AR-15 gun sales continue to spike after shootings

(CBS News) The Newtown shootings and Monday's ambush in Webster, N.Y., have fueled the debate over gun control.

While that debate intensifies, something else is spiking: Gun sales.

At gun shows across the nation this past weekend people stood in line hoping to get their hands on an AR-15, the military-style rifle used in the Newtown Connecticut school shooting.

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There's been a run on AR-15s at gun stores, too.

"I normally sell about 15-20 a month. I've sold about 30 in the last three days," said Rick Friedman, who owns RTSP in Randolph, N.J.

The reason, he says, is clear: "Because people want to make sure they can own them legally before they get the right taken away."

The White House said after the Newtown shooting that President Barack Obama supports a ban on assault weapons proposed by California Democratic Sen. Diane Feinstein. Getting it through Congress quickly is highly unlikely, but the mere mention of a ban is enough to send sales soaring. And it's not just guns.

Brownells, the world's largest firearms supplier, says it recently sold more than three-and-a-half years worth of AR-15 magazines in three days.

Even before Newtown, sales of guns and ammunition this year were surging.

FBI background checks of potential gun buyers were up 31 percent in November 2012 over 2011.

Chuck Nesby, an instructor at Nova Firearms in Falls Church, Va., said they nearly sold out of AR-15s and high-capacity magazines after the shooting in Newtown.

/ CBS News

In a report issued prior to Newtown, the market research firm IbisWorld, which tracks the gun industry, found "Gun enthusiasts are working themselves into a frenzy over what another four years under the Obama administration may hold for gun laws."

Chuck Nesby is an instructor at Nova Firearms in Falls Church, Va., where they nearly sold out of AR-15s and high-capacity magazines after the Newtown shooting.

"If I could, I would give Sen. Feinstein and the president 'Salesmen of the Year' awards," he said.

Sen. Feinstein plans to introduce her bill to ban the sale or manufacturer of assault weapons on the first day of the new Congress in January. That's expected to trigger yet another boost in gun sales.

[tsafa1]

The purpose of the Second Amendment is to arm people in order to prevent future tyranny. They need the tools to do this.

The term "Well Regulated" in the Second Amendment meant "Well Manned and Equipped " in 1791 as was determined in the 1939 United States v. Miller case after referencing the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. The concept of Government Regulation, as we understand it today, did not exist at the time.

United States v. Miller also determined that the term "Arms" refers to "Ordinary Military Weapons" (not crew operated). American Citizens have the right to Keep and Bear, which means Own and Carry, any weapons that a soldier carries into battle. That includes past, present and future weapons. A Militia consisted of armed volunteers willing to fight with their personal arms and not under government control.

To limit the Second Amendment to muskets would be the equivalent of limiting the First Amendment to writings in quill pens.

Liberty is worth the risk of death!

[Brownjessea]

Sheep, Wolves And Sheepdogs
By Tom Burnett
Adapted from 'On Combat' - Grossman/Christensen
5-8-11

Most of the people in our society are sheep. We may be in the most violent times in history but, [in America,] violence is still remarkable rare. This is because most citizens are kind, decent people who are not capable of hurting each other except by accident or under extreme provocation. They are sheep.

I mean nothing negative by calling them sheep. To me it is like the pretty, blue robin's egg. Inside it is soft and gooey but someday it will grow into something wonderful. But the egg cannot survive without it's hard blue shell. Police officers, soldiers and warriors are like that shell, and someday the civilization they protect will grow into something wonderful. For now, though, citizens still need warriors to protect them from predators.

Then there are wolves - and the wolves feed on the sheep without mercy. Do you believe there are wolves out there who will feed on the flock without mercy? You better believe it. There are evil men in this world and they are capable of evil deeds. The moment you forget that or pretend it's not so, you become a sheep. There is no safety in denial.

Then there are sheepdogs. I'm a sheepdog. I live to protect the flock and confront the wolf. If you have no capacity for violence then you are a healthy and productive citizen: a sheep. If you have a capacity for violence and no empathy for your fellow citizens, then you have defined an aggressive sociopath: a wolf. But what if you have a capacity for violence, and a deep love for your fellow citizens? Then you are a sheepdog. You will walk into the heart of darkness, into the universal human phobia, and walk out unscathed. You have chosen the Way of the Warrior.

