Faster than a speeding bullet, assault rifles and ammunition are flying off of the racks in Louisiana’s gun shops. It’s a nationwide trend that is shooting across the country since President-elect Barack Obama’s recent victory, as gun enthusiasts are concerned that an Obama administration will ban certain weapons and ammunition.
Many residents “zero in” on their weapons of choice at Star Pawn and Gun on Fort Polk's Entrance Road.
“Since the election, it’s just been crazy," said shop owner, Tonya McKee. "We’ve seen double the business since then. She added that the majority of those purchasing weapons are talking about what they believe will be a possible ban on weapons and ammunition once Obama takes office. “It’s scary; what’s going to happen this time next year? Will I still be in business? Will we be able to be a gun shop?” McKee questioned. McKee is also concerned about increased taxation on the items.
Gun enthusiast Dan Hooker of Leesville participates in competitive shooting. He said that he likes the AR-15 model in the assault rifle category. He said that he has a few of them and would like to continue to buy them with no limitations. “They are compact, easy to use, low on recoil…it’s something everyone in the family can shoot.” He believes there is a “50-50 chance” that assault rifles will be against the law in an Obama administration.
Obama, who admits that he has never fired a gun, has followed Democrat Party lines in his Senate votes regarding gun control. He also supported the controversial handgun ban in Washington, D.C., which the Supreme Court shot down earlier this year.
As a U.S. Senator, Obama reportedly voted in favor of several gun-control measures and increasing taxes on ammunition and firearms. He also voted to leave gun-makers and dealers open to lawsuits if weapons purchased from them were used in crimes.
However, Obama's campaign, in a website statement labeled "Supporting the rights and traditions of sportsmen," said that he will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport and use guns. Obama said during a campaign speech, "I will not take your shotgun away. I will not take your rifle away. I won't take your handgun away."
Many gun owners across the country worry that a Democrat administration and Congress would support a return to the gun ban during the Clinton administration which lasted 10 years. The ban prohibited magazines with more than 10 rounds and certain semi-automatic assault rifles with added features such as lugs for attaching a bayonet.
Stan Huntington of Simpson stopped by Star Pawn and Gun on Wednesday in search of an AK-47. He is just one of the dozen or so shoppers each day the store is turning away because they are completely out of assault rifles. “I think Obama is going to do away with our Second Amendment and then we will be defenseless,” Huntington said. “It’s our constitutional right!” Collecting guns has been a hobby for Huntington for years and he also participates in competitive shooting.
Not only are the customers frustrated as they are finding empty shelves, but so are the shop owners.
Star Pawn and Gun clerks have been told by their distributors that they are only allotting small amounts of ammunition to each store, only allowing them to purchase $500 in ammunition. That limits the store to less than one case of each type of ammunition per order.
Star employee Louise Tucker said that one distributor told her that they sold $3 million in ammunition in one day, following the election.
DeRidder City Council Member and Chairman of the Democrat Executive Committee in Beauregard Parish, Bo Rice, said he believes the mad dash to the gun stores is a mistake. “I think that the National Rifle Association (NRA) and other organizations are stirring the pot politically of things they say are going to happen. But, I don’t think it’s going to happen,” Rice said.
Rice, a former NRA member and sportsman, said, “I’m an avid hunter. I’ve already killed a deer this year. If he (Obama) wants to regulate purchasing AK-47s and other assault rifles, well those weapons aren’t made to hunt.”
Rice is an outspoken Obama supporter and the proud owner of five guns – one pistol and four rifles. He said, “I would not agree with him and would not have supported him if I thought he would take away our weapons.”
Huntington is not so sure of that. He said that not only is he fearful that an Obama administration will make assault rifles illegal to buy and sell, but he said he is also concerned that the government may try to take the weapons he already has. “I ain’t giving up mine. I’ll fight til the end,” he said.
Leesville, La. —
