Gun industry sees spike in sales (Obama "stimulus" bill may include firearms resticti

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Gun industry sees spike in sales (Obama “stimulus” bill may include firearms restictions/ammo taxes)
Capital News 9 ^ | January 6, 2009 | Dave Detling
Posted on January 6, 2009 2:09:51 AM

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Vic Scuderi is loaded with weaponry. His booth is stocked full of customers who are looking to wipe out his arsenal of firearms. It’s business he won’t shoot down.

“I’ve probably seen a 25 percent increase in sales from last year,” said Scuderi.

While the economy may be wounded, gun dealers say sales are exploding at the annual Arms Fair at the City Center in Saratoga Springs.

“This is my best show ever. I’ve sold more ammunition and more magazines than I’ve ever sold, so in that regard it’s been a very good show for me,” said gun dealer Richard Pelzer.

Vendors here in the Spa City aren’t alone. Across the country gun dealers are reporting a huge spike in sales.

Paul Argento noticed the trend back in November.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of people and in fact right after Obama was elected president there was more less a run on the bank. I mean everybody was out running and buying guns and ammunition for fear that he was going to stop everything,” said Argento

It’s rumored, as part of his stimulus package, President-Elect Barak Obama may impose stricter regulations on the gun industry when he takes office.

It would include a tax hike on ammunition and the ban on semiautomatic weapons like hunting rifles.

That fear factor has these enthusiasts gobbling up guns.

“Guns are going out of here too but ammunition seems to be at a premium,” said Pelzer.

“There’s a lot of buzz about prices going up so people are buying now as their budget allows, probably more than they would have in the past,” said gun collector Jeff Germain.

While tax talk and gun control are nothing new, this latest threat just means people will have to hunt around for those killer deals.

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It would include a tax hike on ammunition and the ban on semiautomatic weapons like hunting rifles.

I am going to take a stab in the dark here and say that most hunters (I am not one) do not hunt with “semiautomatic rifles” but rather with bolt actions and shotguns. Maybe I am missing something. Has anyone else seen or heard anything relating his stimulus package to gun regulation? I know I haven’t.

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What is the source of these “rumors?” There’s nothing substantive other than panic buying.

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In specific areas of NY State it is legal to hunt big game with rifles, including autoloaders. Semi’s are very popular there, Saratoga Springs is in such an area.

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I can see them trying to add an amendment to a stimulus package, or some other type of bill that absolutely has to pass. They’ll want to try to sneak it in with something else, under the radar, to avoid a big debate. They’ll look like assholes afterwards, for worrying about gun control while the economy is in the shitter, but by then it will be too late.

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Notice I didn’t say no one hunts with semi autos. Also, most if us know when they say “semi-automatic rifle” what they really mean are military styled weapons. Basically whoever wrote that article made a SNAFU and probably doesn’t know shit from Shinola.

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Yeah, this is the first I’ve heard of anything being in his stimulus. But like Rider said…I could see them trying to sneak it in a bill like this one. But surely the NRA would catch it and get the grassroots campaign going in enough time…I hope.

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Yeah that what I’m thinking- NRA should be able to catch it and cause a rukus. But damn thats so shady, if he does try to pull something like that. Get it passed under the “economic panic”

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I am afraid that they will put in some form of gun ban in a stimulus package that most every person the senate will vote for. :mad:

C4

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Actually, a lot of people hunt using semi-automatic hunting rifles like the Browning BAR. The AR-15 has gain popularity with Varminters. Remember the whole Jim Zumbo debacle was because he made a comment about how they should not allow the use of “terrorist weapons” for hunting (as a reaction to being told at just how popular AR-15 pattern rifles have become for Varminting).

A lot of bird hunters also like to use semi-automatic shotguns like the Benellis and Remington 1100.

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Smells like fear-mongering. I haven’t heard any talk in Congress about anything gun-related, much less gun-related and attached to a yet-undefined “stimulus package”.

-B

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Reporters are more worried about cramming as many gun related cliches (i.e., the first whole sentence "Vic Scuderi is loaded with weaponry. His booth is stocked full of customers who are looking to wipe out his arsenal of firearms. It’s business he won’t shoot down.") in the article to actually do any real research.

