Gun, ammunition sales remain robust across the U.S.

If we weren't a well-armed society before, we're fast becoming one as hunters, target shooters and regular Joes continue to purchase firearms at a robust pace.

Data released by the FBI's National Instant Background Check System reported 1,225,980 checks in April, marking it the sixth consecutive month of increases and a 30.3% increase compared with last April. The checks are required for all people buying weapons from licensed retailers.

In related news, forearm and ammunition manufacturers paid more than $98.1 million in federal excise taxes in the fourth calendar quarter of 2008. (These taxes are a major source of wildlife conservation funding.)

I've noticed this trend twice recently after walking into the Turner's Outdoorsman store near my house. The fishing department was virtually empty while the hunting department bustled with people interested in buying firearms.

Reasons for the trend? It began when it became evident Barack Obama would win the presidential election, because of concerns he'd enact stricter gun-control measures. It was fueled by Mexico's drug war as politicians began to demand stricter measures to prevent the flow of weapons into Mexico. Uncertainty caused by the recession is also believed to be a factor.

Are we a safer society because of this? Probably not, but those with new weapons might feel more at ease.

— Pete Thomas

Photo: Newly manufactured 5.56mm cartridges are seen at Stone Hart manufacturing in Miami in April. Ammunition suppliers nationwide are reporting a shortage due in part to a sharp rise in gun sales. Credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Comments

[dom youngross]

Firearms in and of themselves -- pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns -- just plain intimidate many. A lot of the firearms make big noises. Many jump (recoil) in your hand or against your shoulder significantly when fired. And if you have one in your hand, the responsibility to enjoy shooting safely is all on you. And if one is at a range -- gee, gosh, golly -- you 'have' to trust that all others around you practice appropriate firearms safety at all times.

All that combined noise-recoil-responsibility-trust is very foreign to many, especially to those that pursue rather sedate office work and hobbies that have no associated bings, bangs, or booms or risk of injury.

Gun owners who've had previously-anti-gun friends accept their invitation to join them at the range to learn how to shoot 22's know full well this squeamishness underlies a good part of the gun-control sentiment.

[X-DEM]

Los Angeles has less than two dozen Concealed Carry Weapon permits and Orange County's new Sheriff (former LAPD Administrator) is reducing the amount of CCWs. However all is not lost, other California counties issue CCWs which are LEGAL in Los Angeles and Orange County. The only ones who limited are those Los Angeles and Orange County residents. More guns yes, concealed carry? You betcha! Legal? nope! A danger to the public? Nope!

Think of the thousands of retired cops and retired federal agents living in LA and the OC, they aren't stupid, they are packing, and they are legal, Honest citizens are giving the short end of the stick, but they still carry.

There is a message here, the millions of new weapon owners are NOT going to vote for the liberal leftists next coming election. The backorder for a decent pistol is over one year long, assault weapons, legal in other states are back ordered over one year!

Too bad the LA Times will be out of business before the next election due to subscriber loss.

[George]

I do not live in the USA, so you may choose to dismiss this comment.

At 57 years old, I have never possessed a gun, never wanted to possess a gun, and never needed to possess a gun.

Yet, I do not live in fear of criminals with guns.This is the normal condition for all but the odd paranoid person in my country, and is the result of strict gun control policies.

I am at a loss to understand why anyone could equate ready access to guns with a safe community.

[Joe]

mike wrote: "I have never, ever understood why the NRA doesn't help clean up the image of gun owners by supporting common sense laws that would allow the sale of guns to qualified owners but make it incredibly hard for criminals to buy one. "

There are already over TEN THOUSAND state and federal laws banning firearm ownership by criminals.

The NRA has consistently worked to enact laws making it harder for criminals to possess firearms.

Possibly one day you will figure out that ciminals, BY DEFINITION, do not care about laws and regulations banning their possession and use of firearms. What they DO care about, is being shot at by law-abiding Americans defending their homes and families.

Perhaps YOU can figure out why Obama and his ilk are constantly looking for ways to make it harder for LAW-ABIDING citizens to own firearms to protect themselves.

Could it be that that Obama et al SUPPORT CRIMINALS?

No? Then what other possible motive could they have?

[Victor]

"Are we a safer society because of this? Probably not, but those with new weapons might feel more at ease."

50,000 illegal crimminal Gang Members in the US buying influence in the politics of cities and towns with billions in drug money and not a peep from the media.

Yet citizens choosing to arm themselves. having been abandoned by the press and law enforcement to the violence of those crimminals is somehow suprising and makes us less safe?

Yeah that makes sense.

Vic

[Dave]

It is always funny that the ones who tout the need for "common sense" gun laws are anti-gun. I guess in their little world, they are the only ones who could possibly have any "common sense" because they have convinced themselves that they are smarter and better than everyone else and what they say should be the law, constitution be damned! Why should West Virginia suffer for the sins of New York? Why should Virginia suffer for the sins of D.C.?

