On Gun Sales
The anti-gunners and the press (but I repeat myself) would have you believe that this increase in gun sales is because gun nuts who already own guns are stocking up on more guns. I have to confess that I actually have not bought a gun since the election but that’s anecdotal. Turns out there’s quite a few new gun owners in the mix.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:18 am
Interestingly, someone asked me at one of the Innaugural Balls how many guns and what kind of guns I had purchased.
She couldn’t believe it when I said none. I wanted to buy a couple of AR lowers, but can’t find any and don’t feel like paying 3x their value.
I still believe we’re not going to see any gun control bills for a long time – at least not in Obama’s first term. He’s far too smart for that and will wait until he’s re-elected and has a bigger majority that enables him to roll blue dogs (right now, he can’t afford to tangle with the blue dogs and waste his considerable good will).
As such, I expect prices to return to earth at some point soon.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:25 am
Holy crap, I actually beat two gun bloggers! But then again, it WAS just a late christmas gift that isn’t really “mine”. A CZ-52, that ended up shipping late because of shipping complications (it hit the New Years AND the weekend after. I’m a minor, so it actually belongs to my mother, but it’s in my possession.
January 22nd, 2009 at 10:43 am
Some of it may be Obama, but I think a portion are also due to increased efforts by RKBA folks to “evangelize” our neighbors. I have three friends who want to buy their first gun:
1. male current Army officer who wants to buy an AR-15, as it’s similar to the M4 he had in Iraq.
2. female grad student who wants a “9mm” and her concealed carry permit.
3. female grad student who wants a Savage Mk II and to take up target shooting and hunting
None of these three really fits the “Obama Rush” model, and the first two (and maybe the third) actually voted for him. My own circle may be an aberration, but I do think that we’d be seeing a smaller increase due to stepped-up efforts at education even if McCain had won.
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Eh. I bought an AR-15 and a Saiga 12 yesterday (they were on the list anyway; timing was the only change in plans). First shotgun, second rifle. (Paid a premium on the AR, but some poking around suggests that it wasn’t too terrible. Saiga would’ve been cheaper two years ago, but I think I paid about going price for it right now.)
I wouldn’t dismiss out of hand the idea that there are more gun nuts buying than new owners. On the other hand, I have no anecdotal information concerning the ratio. On the other, other hand, I do know my sister (not a gun owner) went pistol shooting for the first time around Christmas and has been talking about buying something for carry or recreational purposes since November.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I bought only one used gun (private sale) since the election (I did order a Del-Ton upper, as yet undelivered) though I do admit to filling a few gaps in my ammo stash and also some odd & assorted accessories.
I have been told by at least two different people that they had bought their first gun after the election – both said something along the lines of “I might not have a chance later and it’s something I always meant to do”.
IMHO, the true gun nuts have NOT been buying because the prices were rather high, something that may change if O doesn’t do anything immediate and the supply chain re-fills after the panic of November & December.
January 22nd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
“Obama will make the next generation (of gun owners) if he’s not careful. It’s already happening.”
Now that’s change I CAN believe in! 🙂
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I need an AR upper and i can’t find one and don’t know what to do. I think i need to start a gun blog and ask for help!
January 22nd, 2009 at 5:07 pm
ATLien
Heh. Uppers are every where. They’re just way overpriced. But start here.
January 22nd, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Well, personally, I bought two lowers and a shotgun after the election, but that is just me.
As for the uppers, if you want one off AR15.com, you had pretty much be awake 24 hours a day – some of those disappear in minutes. Me, I am on a four-month waiting list at DelTon, and a month waiting list at an unnamed source.