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Bottom line: I wouldn’t consider anything below those asshats, so as bills get introduced it’ll be up to the firearms community to keep up to speed and be as vigilant and vocal as possible.

Frankly I’m tired of this “new ban is coming, on noes!” attitude. New legislation may certainly be coming – but legislation isn’t law until it’s passed. We all know Obama and his ilk would like to ban our stuff. So what? Ultimately, they can’t do it unless we let them…

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I thought about this post today- I rescind my initial statement about believing that Obama would do something like that.

He WONT. Why? Because the media has hyped this “economic crisis” to the sky- so naturally the media believing citizens now believe that the US is on the brink of an economic disaster. He needs to pass a stimulus package fast so he needs the support of the GOP and Dems- so by sticking in pet projects (like the ban) will only increase the chances of his bill failing in the House/ Senate.

Not going to happen yet. Like I’ve said before, it will, but only after some of the current events cool off. That may only happen in a year. But by that time, certain members of congress wont want to touch an issue like this because of their own re-election bid coming up by years end. If no asshole shoots something up in the next year I really dont see anything until his 3rd year, and only if things in the US are calm (think of the climate in 93 or 94)

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Please set out exactly how he needs any GOP votes whatsoever? Democrats have majorities in both houses and on January 20th will have the White House.

M_P

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And if I deposit the check, how is anyone going to prove how I spent that “Stimulus” money. Who knows what part is “Stimulus” and what isn’t in my account. The “Stimulus” was spent on food.

So how would they tell what you spent it on? :confused:

You can always rob Peter to pay Paul. :eek:

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I remember a port security bill that very few politicians had the balls to vote against, that involved pretty stringent internet gambling restrictions.

If a stimulus bill that also restricts the 2a does come up, it will no doubt be called the “Prosperity and Liberty Act.” How they get away with this crap is beyond me.

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Unfortunately, we kind of already “let them” by putting certain people into power. If anyone makes fun of California again because of Gov. Schwarzenegger, laugh it up because the new joke is going to be Al Franken in Minnesota. How do you think he feels about guns? If they pull some rotten crap to insert gun control into an economic plan to help all of those beleaguered souls you can bet they will do it, because in the end someone will value that more than our right to own certain types of firearms.

Of course, this is all speculation at this point, but they American public and our politicians have already shown us enough.

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I’ve never quite understood how many people have thought Obama would just sort of hang on for awhile before pushing his anti-gun agenda. This emergency stimulus bill is exactly how to get an otherwise unpalatable agenda passed with a minimum of fuss.

I’m sure everyone here is familiar with the addition of pork to every bill that gets passed in congress. The public isn’t usually even aware of these add-ons to the bills, just what the main bill is. It’s only later that you find out that 7 million dollars was approved for the study of whether or not it takes longer for women to use a public restroom than men. That would never get passed on its own, but attach it to a bill to help inner-city youth in some way and that puppy just flies through congress.

Now attach a few anti-gun riders onto the economic stimulus bill quietly and, BOOM, it’s through before America even knows what hit it. And if the pro-gun dems or republicans make a stink then it will be portrayed that they were against the economic stimulus package, NOT the anti-gun pork associated with it.

Not saying it will go down that way, I’m just saying it very easily could.

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Uhm no. “Sneaking” in legislation would not only NOT work, but would result in considerable fuss. Any future AWB will be stand-alone legislation that would be debated openly, any attempt to end-run around this political reality will result in subsequent Democratic defeat in 2010. Sorry but Democrats aren’t that stupid. They are politicians and the first rule of politics is to get re-elected.

Obama will “hang on” because there are political realities that need to be considered. Sneaking in such legislation would destroy what little political capital he has built with House/Senate Republicans.

Sorry but the democratic process works, often in our favor. Obama isn’t a dictator and he doesn’t get to just wave his hand and create law.

PS. I’d like to hear if anyone can name any piece of anti-gun legislation that was “snuck” into another bill like a stimulus bill to become law.