised that she had guns, wondered why she had them, maybe it was because its her right…LOL
YOU CAN BET ON IT! Especially if Ruger paints it black! Remember, it’s not what it does, or how it operates, it’s all about how SPOOKY it looks!
You want to see how insane the Left is about this, read the post below by PF! Ignorance at it’s finest!
True, make a gun look mean and it shoots more ammo..
If you aim to kill numerous people then yes he took the right one..A bolt action would be good for a sniper…….But he chose the other route. Google the Ruger mini 14…….HMMM 30 rd mags available and 223 caliber….HMMMM.. My dad uses one for coyotes..Yes thats hunting.
Yes, that was the simple point I was making. Personally my favorite is a 10/.22, great for shooting squirrels and other little critters. But with 10 shots in succession, it can also be deadly to a larger animal but doesn’t dispatch the animal quickly or humanely as a larger caliber would like what we use on coyote.
I have 25 rd mags for my 10/22, they are very accurate…I wouldnt hesitate to use it for self defense, I can shoot an eye out at 75 feet with ease….Enough to kill a human.. Also shooting someone in the knee cap with a 22 should ruin their day….
Knowing your definition of self-defense is pretty critical to the people around you, right?
Simple answer….don’t enter my house uninvited, armed and with the intent of doing bodily harm to my family or me.
“Jerome Ratliff bought an AR-15 on Saturday for target practice, paying $925. The same model would have cost only about $400 a year ago,”””
I hope I’m not the only one who caught this, $400.00 for an AR-15…….Im still laughing….I have 3 that I have bought over the past 8 yrs, none under $800.00…
Sounds like a smart investment on your part! Yea, I caught it. $400. , YEA RIGHT! Obviously more fake journalism to rile up the misinformed Left!
I’d be willing to bet that it was a .22cal on an AR platform! The press will use any twisting to get firearms banned! There are a lot of really stupid people out there!
The gun bans being proposed would not have stopped the madman at Sandy Hook nor will they stop any future madman bent on killing innocents. The worst killing in a school in the U.S. was done with dynamite nearly 100 years ago. If putting police/security is such an outlandish idea as proposed by Wayne LaPierre why do schools already have it now? Our high school has one and the officer carries a handgun on his hip. I don’t hear any cries to remove him and his weapon from school. Our local schools are putting locks on the front doors which will inconvenience everyone and stop no one bent on getting in. What are they going to do at a basketball game have people buzz in and go through a metal detector? I don’t think so. The gunman in Newtown knew there was a locked door obstacle and planned for it. It didn’t even slow him down. There are thousands of laws on the books that criminals or mentally ill people don’t follow now. Adding more will help? Banning magazines with large capacity clips would have stopped Sandy Hook? He could have reloaded as many times as he wanted because there was no good guy there to take him out. When someone with a gun did show up he offed himself. There is no easy answer here but protecting school children with security is a start. Let’s start there and then talk about the rest. If there is a better idea than that I haven’t heard it.
American gun nuts. Hard to find a more deviant group anywhere.
Deviant groups in no particular order….
Pedophiles
Rapists
Spouse abusers
Animal abusers
Murderers
That was easy.
People who’d rush to get there very own Sandy Hook copycat rifle.
Sorry remanded but you said it was “Hard to find a more deviant group anywhere” and I was able to find a minimum of 5 quickly. Your second post is just as silly as your first.
Exercising your 2nd Amendment Right is no more deviant then you exercising your 1st Amendment RIght.
It would be helpful if the reporters and editors actually knew what an assault rifle is. An assault rifle is a rifle than can, with a flip of a switch, go from semiautomatic to automatic. The rifles in the story are not capable of shooting automatically.
Looks like Adam Lanza played Santa Claus to the gun industry.
Gun sales over the past four years have never been higher. Why? Well I let you figure that one out.
You would have to be incredibly dim witted to run out and purchase a gun based solely on who is in the White House. But, I am sure there are people who did.
You mean as “dimwitted” as comparing Newtown’s murderer to Santa?
No, much, much dimmer.
You really shouldn’t have these self esteem issues voice. I am sure that you are a fine and very bright person.