Gun sales surge after Colorado movie massacre
Anticipation of new gun-control legislation, motivated by recent Batman shootings, pushes firearm sales to record highs.
Firearms sales are surging after last week’s Colorado theater massacre as buyers fear that politicians may use the shootings to seek new restrictions on owning weapons.
In the US state of Colorado, where Friday’s shooting killed 12 and injured dozens, gun sales jumped in the three days that followed, according to reports released on Wednesday.
The report added that the state approved background checks for 2,887 people who wanted to purchase a firearm, 25 per cent more than the average Friday to Sunday period in 2012, and 43 per cent more than the same interval the week prior.
Dick Rutan, owner of Gunners Den in Arvada, Colorado, 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.
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, has not passed strict legislation in more than a decade, and leaders in Washington show no sign of bringing up such measures any time soon.
National trend
Day-to-day gun sales frequently fluctuate, but the numbers look strong outside of Colorado, too.
Seattle’s home county, King, saw nearly twice as many requests for concealed pistol licenses than the same time frame a year ago. Florida recorded 2,386 background checks on Friday, up 14 per cent from the week before.
Oregon sales on Friday and Saturday were up 11 per cent over the month before. Four days of checks in California were up 10 per cent 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 Georgia, found that his sales on Saturday were up 300 per cent 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. The Second Amendment to the US Constitution guarantees the right to bear arms.
FBI figures
Authorities have said the suspected Colorado shooter, James Holmes, 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.
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.
Nationally, the shootings have triggered a fierce debate over gun control and whether government has a role in reining in the ownership of firearms.
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 US Representative Gabrielle Giffords in 2011.