GUNS - And ammo sales increase

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PalmBeachPost

Local gun, ammunition sales balloon in response to terrorism

By Christine Stapleton, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Friday, September 14, 2001

Some people prayed. Some watched CNN. Some bought guns.

As the World Trade Center towers crumbled and the Pentagon burned on Tuesday, gun buyers lined up at gun shops in Palm Beach County.

"Even Y2K wasn't this extreme," said Joe Rice, a salesman and instructor at the Delray Shooting Center. "We probably sold between 40,000 and 50,000 rounds of ammunition on Tuesday."

Tuesday was Rice's day off, but sales were so brisk his bosses called him in to work. Most buyers didn't say much. But it was clear why they were there.

One customer gave Rice an 8-by-10 color photo of terrorist Osama bin Laden with a bull's-eye on his forehead. And another customer offered $100 for it.

Customers weren't scared and knew what they wanted: a gun big enough to protect their home and family. Since Tuesday morning the Delray Shooting Center has sold at least a dozen shotguns. Many days they don't sell one.

Trail Guns Inc. on Military Trail in Lake Worth sold out of Mossberg pump-action shotguns. Gunsmith Al Rathbone said, "They want to feel secure."

There were no typical buyers, Trail Gun co-owner Sharon Worman said. Men, women, young, old, in business suits and work clothes.

When ammunition started running low, co-owner Worman called to order more. Her supplier told her that they, too, were running low. More Mossbergs and ammunition arrived Thursday, she said.

An employee at Gator Guns and Archery Center in West Palm Beach said business "doubled, maybe tripled" Tuesday. Most bought ammunition.

"What might happen is that if we go to war, ammunition would go to the military and civilian supplies would dry up," said Rathbone, who had a Smith & Wesson .45-caliber strapped to his hip and a petite .22-caliber in his pocket on Thursday. "Life will definitely change."

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2001

Answers

One of the things I love about Florida are their gun laws. Concealed carry permits are available to any law abiding citizen after a routine background check and a short safety course. Barefoot, do you have a concealed carry permit? According to Lott, in his book More Guns-Less Crime, Florida has benefited immensely since they started the concealed carry permit allowance.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2001

No, I don't.

The policy of the USPS is zero tolerance as far as guns are concerned. Employees are not allowed to bring guns onto USPS property. So, we cannot carry our guns with us when going to work or going home from work. This, in my opinion, is an infringement of our rights as citizens in this country.

I am not suggesting that we be allowed to bring our guns to our individual work stations, mind you. considering the actions of past employees, however, it may have saved some of the lives if we had been allowed to do so.

Since I rarely go anywhere other than to and from work, there is little moment in a day when I would require the permit. One does not need it at home.

I have been thinking of it lately, though.

[many employers have a similar policy as regards guns in the workplace. I wonder if that policy will be reconsidered in the days to come. And will any changes come in time?]

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2001


Barefoot, you bring up some very traditional points here. The common thinking is that if there are people coming to work, or going to a fast food restaurant for that matter, and they have a concealed gun (permit type) it makes everything more dangerous. Lott has found the statistics are opposite to that. People who intend to do harm bring in guns, often illegal guns, and start shooting. When there is a possibility that others may have guns there as well, the bad guys give it a second thought. After all, they aren't going into some police station to shoot it up, are they? Citizens with concealed guns tend to reduce the violent attacks, not increase them. Got to go with the better statistics even if it seems contradictory at first.

-- Anonymous, September 16, 2001

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