What now?
Michael Bane, noting that the Zumbo incident was a tipping point for gun rights, asks where we’re headed with respect to gun rights. I tend to think the recent sunset of the assault weapons ban and Katrina are why evil black rifles have gained in popularity.
February 21st, 2007 at 12:12 pm
In Technicolor bolding no less.
February 21st, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Aww, that’s just the way Michael talks — er, I mean, writes.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I don’t doubt Katrina had a lot to do with the increased popularity of ARs and AKs, but I think it’s also due to a general decline in hunting. Not as many people like to or need to hunt, more people live in urban areas with higher crime rates, and new gun buyers are more interested in self-defense and recreational shooting.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Walking thru 9/11, watching Katrina, and finding “libertarian (as opposed to GOP) gun blogs” were my tipping points. Mostly Katrina.
February 22nd, 2007 at 1:10 am
It’s been due to several factors. First, the AW ban suddenly made everyone want an AR or an AK. The market zoomed; IIRC Bushmaster sells about 2-3 times more ARs today than they did in 1992.
Second, the expansion of CCW permits nationwide created a new class of gun owner, persons who bought a gun for the first time and only for self-defense purposes. They have no link to the “traditional” hunting community.
Third, 9/11 and Katrina demonstrated just how incompetent and even malevolent local, state and federal governments can be in a time of crisis. More and more people simply don’t trust the police to protect them. IMHO when the SHTF most Americans would rather have a gun in their closet than a cop in their neighborhood.
One of the big changes I’ve noticed over the past decade that symbolizes this shift is the proliferation of short-barreled, “home-defense” shotguns. There weren’t very many models offered some 10-15 years ago but now virtually every major pump-gun manufacturer makes a model or two. Since they’re easier to get than a handgun in most states, they’ve become the de facto standard for home defense. They’re not just for duck hunting anymore.