Gun sale background checks spike after Aurora

Randy Hodges holds a firearm at the Gun Vault in High Point N.C., July 23, 2012. / Sonny Hedgecock,AP Photo/The Enterprise

(AP) DENVER - Firearms sales are surging in the wake of the Colorado movie theater massacre as buyers express fears that anti-gun politicians may use the shootings to seek new restrictions on owning weapons.

In Colorado, the site of Friday's shooting that killed 12 and injured dozens of others, gun sales jumped in the three days that followed. The state approved background checks for 2,887 people who wanted to purchase a firearm — 25 percent more than the average Friday to Sunday period in 2012 and 43 percent more than the same interval the week prior.

Special section: Colorado Movie Theater Massacre

Dick Rutan, owner of Gunners Den in suburban Arvada, Colo., said requests for concealed-weapon training certification "are off the hook." His four-hour course in gun safety, required for certification for a concealed-weapons permit in Colorado, has drawn double the interest since Friday.

"What they're saying is: They want to have a chance. They want to have the ability to protect themselves and their families if they are in a situation like what happened in the movie theater," Rutan said.

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Day-to-day gun sales frequently fluctuate, but the numbers also look strong outside of Colorado, too.

Seattle's home county, King, saw nearly twice as many requests for concealed pistol licenses than the same timeframe a year ago. Florida recorded 2,386 background checks on Friday, up 14 percent from the week before. Oregon sales on Friday and Saturday were up 11 percent over the month prior. Four days of checks in California were up 10 percent month-to-month.

During the past decade, June and July have consistently been the slowest months for gun sales, according to FBI data.

Jay Wallace, who owns Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, Ga., found that his sales on Saturday were up 300 percent from the same day a year ago — making it one of the best Saturdays his business has ever had. He said customers are often afraid when there's a gun-related tragedy that some lawmakers might try and push through an anti-gun agenda.

"We shouldn't let one sick individual make us forget and lose sight of freedoms in this country," Wallace said.

Authorities have said that the suspected Colorado shooter, James Holmes, methodically stockpiled weapons and explosives at work and home in recent months. He purchased thousands of rounds of ammunition and a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle and two Glock pistols, authorities said.

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Shooting rampage in Colo. theater

On Friday, clad in head-to-toe combat gear, he burst into a midnight showing of "The Dark Knight Rises," tossed gas canisters into the crowd and opened fire. The shooting killed 12 people and wounded dozens of others.

Police in the Denver suburb of Aurora say Holmes also booby-trapped his apartment. Holmes is now in solitary confinement at a local jail.

The rise in gun sales reflects but one of the anxieties created by the shootings. Since the massacre, there have been reports of chaos at movie theaters, apparently sparked by misunderstandings or careless words.

A confrontation with an intoxicated man in an Arizona theater caused about 50 people to flee, authorities said. A southern California man was arrested after authorities say he made allusions to the Aurora massacre after the movie didn't start on time. In New Jersey, a showing of "Batman" was canceled after someone stood up during the movie, opened an emergency exit and then returned to their seat.

About 90 minutes into a Monday night showing of "Batman" in Santa Monica, Calif., shrieks from some girls sent about two dozen people sprinting for the exit. It turned out that a large man with a backpack was actually not a threat and was simply having a medical problem.

"This was nothing, and yet it startled us and rattled us so much," said moviegoer Paria Sadighi.

Nationally, the shootings have triggered a fierce debate over gun control and whether government has a role in reining in the ownership of firearms.

Gun sales often fluctuate based on news events, especially whenever people think the passage of more restrictive gun laws is imminent. Sales spiked following the election of President Barack Obama, when weapons enthusiasts expressed fear that the Democrat might curtail gun rights. FBI figures also show background checks for handgun sales jumped in Arizona following the shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in 2011.

"It's not uncommon for us to see spikes in requests for concealed pistol licenses when there's a significant gun-related tragedy," said Sgt. Cindi West of the King County sheriff's office in Washington state.

Some Democratic lawmakers in Congress cited the shooting as evidence of the need for tougher gun control laws — particularly a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines. Congress, however, hasn't passed strict legislation in more than a decade, and leaders in Washington show no sign of bringing up such measures any time soon.

[TiffanyinTexas]

I prefer some chance of defending myself rather than waiting on the killer to shoot my three children.

"When seconds count...the police are only minutes away"

[Donovan1966]

Cool- I'm really glad that gun shops are profiting from the mass shooting. Remind me never to go to Colorado

[jnostromo]

There is nothing wrong with owning a handgun or hunting rifle..the problem is owning weapons that should only belong to the military or law enforcement such as assault rifles, gas masks, bulletproof vests, grenades...A lot of people failed to notice or question the actions of this piece of garbage before his rampage...

[finkfurst4]

Why would you want to own a handgun? It has no other purpose than killing people... and PLEASE don't come out with the usual silly NRA line about killing rattlesnakes and rabid dogs!

[finkfurst4]

newster90210 - Do you have any children?

[whozwat]

Democracy doesn't work in the gun control debate. Poll after poll indicates that the majority of Americans want stronger gun control laws. Even gun owners want tougher measures to screen out incompetent, malevolent and insane gun purchasers. However it seems every measure to control gun ownership is met with ferocious NRA-fueled extreme resistance usually claiming to defend the 2nd amendment. Despite the will of the people, politicians won't enact reasonable gun control legislation for fear of offending the loud and wealthy gun lobby.

