Gun sales thriving in uncertain times

Americans have cut back on buying cars, furniture and clothes in a tough economy, but there’s one consumer item that’s still enjoying healthy sales: guns. Purchases of firearms and ammunition have risen 8 to 10 percent this year, according to state and federal data.

Several variables drive sales, but many dealers, buyers and experts attribute the increase in part to concerns about the economy and fears that if Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois wins the presidency, he will join with fellow Democrats in Congress to enact new gun controls. Obama has said that he believes in an individual right to bear arms but that he also supports “common-sense safety measures.”

“Even though [Obama] has a lot going for him, he’s not very pro-gun,” said Paul Pluff, a spokesman for Massachusetts-based Smith & Wesson, which has reported higher sales. Gun enthusiasts are “going to go out and get [firearms] while they still can.”

Gun purchases have also been climbing because of the worsening economy, which fuels fears of crime and civil disorder, industry sources and specialists said.

“Generally, we know that hard economic times always result in firearm sales,” said James M. Purtilo of Silver Spring, who publishes the Tripwire Newsletter.

Gary Kleck, a researcher at Florida State University’s College of Criminology and Criminal Justice whose work was cited in the District’s recent Supreme Court gun-control case, said that although there are no scientific studies linking gun sales and economic conditions, people often buy firearms during periods of uncertainty. People often buy weapons because of concerns about personal safety or government actions to limit access to firearms, causing spikes in sales, Kleck said.

Industry experts and law enforcement officials point to several examples over the years. In 1994, there was a rush to buy guns when President Bill Clinton pushed for a ban on military-style semiautomatic rifles. Handgun sales jumped last year after the massacre at Virginia Tech as some worried about personal protection and others feared sweeping restrictions on handguns, pushing applications for concealed gun permits in Virginia alone up 60 percent. People also rushed to buy guns after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles and the breakdown of order in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Bob Leyshion, who visited a gun shop in Manassas recently, said the economic crisis and Obama’s lead in the polls were on his mind.

“People are preparing for catastrophe right now,” said Leyshion, 55, of Nokesville. “It’s insurance. With the stock market crash and people out of work, and the illegal aliens in this area, the probability of civil disorder is very high.”

Gun owners haven’t been especially thrilled about the prospect of Sen. John McCain in the White House. They see the Arizona Republican as less of a threat than Obama, but they are still angry over McCain’s support for certain gun-control measures in the past, such as requiring purchasers at gun shows to undergo background checks.

Gun owners said McCain’s moose-hunting running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, is far more likely to champion Second Amendment rights.

“The industry and sportsmen have not been in love with McCain, but the selection of Palin wiped that all away,” said Anthony Aeschliman, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

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Palin Preaches Spreading Opportunity

The countdown to Election Day is now nine days, as voters head to the polls in the Florida’s early elections and candidates swarm the Sunshine State.

While Sen. John McCain has certainly been in the Republican spotlight for the last few months, it was his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who stole the sunshine Sunday as she made stops in Tampa and Kissimmee.

Thousands attended the rally at the Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee.

Early on in the rally, Sen. Mel Martinez and Gov. Charlie Crist pumped up the crowd. Elizabeth Hasselbeck of The View introduced Gov. Sarah Palin to the crowd of about 10,000.

Palin mentioned the New York Times article that said Sen. Barack Obama has already written his inaugural speech nine days before the election.  Palin told the crowd that the election is far from over.

“A lot of folks are still undecided and you know where I’m from I’ve spent some time on the basketball court.  I know that Barack Obama too.  Barack has spent some time on the basketball court too.  But where I come from you gotta win the game before you start cutting down the net,” Palin said.

Palin said unlike others, McCain is asking for Floridians’ support and that the McCain camp knows it needs to win its trust.

The Alaskan governor also talked about the economy.  Palin told the crowd Obama wants to redistribute their hard earned money while McCain “let’s you keep more of what you earn.”
“Right now the U.S. business tax is the second highest in the world. No wonder companies are moving elsewhere.  We will cut that tax so that we can keep American businesses in America,” Palin said.

Joe the Plumber was a hot topic in Palin’s speech as well.

“Instead of taking more of your hard earned money, your investments, taxing more of your inventory and spreading your wealth, John McCain and I want to spread opportunity so that people like you and Joe the Plumber can create new wealth.”

Read more and see video of Sarah’s speech in Kissimmee, FL

Todd Palin talks the Second Amendment in Minnesota

Saying the right to bear arms “isn’t just another amendment,” the husband of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin angled for the votes of Minnesota sportsmen Thursday and tried to stoke their support for U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman.

Todd Palin called Coleman “someone who has stood with hunters and fishermen and women, someone who knows the Second Amendment isn’t just another amendment. It’s a right to stand up for and protect.”

Several hundred people attended the rally in the parking lot of a Gander Mountain outdoors store outside Duluth; many were clad in blaze orange or camouflage. Besides winning praise from Palin, Coleman accepted an endorsement from the National Rifle Association.

Wayne LaPierre, CEO and executive vice president of the NRA, called Coleman an ally of gun owners. Coleman said he was “proud to stand strong for those who stand for the Second Amendment.”

Coleman’s Democratic opponent, Al Franken, is also on record supporting the Second Amendment. “He believes all Minnesotans must be assured the right to own guns for collection, protection and sport,” said Franken’s spokeswoman, Colleen Murray.

While Coleman spoke longer, Palin was clearly the main draw for many in attendance.

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“It’s the socialists taking over our country”

Election Day is a mere twenty some days away. We are down to the last throws to win the hearts and minds of America.

Voters cannot make intelligent choices without wisdom and truth. Often, it is a hard pill to swallow. But someone I know very personally said, “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

For weeks I have not written a column. I have been absorbing everything that has been taking place. I have been frozen with despair and shock along with so many others watching the current events unfold. However, in good continence and a leap of faith, I’ve forced myself once again to re-examine the egregiousness of Obama and the Democrats in congress.

The truth must be told, because our biased slanted media has deeply hurt America, rendering her an insidious blow. They have not been forthright with the American public.

The media is guilty of hiding the truth concerning Sen. Barack Obama’s past associates and his radical far left political agenda. People are judged by their friends and associates they choose to deal with. Obama is no exception to the rule. He lacks honesty, and exhibits extremely poor judgment.

The media has lied to us about who really caused our fiscal problems that have threatened the global economy. A Republican president has been forced to do what is necessary because of the incompetent Democrats in the senate. Bush has worked around the clock with world leaders to help put America’s economy back on the right track.

Read the full post at RenewAmerica.US

Palin Forces Liberals to Redefine Feminism

For liberals, advocating women’s rights is not sufficient to be in the feminist club.

A few months ago nobody disputed what a feminist was. It was clear that a feminist was someone who believed in equal rights for women in all aspects of life: social, sexual, political, and economic.

Now, liberals are rushing to redefine feminism because someone whose views they don’t like meets every requirement. They fear that if they accept Sarah Palin as a feminist, they are also accepting all of Palin’s other views, as if a woman must be totally accepted for all of her views or totally rejected. Instead of seeing her as a multi-faceted successful woman, they see her as a threat to their political movement.

N.O.W. PAC chair Kimm Gandy said of Palin: “she is a woman who opposes women’s rights.”

Read the full post at the Intellectual Conservative

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