Face it, people are getting ready for a fight, plain and simple. The people of this country with half a brain left know that with all the wounds of this country having salt rubbed in them by the liberal elites, economic upheaval, mass unemployment, along with a dose of liberal fascism thrown in by the current administration that steals from those who produce to give to those that produce nothing but complaining about their current situation, that there very well may be violence directed towards those that did the right things like getting an education in a trade or an actually usable college degree. People who actually pay their bills are being set up as some sort of ghouls or enemies of the poor because they aren't poor like them. The poor are put on pedestals while the working class and rich are demonized for doing the right things. Sooner or later this will blow up.

Don't kid yourself, assault weapons bans mean nothing, the class warfare attitude is a lot more scary to folks.

[AW]

Mike

Regarding this comment:
"I have never, ever understood why the NRA doesn't help clean up the image of gun owners by supporting common sense laws that would allow the sale of guns to qualified owners but make it incredibly hard for criminals to buy one. This whole "They want your guns" mentality is why so many weapons are available for unqualified owners and criminals to misuse every year."

It is not legal to transfer ownership of a gun to a criminal. When you go to buy a gun, you complete a form which is checked against Federal databases.

I'd highly encourage you to inform your opinions where possible.

[Able Baker]

"we don't need armed militias anymore. Nobody is going to invade us. And our government is stable."

-Nostradamus ?

[John Blarneystone]

Why is it that gun rights people always fall back on the "my rights from the 2nd amendment" thing... just because the 2nd amendment guarantees your right to bear arms doesn't mean you should, right.

While I understand that a lot of people are "into" owning and shooting guns, do you really need handguns. How 'bout we just restrict hand guns and leave rifles, and shotguns alone.

The funny thing is that America has a unique culture, we are freedom loving independent people, our history is a history of violence, a lot of it with guns. But it's just that, "History", we don't need armed militias anymore. Nobody is going to invade us. And our government is stable.

Perhaps gun violence is mostly an American phenomena?? Here's an example. In Norway men are required by law to serve in the military when they turn 18 (usually 2 years), after which they are in the reserves. Each person is given a firearm (Usually a fully automatic FN FAL 7.62mm) These are kept in the closet until they are called up for duty (2 weeks a year). So, what I am saying is that there are machine guns in a large percentage of houses in Norway..... here's the kicker. There has never to my knowledge been a case of one of those weapons used in a crime.

[Garrett]

This is always ridiculous to me. Criminals will ALWAYS be able to obtain illegal firearms. No amount of regulation will solve that. Only law abiding citizens get penalized. Think about it, are drugs illegal? Yes they are. Do people STILL obtain them in mass quatities? Yes they do. Its a slippery slope to start taking away rights and freedoms. Once they're gone, they're gone for good. Freedom isn't easy, rights are difficult to grant. But it is the rights that we don't always agree with that we should protect the most. It is what diversity and freedom are all about. You might want to take a right away from me that you don't agree with, but remember, your cherished rights are next.

[Tsiong]

Worked in the firearms business for 6 yrs. Met only two types of people buying guns: those who wanted to be prepared and those who were victims of crime and buying too late. I met people who hated guns...BUT ended up being gun lovers AFTER being victimized. That infamous gun battle in Hollywood where 2 robbers with full-auto weapons? Witnesses said people ended up running towards the safety of a nearby gunstore where police ended up also getting higher caliber guns to match the criminals weaponry. How about the LA riots? Korean store owners defended their property from marauding looters.

[Jung Gatoona]

Society as a whole might or might no be safer, as there are no true statistics or evidence that can prove one way or another. But, I do know one thing, my family and I feel safer because we own one. Who is to say I buy a gun to make society safer? I buy a gun to protect myself, not those around me.

[Phil S.]

The idea of 'sensible gun laws', how sensible is it to deny a person the right to protect themselves from violent crime? Have we given up the priviledge to protect our homes, families, and loved ones to those who either dont care about our safety or wish to take away our lives. There are no 'sensible gun laws', only concessions to those we fear, or not.

[Nonster L.]

If you ever go to a third world country where you might not have access to a weapon and realize that there are bad people out there that have knives and guns, you begin to realize what fear means. In certain parts of the world there is no 911 and no calvery to save you. A Gun is just a tool to defend yourself and family.

The reason that some of these anti-gun people sleep well at night is because of a false sense of security that they can call on someone to defend them (law enforcement). Well, bad people are not afraid of the law enforcement individual. Bad people are afraid of the gun that the law enforcement individual can use to defend life.

Ask yourself this question, if someone tried to break into your home or attack you or your family with a weapon, what are you going to do? Aren't you going to try to reach for a weapon to protect your self and loved ones ? Aren't you going to use every means possible to fight back ? Or are you going to think about it and tell yourself that weapons are bad and you should take the time to call 911 and the bad person is going to give you some time to have other people assist you in defending yourself and family.

If you can't defend yourself and your family at the time of the crisis, then the only thing you will have if you survive is regrets.

Life is not fair and as long as there is life there will always be predator and prey.

[William]

Japan has the most effective and thorough gun control laws in the world. They are also one of the safest societies.

