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Gun sales brisk ahead of election
http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/08/090608_web_guns.html
By Jamaal E. O'Neal, Cox East Texas
Friday, September 05, 2008
Gun sales are going boom around the country as gun owners and gun advocates brace for a potential Democrat in the White House for the first time in almost 10 years.
Democrats, meanwhile, say there's no reason to worry that presidential hopeful Barack Obama would attempt to curtail access to most guns, though that hasn't stopped the buying spree.
"You'd be surprised," said Jeff Mercer, manager of George's Pawn and Gun Shop on High Street. "It's people of all races, too. People are scared."
Across town at The Gun Doctor and More on Glencrest Lane, owner Bob Godell said he has also noticed a similar trend.
"We call it the Obama factor. People are very concerned that if a Democrat is elected they will see more restrictions on handguns and assault rifles." Godell said. "I think as a result of that we have seen steady handgun sales, and there's been an increase in the sale of assault rifles like AK-47s, as well."
Gregg County Republican Party Chairman Keith Rothra said Obama's support for gun control has made some Republicans leery.
"Barack Obama seems to think that we'd be safer if people didn't have handguns, and that's false," Rothra said. "I have heard several people say they are going to buy handguns as a just-in-case thing because they don't know what's going to happen."
Rothra said Obama's interpretation of the Second Amendment is faltering and concerning to many of Rothra's political colleagues.
"Obama says that he's in favor of people bearing arms, but its contrary to his voting record," Rothra said. "He's been anti-gun during his entire voting record."
According to Obama's platform, "he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms."
During his nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, he expressed support for measures that would ban certain assault weapons from American streets.
"The reality of gun ownership may be different from hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hand of criminals," Obama said.
Patrick Franklin, a spokesman for the Gregg County Democratic Party, said Obama is not going to take away a person's right to bear arms, and calls the claim a typical Republican tactic to scare gun owners.
"Republicans used the same tactic in 1992 when Bill Clinton ran for office," Franklin said. "Barack Obama is not going to take people's gun rights away. That's not his intention."
Franklin supports Obama's position on assault-style rifles.
"There's soon going to be a discussion in this country about automatic weapons," Franklin said. "I think people would agree having an AK-47 on the streets is something that needs to be regulated."
National results
The National Rifle Association has not collected recent data on how many states are seeing a spike in handgun sales; however, many members are reporting the increase.
"We're seeing similar results from around the country, not in just one particular state," said Ashley Varner, National Rifle Association spokesperson. "When you have someone like Barack Obama who is so anti-gun, you tend to see trends like these."
The rifle association launched a new Web site called http://www.gunbanobama.com on Tuesday, which highlights the Illinois Senator's gun voting record.
"He's received an "F" on a lot of gun issues," Varner said. "I think people stand united behind their right to bear arms under the Second Amendment, which is why some gun sales may have increased."
Business as usual
While gun sales are on the increase across the region, other local industries have not reported any new economic trends as a result of the pending presidential election.
Auto dealers and economic development officials, for example, say sales and inquires about locating and expanding businesses continues.
Thomas Kemper, a financial advisor with Wachovia Securities, said most presidential elections do not sway economic trends.
"Looking over the last 60 years, it usually depends on the health of the individual company," Kemper said. "There doesn't appear to be a whole lot of correlation between the parties and the economy."
WHERE THEY STAND
Barack Obama
On Obama's campaign Web site, Obama said he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms.
During a February 15 press conference, Obama stated, "I think there is an individual right to bear arms, but it's subject to commonsense regulation."
He initially voiced support of Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban. Following the Supreme Court decision on the ban, he voiced support of the decision overturning the law, saying, "Today's decision reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe."
John McCain
According to McCain's presidential Web site, he believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect.
McCain further adds that gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime, and law abiding citizens should not be asked to give up their rights because of criminals who ignore gun control laws anyway.
