Its not me I'm too poor. Couldn't be Andy he is gold poor. This is from the CBS web page.

CBS NEWS | Programs | CBS Evening News w/ Dan Rather Y2K: The Fear Factor

Books Warn Of Chaos Gun Sales SoarLaw Enforcement Officials Concerned WASHINGTON Friday, September 24,1999 - 12:02 PM ET CBSSome recommend stockpiling weapons as a precaution. (CBS) Something curious is happening as this year comes to an end. There's been a big jump in gun sales. And there's speculation it might have something to do with the calendar.

CBS News Correspondent Jim Stewart investigated the phenomenon. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gun salesmen first noticed the trend in early spring. With fall in the air, the pace is quickening.

For reasons no one can fully explain America seems to be headed for a record year in gun sales, beating even the industry's best estimates.

"I think when the year is over - and we're just entering the busiest part of the year nowit'll be 15 percent or something like that," says Robert Delfay, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

That's 15 percent over government and industry projections, or an estimated 375,000 additional rifle, pistol and shotgun sales on top of the 2.5 million sales already forecast for this year.

And there is growing evidence that what's driving those new sales is fear over what happens 99 days from now, when the ball falls and Y2K is here.

Researchers at the pro-gun control Violence Policy Center, for example, point to recent gun magazine stories urging readers to buy at least two rifles apiece for Y2K. And there's even a special "Y2K-Ready" model being offered by one manufacturer.

Josh Sugarmann, executive director of the Violence Policy Center, observes, "The reality is that fear sells guns."

Adds Sugarmann: "And for the gun industry what could be better than the thought of the end of the world and the collapse of civilization as we know it."

Those are the tamest of predictions by some of the 223 Y2K books currently on the market.

"Get ready," warn the books. They say computer failures will shut down electric utilities, prison gates will swing open at midnight, terrorist attacks will occur in larger cities and wild dog packs will roam the streets.

And many of those books recommend stockpiling weapons as a precaution.

Gun retailers say they're seeing an especially high demand for .223-caliber military style rifles and close-in defense weapons.

Ammunition sales have also soared. One Midwest distributor reported selling 9,000 cases or 9 million rounds in two days.

Several Y2K authors declined to share their predictions and gun recommendations. And the industry says it does not agree with the scare tactics.

"We do not think that's right," says Delfay. "And we do not encourage anyone to purchase a firearm in anticipation of Y2K chaos, in part because we don't think that's going to happen and in part because we think it would be totally inappropriate."

The real concern to law enforcement officers is the fear factor involved. Their own Y2K nightmare is that come New Year's Eve, a wide range of Americans will have bought the hype peddled by the fear mongers.

And they worry that some will be hiding behind their doors that night, armed to the teeth and prepared to shoot first and ask questions later.)1999, CBS Worldwide Inc., All Rights Reserved.

-- Ed (ed@lizzardranch.com), September 26, 1999

Answers

"Arms in the hands of citizens [may] be used at individual discretion...in private self-defense... " - John Adams, 1788, A Defense of the Constitutions of the Government of the USA, 471

-- x (x@x.mil), September 26, 1999.

And how are they gonna fire those things if the power goes out?

-- Dung Beetle (elictricity@crux.matter), September 26, 1999.

HUH??? Damn...I told Chubby Hubby not to buy a shot gun that had to be plugged into a socket.!! And if the people are armed and hiding behind their doors its no ones business. If the cops have any brains, they will leave people alone unless some idiot is out shooting up the streets. Anyone comes busting into my house is going to get a chest ..or butt load of shot,.. depending if he is coming or going. And thats any time and has nothing to do with y2k!

Taz...who is armed, ready and can put a bullet where she wants it.

-- Taz (Taz@aol.com), September 26, 1999.

Ed:

Fear is certainly a part of the equation. Like the fear that motivated gun control wacko Carl Rowan to shoot an intruder who trespassed on his property back in the 80's. Let's hope that Y2k is a minor inconvenience. But just take a look at tapes of Reginald Denny getting the *&it kicked out of him during the Rodney King riots for no other reason than his happening to driving his truck around the sub-human mutants when the riots broke out. Many people fear a repeat on a much larger scale.

-- Killer Bunny (KillerBunny@henhouse.com), September 26, 1999.

Taz:

Your argument is unconvincing to the gun control wackos. They want to be able to trespass on your property at any time without your being able to resist or defend yourself. Their attitude can be likened to that of the Australian Prime Minister who, shortly before pushing through Australia's gun ban, said that defence of one's home was no reason to own a gun. As many have pointed out, the crime rate has risen after the gun ban.

For those of you who agree with the Australian Prime Minister, please feel free to post your address here. If my neighbors get unruly, (and I certainly hope that Y2k doesn't cause major problems) I'll be happy to send them over to your house instead of mine. If they want to plunder someone's house, they'll be a lot safer intruding at your house instead of mine.

-- Killer Bunny (KillerBunny@henhouse.com), September 26, 1999.

An armed society is a polite society.

How is it that in a few short years, the government demonized firearms to the current point?

Such TV shows as Andy Griffith, Leave it to Beaver, The Waltons and Little House on the Prarie document the wholesome attitude that we all used to have towards guns. Learning to shoot and protect your loved ones was a responsibility to be taken seriously and passed down from father to son.

Now, we seem to wonder as to the stability of anyone who owns a 22 or teaches his son to fire a BB gun.

The government now takes half of my hard-earned money at the point of a gun while telling me guns are bad.

A progressive society? I think not.

-- Randers (coyotecanyon@hotmail.com), September 26, 1999.