Our 2nd amendment rights give us the right to be potential murder victims at any time. I think both teachers and students should "conceal carry" -- a gun that is -- the larger the calibre the better. And soon we could have out and out gun battles -- just like the cowboys vs. the indians.

Oh yes, our country was founded on mucho macho violence towards almost enyone in sight. Mostly nowa days it is 14-year-olds shooting 15-year-olds to death. Horay for the Red, White and the Red!

[Dan]

You are right, we are less safe because our constitutional rights are in jeopardy.

If a president was elected on a platform of bringing "common sense restrictions" on speech or the right to a speedy trial, you'd be singing a different tune.

[newswatch]

I work construction and overhear discussions several times a week, guys collecting guns and ammo, looking forward to using their weapons on people once Obama drives the nation into a socialist cataclysm. Yes they hunt, but the fun real is talking about taking care of domestic enemies once and for all. Hunting seems to be a form of target practice for apocalypse. I've heard many indictable comments, and have no doubt what would happen to me if I draw too much attention to them.

[H. Gill]

Thanks for your comments, Pete. Now go back to sleep.

[Khan Tot]

STUPID GUN. STUPID NRA. STUPID PEOPLE WITH GUNS!

[Rick]

Cite some research Mike. Cite some hard data. Anybody can OPINE based on pie-in-the-sky. How about some DATA about how gun ownership in society affects crime rates?

Anybody can make up anecdotal data and extrapolate and make claims like that you make regarding New York. For every instance you can show, I can rebut you with two similarly constructed.

For instance: Tell me why Washington DC, with the tightest gun control restrictions in America, has the highest murder rate, and has seen a marked increase in criminal violence corresponding with each and every significant piece of anti-gun legislation.

Nobody could look at Washington DC's numbers with an objective eye and fail to see a distinct correlation between anti-gun legislation and an increase in violence.

Oh yeah, those pesky FACTS again. Always getting in the way of otherwise perfectly good opinions and arguments.

The data says you're wrong. That's reality. Your accepting it or not doesn't make it more or less true.

Rick Bin
Owner and President
www.24hourcampfire.com

[Rick]

Pete:

"Are we a safer society because of this? Probably not, ..."

Instead of guessing, why don't you base your "editorial" comment on the widely available hard data. That data shows that where gun control, and therefore fewer guns, is enacted, violent crime goes UP.

UP Pete. UP.

cite: (MORE GUNS, LESS CRIME, Lott, John; AUSTRALIA; ENGLAND!)

The data shows where gun control restrictions are relaxed, violent crime goes DOWN.

DOWN, Pete. DOWN.

cite: (MORE GUNS, LESS CRIME, Lott, John)

"Are we a safer society?" The FACTS, the DATA, the RESEARCH, says indisputably" "Yes we are."

Oh wait .... LA Times vis-a-vis facts, LA Times vis-a-vis facts, LA Times vis-a-vis facts ...

Oh yeah, what was I thinking? Sorry to have FACTS interfere with LA TImes "journalism."

As a native Angeleno, long-time hunter and fisherman, publisher of an online hunting magazine, and surfer who has read your columns for years, I think you stepped in it, Pete , my man.

Come out to Angeles Shooting Range on a Friday or Saturday, observe all the law-abiding, tax-paying, responsible citizens practicing their Second-Amendment rights, and maybe we can set you straight about whether all these guns in the hands of responsible citizens either embolden or discourage the bad guys for whom gun laws mean nothing.

Are we safer? DUH!

Rick Bin
Owner and President
www.24hourcampfire.com

[MHunter]

All the evidence ever gathered suggests we are NO safer by having every household armed to the teeth, in fact quite the reverse is true. More likely your kid will blow his own head off when he finds your family gun. Perhaps that's just Darwin proving his theory once more.

[Sam Crawford]

Pete, I'm not sure what you mean by a "safer society", but gun ownership, and the ability (although extremely rarely necessary) to use devastating and immediate force in a life-threatening situation is certainly a reasonable right to exercise. It's also fun to go out to some remote area and blow up things, although the novelty wears off quickly. My paper targets have silhouette of Bin Laden. I hope people don't think less of me because of that.

[Able Baker]

How does a hack writer like Pete Thomas or George (Red) Skelton get hired by a legitimate newspaper? Now that's a story I would like to read.

[Mike]

Are we safer? Not really. NRA members like to say things like, "criminals are deterred because they have to think if the house they are going to break into has an armed owner". The reality is that Americans have never owned so many guns and crime is still rampant.

Restrictive firearm laws help reduce crime but the NRA will never admit it. States like New York have gun crime because the guns are imported from states like West Virginia and Texas. Their ridiculous laws allow people to buy firearms without a background check from "gun enthusiats" at gun shows. If every state had the same restrictive laws guns less weapons would be available for criminals.

I have never, ever understood why the NRA doesn't help clean up the image of gun owners by supporting common sense laws that would allow the sale of guns to qualified owners but make it incredibly hard for criminals to buy one. This whole "They want your guns" mentality is why so many weapons are available for unqualified owners and criminals to misuse every year.