Gun, ammo sales spike

Reasons cited: Fear of Obama weapons ban, high Tucson crime rate, lagging economy

Even before taking office, President-elect Barack Obama appears to have stimulated one area of the economy — sales of "assault rifles" and ammunition.

Gun sales at a number of local businesses have seen a significant increase since the beginning of November, and shop owners say the rise is due to fear that Obama will impose strict gun laws, reinstate the assault-weapons ban and increase ammunition taxes.

What Tucson-area gun dealers are experiencing is in line with nationwide reports of people rushing to buy assault rifles and ammunition before Obama takes office. Gun shops in Tucson and all over the country are running low on such rifles — often defined as semiautomatic rifles with large-capacity magazines designed for military use — and ammunition, as panicked gun owners rush to buy.

Sitting in his custom-firearms shop on First Avenue, Phil Garbato has seen the businesses around him go under. He said business at Garbato Custom Firearms, 2550 N. First Ave., was terrible during the summer.

Then, beginning with the election of Democrat Obama, his sales shot through the roof. There has been a substantial increase in the sales of any type of firearm and ammunition, he said. He hopes the rush will continue.

"Since the election, it's been insane, with people coming in in a panic," Garbato said. "They're all worried about the Obama squad. . . . That's all I've been hearing."

According to Garbato, the number of people coming into the shop wanting to buy ammunition and firearms has increased tenfold.

As a result, his inventory has been drastically reduced, and he's been having trouble obtaining ammunition from manufacturers and distributors. His supplier of assault rifles is running low, and he's having trouble getting more weapons.

Pre-election increase - Much of the rush comes from the fact that the sale and possession of certain military-style assault weapons were banned from 1994 to 2004, and many gun owners fear the Obama administration will try to reinstate the ban.

Doug Mackinlay — owner of Diamondback Police Supply Co. Inc. — said that just a few days before the election, he began seeing an increase in the sale of AR-15-style rifles.

On average, the business, which is open to the public at 170 S. Kolb Road, sells about a dozen guns a day. Recently it has been selling double that amount, Mackinlay said.

At Second Amendment Sports, 5146 E. Pima St., the increase in sales began two to three weeks before Election Day. Items in demand include high-capacity shotguns, magazine-fed rifles and magazines.

At Tucson gun shops, most people can get an assault rifle or most other firearms in as little as three minutes to three business days, Garbato said. Prospective gun buyers are required to fill out a form, present a driver's license and undergo a brief background check.

There also is a place on the form for a Social Security number, but Garbato said it does not matter if the buyer provides it.

If the buyer is found to have a criminal record, a domestic-violence conviction or a history of mental illness, he or she will not be allowed to buy the weapon. Also, if a person has a name similar to someone with those charges in any state, it may delay the process.

The perceived threats to the right to buy or own assault rifles have been troubling Tucson-area gun owners.

"I'm more prone to buy an assault rifle now than I ever have before," said Mike Hoschouer, a local gun owner. "It would not surprise me at all if Obama put in a ban on assault rifles."

Other explanations - John Felty was on his way to buy his daughter a firearm for personal defense Thursday when he said that he was in favor of legislation to control the sale of assault rifles. He said he didn't see any use for semiautomatic assault rifles and thinks guns are only for the defense of people and not property.

"I don't see any need for them, because all they do is cause mayhem," he said.

But there may be another explanation for the rise in purchases of assault rifles.

Michael Sattinger, who owns Premier Jewelry & Pawn, 2880 E. Grant Road, said he has seen a sharp increase in assault-rifle sales since the day after the election. But he also attributes the increase to the troubled economy and the high crime rate in Tucson.

Lary Wheeler, who is retired from the Air Force, said he has mixed emotions about Obama's victory. Because of his military service, he recognizes the president's authority as commander in chief. But he is troubled by Tucson-area violence and is concerned that the troubled economy will spark more crime.

"Barack Obama may have more important things to deal with in the coming months than gun control," he said.

By: Dan Sullivan and Alexis Huicochea, The Arizona Daily Star