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Texans Stock Up on Guns Following Election Worries about government crackdown spark "run on guns"

By  SCOTT GORDON

Updated 11:26 PM CDT, Wed, Nov 5, 2008

Related Topics: Barack Obama | DeWayne Irwin

34 Comments   Post a comment Post a Comment

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A gun store manager in Fort Worth says sales have skyrocketed since the presidential election.

 

Texas gun stores reported a huge surge in sales following the presidential election.

Gun Store Owner Sees Post-Election "Run on Guns"

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Texas gun stores report a huge surge in sales following the presidential election.

"It's incredible," said DeWayne Irwin, president of Cheaper Than Dirt, a Fort Worth gun shop.

On Wednesday, the day after Sen. Barack Obama was elected president, sales topped $100,000 -- a record.

Irwin said employees are having a hard time keeping the shelves stocked, and prices on some models have shot up $200 almost overnight.

"It's a run on guns for the simple fact that Obama did win," Irwin said. "And people perceive him as a Democrat, a liberal. (They think) 'They're going to come get our guns.'"

"That's the reason I'm here," said customer James McIntosh, of North Richland Hills. "Everybody is freaking out, worried about what will happen."

Obama's official Web site says he supports the Second Amendment rights of gun owners, but adds he also favors "common-sense" restrictions, such as making guns childproof and better tracking of guns sold at gun shows.

Obama also supports making the now-expired ban on assault weapons permanent.

"Such weapons belong on foreign battlefields and not on our streets," Obama's Web site says.

Irwin, the gun store president, now sells assault weapons.

"It's good for business now, but I foresee in the future we are going to have to change our business because we won't be able to sell these," Irwin said, pointing to a number of assault rifles on the wall.

He said gun sales first started shooting up a few weeks ago when it appeared likely Obama would win.

Cheaper Than Dirt sold a million dollars in guns in October, more than double the normal amount, Irwin said.

Comments (34)

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  • John Livingston Wednesday, Nov 12 at 10:33 PM FLAG COMMENT Obama taking our guns probably originates from the same people who say he is a muslim and will be working with muslims to take our country down. So why would his first staff hire be a Jew, Rahm Emmanuel, who spent 3 years in the Israeli army during the early 90's and his dad was in the underground Jewish resistance in Israel fighting the Palestinians.
  • 9mmGlockonr Friday, Nov 7 at 10:26 PM FLAG COMMENT Hey sister 123, read Professor Gary Klecks research on gun ownership. Get a real education on the issue of firearm ownership.
  • Anonymous Thursday, Nov 6 at 9:32 PM FLAG COMMENT There is a really good reason why the right to bear arms was very specifically stated as a Right. This was done by people who have experienced oppression FIRST HAND. Listen to those who have first hand experience of oppression!!! They wanted to make sure we were never oppressed again. That is why the Right to Bear Arms was specifically stated as an American Right!!!
  • Anonymous Thursday, Nov 6 at 9:30 PM FLAG COMMENT I am all for stocking up. Obama said he would ban them so I am stocking up on anything i will need before the great gun grab. I like to shoot as a hobby, its just common sense. If anyone else's hobby was about to get banned I can assure you they would be stocking up
  • Anonymous Thursday, Nov 6 at 9:24 PM FLAG COMMENT Z Adams and ferretray...THANK YOU for your comments...my sentiments EXACTLY..THANK YOU

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