http://www.boston.com/dailynews/288/region/Sales_of_guns_security_systems:.shtml

Sales of guns, security systems on the rise since attacks

By Associated Press, 10/15/2001 05:00

BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) This time of year, Norm Giguere usually makes most of his money selling hunting rifles and shotguns to sportsmen for the deer hunting season.

But this year, Giguere is having trouble keeping up with requests from a different kind of customer: people so shaken by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that they're looking for assault weapons and handguns to protect themselves.

Giguere, who runs Norm's Gun & Ammo Shop in Biddeford, said assault weapons have outsold hunting rifles by about 3-to-1 since the attacks that killed more than 5,000 people and jarred America's collective psyche. Military-style weapons that can take high-capacity magazines and have names like AK-47, SKS and AR-15 have been the purchases of choice, he said.

''It's been unbelievable,'' Giguere said. ''I've been ordering stuff every day because I can't keep up with it.''

Besides assault weapons, big sellers since the attacks include surveillance cameras, cardkey entry systems, closed-circuit television systems and security fencing. Even with a sluggish economy, companies and individuals are spending considerable sums of money to protect themselves from intruders.

More security guards are patrolling government buildings and private properties. Companies that provide computer security report more calls as people worry about the vulnerability of their networks and precious data.

Employers are more cautious than ever about the people they hire, spawning a surge in business for companies that perform background checks.

For businesses that provide these goods and services, the trend is both sobering and lucrative. Sales are always welcome, but the folks selling safety know the recent spurt is due to an unspeakable tragedy. They also know that while they're making money because of the attacks, others, such as those in the travel and lodging business, are losing their livelihoods.

''This isn't a situation where we want to take advantage of people and we're not thrilled that we're working 90 hours a week,'' said Peter Green, operations manager for Advance Technology Inc., a Scarborough company that provides surveillance cameras and has seen a 30 percent jump in sales since the attacks. ''But we have to help people'' who want security.

Scott Cook, director of customer service for Workgroup Technology Partners of Westbrook, which designs, installs and supports computer networks, said his company has received dozens of calls from companies with questions about their risks. Those risks can include insecure passwords or a physical environment where computers are unsafe.

Customers are more willing to take his company's advice now than before the attacks, he said.

''They take us very, very seriously,'' Cook said. ''Before they just looked at it as 'We're not going to be attacked, are we?' But you know, it's a different world than it was before.''

-- Anonymous, October 15, 2001