Let me expand on the model of sheep, wolves and sheepdogs. We know that the sheep live in denial; that is what makes them sheep. They do not want to believe that there is evil in the world. They can accept the fact that fires can happen, which is why they want fire extinguishers, fire sprinklers, fire alarms and fire exist throughout their kids' schools. but many of them are outraged at the idea of putting an armed police officer in their kid's school. Out children are [thousands] of times more likely to be seriously injured, by school violence than by school fires, but the sheep's only response to the possibility of violence is denial. The idea of someone coming to kill or harm their children is just too hard to contemplate; so they choose the path of denial.

The sheep generally do not like the sheepdog. He looks a lot like the wolf. He has fangs and the capacity for violence. The difference, though, is that the sheepdog must not, cannot and will not ever harm the sheep. Still, the sheepdog disturbs the sheep. He is a constant reminder that there are wolves in the land. They would prefer he didn't go around armed at all. The sheep would much rather have the sheepdog cash in his fangs, spray paint himself white and go "Baaa". Until the wolf shows up. Then the entire flock trues desperately to hide behind the sheepdog. Sheep have two speeds. 'Graze' and 'stampede' and 98% of them are prey items for wolves. Sheepdogs are benign creatures, but they have a job. They have no choice but to do it.

But a sheepdog is a funny critter. He is always sniffing around out on the perimeter, checking the breeze, hunting for things that go 'bump' in the night, and yearning for a righteous battle. That is, the young sheepdogs yearn for a righteous battle. The old sheepdogs are a little older and wiser, but they move to the sound of the guns when needed, right along with the young ones.

Here is how the sheep and the sheepdog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the sheepdog lives for that day. After 9/11 most Americans said "Thank God I wasn't on one of those planes". The sheepdogs, the warriors, said "I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference". Another Tom Burnett was on United flight 93. He made a difference. His last words over the phone were "Let's roll." That plane didn't make it to it's target. He was 38 years old and married. He, and many of his fellow passengers, were warriors.

*******************************************

Do you think people like John Wayne Gacy or Ted Bundy don't live near you? They do. There are at least thirty serial killers at large in the United States at any given time and probably many more than that. There are four million sociopaths who will kill you for driving too slow - or two fast - or for no reason at all. If they will shoot at armed police officers, sheep stand no chance.

[tsafa1]

Great Post. Only one of two things happen to sheep. They are either eaten by wolves or end up on the farmers dinner plate.

[tiger_forlife]

Right on.Owning a AR-15 for home protection or going to the gun range or hunting is part of our 2nd Amendment right and our God given right to protect yourself and others.Its also a hobby, gun ownership ,for many people.Senator Feinstein and the President should get Saleswoman and Salesman of the year awards.The President because he announced he would do something and Senator Feinstein by saying she will propose in the New Year another gun ban.Now AR-15's are selling like hotcakes and the high capacity magazines also.Its great for the Gun Industry and shows that the 100 million gun owners don't want anymore bans or gun control laws.And that gun owners support the 2nd Amendment.The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

[Witness-Toitall]

If you need an AR15 to "protect yourself and others", what you really need is a second job so you can move your family to a safer neighborhood. Only an idiot would endure a domestic living situation that required military weaponry!

It is this OMG!!!! OVERTOP!!! BREATHLESS!!! demeanor of gun fetishists that concerns the country. The population is aging. Crime is down. Get a life.

[TimeToEvolve]

These ******* yahoos think their little AR-15 cap guns are going to protect themselves against the wackos in the military. What a sad sick joke. What are these gun freaks smoking? Do they realize even anything about reality? I doubt most of these people even understand the second amendment? I sincerely doubt it.

[tmckjc]

you are a freekin idiot.....

[gracescalia]

Well, at least the President and that old hag Feinstein will be happy that ONE industry is paying more in Federal Taxes so that the two of them can line their pockets. In FACT, it is probably true that it was one of the LARGEST "Christmas-rush" sales in HISTORY--and it had NOTHING to do with toys.