Sources: Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, http://www.barackobama.com, http://www.johnmccain.com
Gun sales brisk ahead of election
http://www.marshallnewsmessenger.com/news/content/news/stories/2008/08/090608_web_guns.html
By Jamaal E. O'Neal, Cox East Texas
Friday, September 05, 2008
Gun sales are going boom around the country as gun owners and gun advocates brace for a potential Democrat in the White House for the first time in almost 10 years.
Democrats, meanwhile, say there's no reason to worry that presidential hopeful Barack Obama would attempt to curtail access to most guns, though that hasn't stopped the buying spree.
"You'd be surprised," said Jeff Mercer, manager of George's Pawn and Gun Shop on High Street. "It's people of all races, too. People are scared."
Across town at The Gun Doctor and More on Glencrest Lane, owner Bob Godell said he has also noticed a similar trend.
"We call it the Obama factor. People are very concerned that if a Democrat is elected they will see more restrictions on handguns and assault rifles." Godell said. "I think as a result of that we have seen steady handgun sales, and there's been an increase in the sale of assault rifles like AK-47s, as well."
Gregg County Republican Party Chairman Keith Rothra said Obama's support for gun control has made some Republicans leery.
"Barack Obama seems to think that we'd be safer if people didn't have handguns, and that's false," Rothra said. "I have heard several people say they are going to buy handguns as a just-in-case thing because they don't know what's going to happen."
Rothra said Obama's interpretation of the Second Amendment is faltering and concerning to many of Rothra's political colleagues.
"Obama says that he's in favor of people bearing arms, but its contrary to his voting record," Rothra said. "He's been anti-gun during his entire voting record."
According to Obama's platform, "he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms."
During his nomination acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, he expressed support for measures that would ban certain assault weapons from American streets.
"The reality of gun ownership may be different from hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hand of criminals," Obama said.
Patrick Franklin, a spokesman for the Gregg County Democratic Party, said Obama is not going to take away a person's right to bear arms, and calls the claim a typical Republican tactic to scare gun owners.
"Republicans used the same tactic in 1992 when Bill Clinton ran for office," Franklin said. "Barack Obama is not going to take people's gun rights away. That's not his intention."
Franklin supports Obama's position on assault-style rifles.
"There's soon going to be a discussion in this country about automatic weapons," Franklin said. "I think people would agree having an AK-47 on the streets is something that needs to be regulated."
National results
The National Rifle Association has not collected recent data on how many states are seeing a spike in handgun sales; however, many members are reporting the increase.
"We're seeing similar results from around the country, not in just one particular state," said Ashley Varner, National Rifle Association spokesperson. "When you have someone like Barack Obama who is so anti-gun, you tend to see trends like these."
The rifle association launched a new Web site called http://www.gunbanobama.com on Tuesday, which highlights the Illinois Senator's gun voting record.
"He's received an "F" on a lot of gun issues," Varner said. "I think people stand united behind their right to bear arms under the Second Amendment, which is why some gun sales may have increased."
Business as usual
While gun sales are on the increase across the region, other local industries have not reported any new economic trends as a result of the pending presidential election.
Auto dealers and economic development officials, for example, say sales and inquires about locating and expanding businesses continues.
Thomas Kemper, a financial advisor with Wachovia Securities, said most presidential elections do not sway economic trends.
"Looking over the last 60 years, it usually depends on the health of the individual company," Kemper said. "There doesn't appear to be a whole lot of correlation between the parties and the economy."
WHERE THEY STAND
Barack Obama
On Obama's campaign Web site, Obama said he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms.
During a February 15 press conference, Obama stated, "I think there is an individual right to bear arms, but it's subject to commonsense regulation."
He initially voiced support of Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban. Following the Supreme Court decision on the ban, he voiced support of the decision overturning the law, saying, "Today's decision reinforces that if we act responsibly, we can both protect the constitutional right to bear arms and keep our communities and our children safe."
John McCain
According to McCain's presidential Web site, he believes that the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is a fundamental, individual Constitutional right that we have a sacred duty to protect.
McCain further adds that gun control is a proven failure in fighting crime, and law abiding citizens should not be asked to give up their rights because of criminals who ignore gun control laws anyway.
Sources: Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, http://www.barackobama.com, http://www.johnmccain.com