There must be an out of the box approach to try to resolve issues before they turn into crises. The majority of Americans that favor gun control must unite and take charge of the gun debate. Action doesn't require legislation; it can be as simple creating a system to help identify and report changes in a person's behavioral that are a precursor to violence. Funding a website and a hotline to report problems could help family, friends or coworkers find the right resources to help a troubled person and reduce the chance of a violent event. With consistent unified public action, NRA second amendment absolutism should yield to a position of responsible gun ownership and we'll get our representative government back.

[Sp60]

BS. Fewer American want 'gun control' than at any time in US history. Look at the latest Gallup polling.

Gun control is a failed and dangerous doctrine, and Americans are recognizing that fact.

For example, you can trace the last 20 years of school shootings and mass murders to a single 'gun control' idea.

Mainly the delusional concept of the 'gun free zone'.

If a single armed citizen had been allowed in that theater, the people in there might have had a chance.

But because some faceless administrator decided to make this building a 'gun free zone', these people were doomed as soon as the first shot was fired.

[audemus]

Sp60....IF the majority of Americans are no longer in favor of gun restriction, it's because thanks to NRA types and bought-and-paid-for politicians, the United States has become one of the most ( in some statistical studies THE most ), dangerous places to live on the face of the earth. If the main weapon of murder is a gun, and I can easily lay my hands on one LEGALLY, that's the formula for catastrophe and mass-murder on a grand scale. No one else is as "good" at it as is the United States. You can thank the nut-jobs in the NRA and the chicken s--t politicians.....this is NOT a good thing Sp60.

[finkfurst4]

What America needs is a principled and courageous politician to get this debate out in the open and discussed in a rational and serious way.

Is there any such politician in America?

[finkfurst4]

The problem is that THIS is the level of debate in America......
USAB4Zionism July 25, 2012 6:35 AM EDT - "Lots of scardy cats with small genitalia"

[aviatrixx]

Audemus and qmpash, I agree with you. Had there been even ONE person shooting back, it would have been much worse. There is absolutely no reason to sell automatic assault guns!

[dbmorris00]

That's not what he had, automatic weapon. That requires applications, additional taxes, registration and purchase from specially licensed dealers.

[audemus]

When the next "Shoot-Out at the O.K. Corral" occurs, ( 21st century style ), and a few permit holding, gun toting constitutional "scholars" open up on the crazed killer, or suspected crazed killer, and 20 or 30 God-fearing, tax-paying American citizens get shot to pieces in the crossfire, maybe then the public and the politicians will come to their senses and do what needs to be done....but this being the good ol' U.S. of A. and all, probably not.

Would out-lawing all guns except for those in the hands of the military and police end gun violence in this country ? Of course not...but it would lessen the likelihood of another Columbine, or Aurora, or anymore of the at least 50 other mass-murder shootings that have occurred in the United States since 1982.

If enough pressure was brought to bear on our elected officials to just reinstate the ban on assault-style weapons for starters, ( lobbyists and sleazy politicians be damned ), that much could be done and done right now...when OUR elected officials say that there is just not enough time before the November elections to do that, they're lying to you...what they are really telling you is that they lack the courage necessary to do the right thing...and what that tells me is that they have no business representing the best interests of the American people because clearly they have no idea what that is....and by the way, the fact that organizations like the N.R.A. get to decide for ALL Americans what this nation's laws will be concerning guns is just plain stupid and needs to stop NOW.

The answer is not reverting back to the insanely barbaric days of the old West when it was every man for himself...to do that is admitting defeat and throwing in the towel. Surely there are enough thoughtful, intelligent men and women in this country to effectively address this issue and to begin the now mandatory process of correcting this nightmare....if there's not, then we're all in trouble, even the sleazy politicians and the N.R.A.

[finkfurst4]

"Surely there are enough thoughtful, intelligent men and women in this country to effectively address this issue..."

THAT is your problem!

[audemus]

Sadly, I think I have to agree with you if by your comment you mean thoughtful, intelligent men and women are hard to come by...but I know they're out there, somewhere.

[finkfurst4]

Thank you, Well_You_Aint_Me! What this debate needed was an intelligent person like you to give us all your excellent examples of armed citizens saving others. I was starting to think that guns are a problem, not a solution. You have proved that I was SO wrong!
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Well_You_Aint_Me July 25, 2012 8:25 AM EDT
You're just an idiot.
Maybe you should go and check out how/when an armed citizen saved themselves or others.
Happens a lot more often that you biased a$$ thinks.

[tsigili]

The people are recognizing that the government wants to become a dictatorship, and they are preparing for that eventuality.

[mecury69]

Nope. More like simpletons clutching their guns and bibles when they get scared. Gun nuts are really insecure pu**ies who need weapons to fulfill their other inadequacies.

[varigdc10]

Wow, this is really cool, the American way. Let's all go to the movies gunned up, we'll just turn in our holsters at the door and pick them up after the movie, like in the good old days. I think Wyatt Earp and Doc Holiday will make rounds around the neighborhood to make sure everything is OK.

[finkfurst4]

What an excellent idea! If everyone goes to the movies all gunned up, then you can have your very own shoot-out in the theatre, and then you don't even need the movie!