PRISTINA, Yugoslavia (AP) - Angry that peacekeepers seized weapons from their homes, Kosovo Serbs blocked Kosovo's main east-west highway for two hours Sunday.

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), September 26, 1999.

Killer Bunny,

But just take a look at tapes of Reginald Denny getting the *&it kicked out of him during the Rodney King riots for no other reason than his happening to driving his truck around the sub-human mutants when the riots broke out. Many people fear a repeat on a much larger scale.

But do you know who saved his ass? A black family that lived a few blocks away, saw what was happening on TV and said "that isn't right". They left their home in the middle of the riot, placing themselves at great personal risk, to save a white man who they didn't even know.

There *are* good people out there. If ever faced with a similar situation, I hope that I too have the courage to "do the right thing".

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), September 26, 1999.

Could it be folks recognize bill clinton as an anti-gun zealot and choose to stock up before laws are enacted to turn law abiding gun owners into felons by default?

-- Weezing Geezer (weezing_geezer@old.org), September 26, 1999.

Tough Connecticut law targets dangerous gunowners
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Starting next month, Connecticut
police will be allowed to confiscate guns from anyone
determined to be an immediate danger to himself or others.

. . .

Gun-rights advocates argue that allowing police to take
weapons from people who haven't done anything wrong violates
their Constitutional right to bear arms.

. . .

Illinois Rep. Tom Darta, a Chicago Democrat, said he plans to
introduce a similar Illinois proposal in November.

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), September 26, 1999.

"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence... From the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to ensure peace, security, and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable... The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference; they deserve a place of honor with all that's good... A free people ought to be armed." - George Washington, speech of January 7, 1790, printed in the Boston Independent Chronicle, January 14, 1790.

-- x (x@x.mil), September 26, 1999.

My husband and I were sitting around talking just a few minutes ago wondering what to do the rest of the day. All this talk about guns and ammo has gotten me all enthused to go target practice. Last time we went, the range was packed and everyone was showing off their new toys.....I'll report back this evening on how our day went...bang, bang.

-- bardou (bardou@baloney.com), September 26, 1999.

spider, a link please? thanks

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 26, 1999.

Tech 32:

I agree. I hope that all of us have the courage to help our neighbors out.

-- Killer Bunny (KillerBunny@henhouse.com), September 26, 1999.

You will note that most gun-control advocates are either mush-headed bleeding-heart liberals or politicians and bureaucrats who have secured residences and offices and/or bodyguards (including Secret Service agents) and/or have carry permits that the peons find impossible to obtain.

-- A (A@AisA.com), September 26, 1999.

Hope they're getting this news byte in the cowardly lion nations abroad.

"Don't come to OZ with a cause, because the law's in the jaws of the just, and we'll bust a cap in your ass if we must!

-- Michael (mikeymac@uswest.net), September 26, 1999.

I picked up another 250 rounds of S&B 00 buckshot this week. The gun shops have been busy around here. Inventories are low. If you are going to buy a gun or ammo get it now.

-- Bill (y2khippo@yahoo.com), September 26, 1999.

I started this thread now for my 2 cents worth. Nine thousand cases in 48 hours would be mostly 223, 308 and 7.62x39 military ammo. IMHO Y2K does not account for all of this massive buying of ammo. Fear of our government is probably as great a factor. This is just one gun dealer we are talking about here; there are many dealers who sell ammo in bulk. What we are talking about here is a complete disconnect between the people and their elected officials. This has nothing to do with dem. vs repb. It has to do with is limited government vs total and oppressive government.

-- Ed (ed@lizzardranch.com), September 26, 1999.

The gun guys at the indoor range where I shoot told me they are having a heck of a time keeping anything in stock. A few weeks ago they sold 19 guns in a single day, which for them is really high. Ammo going out the door quickly, too, and not being shipped as fast to keep up with stock levels.

Last gun show we went to was last weekend, in a town about 50 miles from here. Was talking with one of the organizers; he said attendance-wise, it was probably going to break their all time record. Several of the exhibitors were already breaking down their booths at 11am on Sunday morning due to the fact they had pretty much sold out of stuff.

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), September 26, 1999.

(1) All of those new guns are probably jsut because it is fall...hunting season, you know!

(2) Don't tar all gun control advocates with the same brush. I, for example am FIRMLY in favor of gun control...but remember that I do define gun control as hitting what you aim at...

-- Mad Monk (madmonk@hawaiian.net), September 27, 1999.

The propaganda continues....the "war" to remove weapons (one state at a time) has begun, as shown by these quotes, and those from CT above:

< And they worry that some will be hiding behind their doors that night, armed to the teeth and prepared to shoot first and ask questions later.)1999, CBS Worldwide Inc., >>

---

I repeat what was said: "Why are they worried about those who are armed, but "behind closed doors"? The criminals are the ones armed, and are in the streets CAUSING otherwise "free" citizens to retreat in fear.

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 27, 1999.

Sorry Mumsie the link is dead.

-- spider (spider0@usa.net), September 27, 1999.

And this quote from the UN - the world government also fears private ownership of weapons: Annan is head of the UN.

< In his report Mr Annan recommended that member states should:

Better enforce UN arms embargoes on nations in conflict

Adopt gun control laws including a prohibition of unrestricted trade and private ownership of small arms

Require arms manufacturers to put serial numbers and identification marks on weapons

Ensure stockpiles of unmarked weapons are carefully guarded to prevent theft, and destroyed as soon as possible

Share information on the registration of guns and on legal transactions, in order to trace black market deals

Stop shipments of weapons to regions of conflict >>

-- Robert A. Cook, PE (Marietta, GA) (cook.r@csaatl.com), September 27, 1999.