Duke has noticed that people seem to be in a gun-buyin' mood these days. He can't figure why, either.
In addition to the packed Indy 1500, another data point is that when I was down at Coal Creek Armory earlier in the month, their parking lot was slap full up, with people parked up on the grass, and it was that way the whole time I was there, pretty much from open to close, weekend or weekday, and all ten lanes were going on the range. Never seen the like. I mean, back when I was working there "Look, they're parked on the grass!" signified a really big busy day. Now it just means they're open.
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Couple data points from my neck of the woods....
Last two guns shows I went to were busy. Not packed full, but busy with a LOT more sales than I'm used to seeing.
My last few trips to 'Major Gun Shop In The Area' saw people lined up at the register, most of them carrying some form of shooting iron, and holding wads of cash. The same shop has cleared floor space for stacks of cased ammunition (Most major flavors), which are also being wheeled to the register.
Monday I did the monthly gun club meeting, and no less than 30 new members were going through safety orientation. That's roughly five times the number I have seen in meetings I have attended before. I asked around, and the most every meeting the last year was pretty much the same thing.
Carteach0,
Yup, when Bobbi and I joined MCF&G last year, there were a good thirty people signing up. The club officers said the same thing.
Assuming that people aren't arming up because they've gotten wind that the zombie apocalypse is right 'round the corner, I have to wonder just WHY they are arming up. Is it because they think that widespread societal unrest is coming (Occupy Wall Street ---> Occupy My House)?
Or do they fear that Barry will appoint a czar who'll draft an order revoking the 2A and they want to "git it while the gittin's good"? If so, what do they plan to do if Barry and the Boys take the next step, i.e. start confiscating? Do they realize that they may well be plowing lots of cash into something that they shall either have to meekly hand over to be melted down... or else risk prison or death to keep?
Or is this just a fad, and guns are the hula hoops or Members Only jackets of the 2010's?
I think it's Michael Bane's gun culture 2.0 expanding out of the infrastructure built for 1.0. More people with guns on their mind, with the same number of shops and ranges.
Funny you should mention this, the last couple of times i went by my local sporting goods stores the gun counters were all far busier than what used to be normal.
Of course I am making a shopping list of things to pick up too. I am running a little light on .22 and Cabela's has all their steel shotshells 10% off (investment for next duck season) and I am toying with picking up a case of shotshells for the boy's shotgun for summer practice at the sporting clay range.
Its been going on for some time. I had 21 students in my "Basic Pistol" (think new shooters) class last weekend and another class tomorrow. I usually teach it once a month.
I had 11 in CCH class, again a bit above normal.
Remember the .380 ammo shortage with the LCP and P3-AT flying off the shelves? That was what, two years ago?
At last month's off-brand show(60% same exhibitors/different promoter) the line at the 5pm opener on friday night was 50 yards out the door, three deep. Last weeks show I arrived at 4:55 and got right in. 100 easily inside, and the show wasn't offically open yet. I bought on my first pass by a table and I wasn't the first buyer they had. Another show this weekend, in the same part of the state. Usually they spread out across Iowa. And at my local gun store someone is usually buying when I drop in for ammo.
Aside from the prospect of bans and/or inflation, a number of people (myself included) see gun purchases as a way of warning the Feds that they are REALLY pissing people off. The rattlesnake is buzzing...
At this point, the 'why' doesn't interest me. What interests me is that they are and each of these people are purchasing small chunks of plastic and metal liberty.
Especially with the new shooters, I want to reach out to these people and remind them that they could lose that object just as easily as they purchased it. It's a 'tax stamp' / .25" / .2oz away from being illegal. All it takes is one politician to push some minor law that makes it impossible for them to use their shiny new purchase.
Once they've gotten a taste of that old fashioned, 2A liberty, it's easier to get them to understand how bad things really are and get them to trade in the shirt & tie for some of Kashyyyk's finest.
As the numbers grow I cheer every single one. Welcome to freedom.
My discussions with new shooters seem to indicate this is less a bowcaster thing, and more a face colander thing.
I think it's because that after 4-5-6-100 years of Propaganda from the Politicians and their Media Wing, SOME people are reading between the lines and saying, "Well, just in case things get worse than they are, it might be good to have a Gun or 2 around."
We had more new shooters at our IDPA and carbine matches as well.
Folks who purchased pistols are applying for CCW at an increased rate here in KY.
This is a good thing.
Gerry
Robb,
I does make it hard to listen to propaganda about "evil gun owners" when you are one now. :)
Robb Allen and SBG,
Well said!
My local gun club typically gets 5-8 new members a month. Our January meeting? I'm guessing about 50...people parked on the streets, the next lot over, etc. all braving the slick lot to get into the building...it was a bit of a mess. There was no general consensus about WHY so many chose that night to show up, but a few mentioned getting new guns for Christmas and such. So much for the Brady attempt to claim that it was fewer people buying more guns...
There aren't many retail businesses in Metro Detroit that are exactly hopping...but all gun stores I've stepped into in the past 3 months had all counter staff busy.
Even Mountain of Goose's hunting-guns-counter made me wait five minutes to talk to a guy. In January, after most hunting seasons were over and after most Christmas-shopping-for-guns was over.
H&H, the big indoor range in OKC, has been busy all day for the last few years; weekends... you'd better plan on being on the waiting list for a lane. Same most evenings, and that's not counting people there to buy.
Get a federal holiday during the week, it's busy open to close; I got there Monday about 0945 and had to wait for a lane; still backed up when I left.
And yes, I did like the thought of so many people- both sexes and various colors- at the range on a day marking a guy who was turned down for a carry permit because he was black.
Guns may be the first "bubble-proof" sector of the economy.