What REALLY FRIGHTENS the president is that *IF* we go over the fiscal cliff, then 1) everybody's taxes will go UP (if you earn over 50K per year, then you'll pay an extra $2,550/year in *CLINTON* era taxes [remember "pay your fair share?" Yeah, right,...] and 2) when this BLOATED Obamacare scheme comes into effect, everybody's taxes go up YET AGAIN--either $800 per un-insured person, or 10% of the *total* household income--whichever is HIGHEST. Along with a "debt" ceiling just announced to be coming FASTER than first thought by the Treasury Secretary, leads to 3) *RETRACTED* spending, and a QUICKLY declining economy. Add to that the blizzard hitting the East coast today and the DOWNTURN in sales this year, along with non-sales of even reduced priced goods, the Democrats are in a BAD WAY.

Nice going, Obamaheads. Too, realize THIS: historically, the SITTING PRESIDENT takes the BLAME for economic downturns--PERIOD. To quote Bill Clinton: "Its the economy, stupid!" The entire Democratic party will be scrambling for cover and finger-pointing "the Republicans didn't cooperate to bring back a REPUBLICAN (G.W. Bush's tax breaks, no less) tax break!

When you sit down with your tax preparer and add up ALL these new taxes next year, Democrats, understand that YOU did this to YOURSELF, and only your enemy Republicans will watch you spiral down-and-out of national office so that THEY can reclaim more seats in the House and Senate, as well as ATTACK the Democrats for their fiscal record in the next presidential election. And, the Republicans will be CORRECT with their fiscal data.

[Circa53]

The Greatest gun salesmen in history barry hussein and holder..Why no media coverage that afros commit the majority of murders and have turned American cities into hellholes?..

[gracescalia]

That's because they don't GET permits, fool. They simply take the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of guns already ON the street (either stolen or bought from gangs, or, ever increasingly, drug cartels). Only honest people bother to get gun permits.

[harv823]

NRA= Noxious Rifle Addicts

[Candlemas7]

LET US NOT TAKE THE PATH OF FEAR, ANGER OR HATE. We will be the agents of our own destruction and loss of what we hold dear.
Those who hold guns arguing that they do it for security and for freedom, have taken away security and freedom from our communities, our nation and ironically, destroy their own lives at the end.

[gracescalia]

Yeah, Pol Pot and Hitler said the SAME THING when they CONFISCATED the guns of their citizens--so SHOVE IT.

[gracescalia]

Yeah, Pol Pot and Hitler said the SAME THING when they CONFISCATED the guns of their citizens--so SHOVE IT.

[Brownjessea]

I don't want to bash anyone, only state a fact. There is no country in the history of time where guns are banned and the people are truly free. Do your homework and use common sense.

[TimeToEvolve]

It's OK, when these are outlawed all those weapons will become illegal and subject to confiscation. All that money spent out the window right in to the coffers of the greedy arms manufacturers. Easy come easy go I guess.

[Brownjessea]

yeah, that'll never happen!!!!

[BigMykul]

by waynenipper December 25, 2012 7:34 PM EST
Simply outlaw ownership and make it illegal to own these weapons ... by the public. Turn them all in or be fined.
-------------------------------------------------------------
first: some will turn their guns in.
second: door to door searches for those who will not.
third: appointing block wardens to spy on their neighbors in case they have a gun.
fourth: byebye to the 1st Admendment with others to follow.

But, that pesky 2nd Admendment.

[cubscout09]

That 4th Amendment was fueled by the practice of billeting British troops in the homes of American colonists. My ancestors billeted the largest contingent of British Troops in North America in their homes. (Freetown, Massachusetts)
1) My ancestors operated as Minutemen(Massachusetts Militia), right under the noses of the British occupiers.
2) The Freetown Militias' muskets were lawfully kept in the Bristol Armory.
3) The Freetown Minutemen seized 50 muskets from the home of Colonel Gilbert, who was operating an unlawful militia, one full week before Lexington and Concord.

You might be misunderstanding the intent of the 2nd and 4th Amendments.

[Brownjessea]

fifth: form dictatorship and rule with iron fist!

You're not the sharpest crayon in the box!