It is simply the best investment right now for your dollar. The value goes up consistently and they are incredibly good at deterring nefarious folk from roaming your premises.
Docjim505 said " If so, what do they plan to do if Barry and the Boys take the next step, i.e. start confiscating? Do they realize that they may well be plowing lots of cash into something that they shall either have to meekly hand over to be melted down... or else risk prison or death to keep?"
I think you've grasped the essence of the Second Amendment right there Doc! Notice it says not a word about hunting, collecting, target shooting, concealed carry, self-defense. It takes about a "free state" and it retains for the people the right to withdraw their consent to be governed from a government which is oppressive.
There will be very little "meekly hand over" and a lot of folks will be willing to fight for something worth keeping...if enough of it is left.
There will be very little "meekly hand over"...
There will be a whole lot of "I want to report that somebody broke into my car and stole all my guns."
Just my prediction...
There are a lot of unspoken fears and angst out there. Whether they'll admit to it or not, an lot of Americans are getting nervous about the economy. Guns aren't the only thing selling. So is silver. Even though the official "spot" price of silver is around $30, you can touch bullion silver on eBay for less than $35 per ounce. Many coins dealers are having trouble keeping pre-1965 "junk" silver coins in stock
The Greek Debt deadline on March 15th is looming. If there are stock meltdowns, bank runs, and currency devaluations, then there are sure to be riots. And those riots won't be restricted to just Greek cities.
We are becoming a nation of preppers.
I guess I will point out the 800,000 pound gorilla in the room...
Wal-Mart has started selling guns again. My local store has not carried firearms for several years (I believe that was the trend across the US)and the just brought them back a few months ago.
I know Wal-Mart was offering Black Friday sales on some guns. That might explain the record number of NICS on the day.
At least on Black Friday I think it has less to do with fear and more to do with being broke.
I'm one of those new gun owners. Why did I join the club? Simply put shooting is fun.
A perk of picking up shooting sports as a hobby, is that I will be prepared if all hell breaks loose.
Mad Saint Jack; Our local Wal-mart never stopped selling them. What is interesting though is how there are now Sig Sauer and Bushmaster ARs sitting in their cases as well as the standard bolt-action Fudd-guns. Plus now I can go down the road to Fleet Farm and get a bunch of 30 round PMags to feed them.
This tells me that there's not just an increase in participation in shooting sports and the recreation aspect, but also the second half of my lovely girlfriends above comment, in where there's a massive increase in the interest and sales of effective defensive arms.
I have a hard time getting a lane at the range, it's booked up solid all the time.
This may be the first nibble of evidence of an improving economy. People who have been scraping by through the sales boom of recent years are finally getting enough cash to buy again. Given the unsettled domestic and international situations, guns and ammo are high on the list of purchases people have been postponing. Think of it as a leading economic indicator.
I'm thinking about replacing that pistol I sold a while back when I needed to put food on the table.
Same thing down here at my dealer, and the others in the NOVA seem to be busy all the time too!
Thinking slightly long-term, what about all these new gun owners bumping their noses against the glass walls that the us "old-time" CCH'ers have had to put up with for the last few years.
"What do you mean, I bought it but I can't carry it?" "How come I can carry THIS gun but not THAT one?" "How come I can carry my gun HERE, but not over THERE?"
A whole new group of people asking some tough questions of the politicos.
Well speaking for myself, I kind of busted out recently too. 3 new (to me) pieces and a bucketload of accessories.
I'm really a semiauto pistol guy but what should have appeared in the last week but a Model of 1905 that looks like something John Marston would have handled. Good thing I like that well-loved look, and sweet lord what a trigger. Can't keep my hands off of it and I swore I'd never like revolvers. I can still truthfully say I'm an M&P guy though. :)
Somethin's in the air, maybe the recent, frequent flashes of true colors from the WH have people all wookied up, but for me I'd really just been holding off on cool purchases and I couldn't take it no more.
I'm on the local Grand Jury with eighteen other geezers, about half of them female.
A lot of them have asked me about how to get into shooting. One grandma asked me to teach her, but I think she was flirting.
I've not asked why but I get the 'fire extinguisher' vibe.
All I can say is that Cabela's started their gun sale today and there was over an hour's wait at the gun counter with more showing up all the time.
Prices weren't too bad, but I'd rather pay an extra $50 and support my local shop.
It occurs to me that there have been three runs on guns in recent memory, occurring during the reigns of Jimmah, Bubba, and BO...
Right or wrong, all were/are regarded as Salesman of the Decade for gun sellers. Real or perceived shortages and restrictions created demand where there was none, boosting profits and ironically adding huge numbers of shootin' irons to the arsenal of the militia.
And talk about your ironies; it makes one wonder as to the conflicts of business, politics and loyalty within the industry itself.
Tam, word at SHOT Show was that businesses attending had done more volume by the close of Tuesday this year than they had the entire four days last year.
Just another data point...
Ahem.
"Slap Full Up?"
Are you trying to invent new words and phrases again, you tursey gun-vixen? ;)
Down here in Texas, with the crack down on drug running, human trafficing and the lack of jobs for illegals in housing and the support industries, we are seeing a notable uptick in home invasions and car theft.
The local range is now packed on most weekends and some work days to the point you have to wait for a lane. I have not seen that in 25 years of going to the same range.
My take is that folks that would not normally own a gun, recognize that the situation is at a tipping point and we could easily slip over to a much more lawless period than has been seen in modern times.
Just today I am taking a co-worker out to teach him and his wife how to shoot a 38 revolver. I never expected that they would buy one but he got attacked walking the dog and now is wanting to get a CHL after he learns how to shoot properly.
up here in the soviet republic of illinois, my favorite gun shop is getting ready to double in size. and they were already on of the biggest gun stores i've ever been in.
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