Gun Sales Soaring Amid Fears Of Down Economy

Economy Gun Business is booming at gun shops across the country because of uncertainty fueled by the economic crisis.

by CBS

Published: Sun, January 25, 2009 - 10:14 am CST Last Updated: Sun, January 25, 2009 - 10:19 am CST

(CBS) "I've been through Y2K and I've been through 9/11," says gun shop owner Scott Moss. " I have never seen people so afraid as what we are seeing right now.

Business is booming at gun shops across the country, reports CBS news correspondent Jeff Glor. And at his store, Moss says it's because of uncertainty fueled by the economic crisis.

"If the banks didn't have any money there'd be rioting in the streets," says Moss. "So you're protecting yourself from Americans going crazy, rioting, looting and hurting each other."

FBI statistics show that in November, 2008 firearm purchaser background checks increased 42 percent over the previous year. In December they were up 24 percent.

Moss says his sales are up something like 300 percent.

Moss also believes says fears that President Obama might make it more difficult to get a gun have led people to flock to his Norwalk, Conn. store.

One of those is 24-year-old Anthony Silvestro, a first time buyer.

Silvestro, who runs an auto body shop, says he's worried Mr. Obama might raise taxes on new gun purchases. He also worries that people will become more violent if the economy gets worse. He's getting a gun for personal protection.

"When you have a mixture of defensive people, lack of money, economy getting bad, you've got people that are depressed, people that might be upset---you know carrying a gun around you feel comfortable, you feel like you have a little power," Silvestro says.

But some fear that more guns will lead to increased gun thefts by criminals - and more deaths in the home.

"It can be the 4-year-old who finds a gun and thinks it's a toy and shoots his sister," says Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. "It can be the husband and wife that are having a quarrel and the guns there and all of a sudden one of them is dead."

The National Rifle Association disputes that, saying that firearms are used three to five times more often to stop crimes than commit them. Moss stresses that in Connecticut, buyers need a pistol permit which requires background checks and a series of lessons at his shooting range.

"I'm not even saying I want to use my gun," Silvestro says. "I'm saying I want to know that it's there. God forbid I need it. God forbid someone breaks in my house. God forbid the alarm goes off."

According to the Brady Campaign, if you have a gun in your home it's 22 times more likely to be used against you and or a family than it is to protect you.

The NRA questions that, saying that 58 percent of firearms deaths in the home are suicides.

There are no official figures on the number of guns in the United States - but estimates say the number is about 250 million.

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butterflykisser101 Says:

Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 11:46 am

a criminal will always always always find a way to get a gun. so banning is not going to do any good it will just make it worst. crime will skyrocket.

Wait4Me Says:

Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 8:18 am

4thekids, you really need to do your homework concerning the NRA and gun laws before you comment about these things. America’s laws need to be enforced by our justice system. If we outlaw guns, who will have guns then? Just the law enforcement agencies? No way, do you really think the criminals will willingly give their guns up “because the law says to”? I carry a weapon with me at all times, so does my wife, we are honest hard working Americans, both of us are ex-military, I’m retired after 20 years, and I feel that I have a right to protect myself in the event that it is necessary. Hopefully I will never have to but I feel a lot more safe and comfortable knowing that if I, you, or some other citizen in this country needs my help in a bad situation I have the knowledge, training, mentality and ability to use my rights as a citizen to protect you. Outlawing guns, hasn’t worked well in other countries, other states, or other cities. Check the statistics online and see for your self.

primate502002 Says:

Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 6:50 am

and so ya know.. gun sales are up because your president obama has reinstated nearly the whole clinton administration.ie..the brady bunch! people that were wanting to buy a new model firearm, arn’t going to wait now till it’s outlawed or the price of ammo goes up 500%.you didn’t wait to fill up your car when the price of gas was going up did ya? same thinking here..and before you go spouting off about the NRA you need to look again.. it’s the NRA that trains your police dept’s(directly or indirectly)it’s the NRA that was responsible for ‘Three Strikes’ for the repeat criminals it’s the NRA that has programs that educate kids about guns and their dangers(Don’t touch..call and adult’). the NRA does more to prevent crime,gun violence,and accidents.. than any organization in the U.S. they also do more legally to protect not just the second ammendment.. they actively protect ‘WHOLE’ constitution than any group in the U.S.

Sirk Says:

Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 6:15 am

There will always be more illegal guns out there with criminals than with law abiding citizens. I have always been prepared and even have a license to carry a pistol.

The day will come when these people who don’t believe in having a gun and using it responsibly will coming knocking at my door wanting to borrow one of mine or wanting me to protect their family.

The true nuts and the people with illegal weapons are already doing a good job of depleting the population in their own neighborhoods. If only they weren’t breeding faster than they could get rid of each other it would be a good thing.

Look at the guy who killed his girlfriend with a jump rope. Should we now outlaw jump ropes? That’s a dangerous weapon too. If you are wanting to kill someone you can always find a way and it doesn’t have to be a gun. Also look at the people who have killed with vehicles.

Don’t get me started on gun control because like it’s been said a million times “thugs will always have a gun”

primate502002 Says:

Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 6:14 am

if people are determined to commit crimes.. they don’t need guns.. ever heard of a box cutter?

primate502002 Says:

Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 6:12 am

and take a look at who’s doing the shooting.. and where.. what part of town.

primate502002 Says:

Mon, Jan 26, 2009 at 6:10 am

“The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.”
-Thomas Jefferson

it hasn’t got anything to do with scared.criminals don’t buy guns legally..you don’t have anything to worry about from people buying guns legally..more people die from car accidents in the us than gun violence..and more accidents are caused by female drivers..more kids are killed in car accidents than gun violence.. soo with your reasoning..the arabs have it right.. no women drivers. whats next..no cars?

rosepetal Says:

Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 8:57 pm

lets just change the laws to protect the victims more than the killers using the gun.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf5l4SeTTbE

4thekids35 Says:

Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 8:21 pm

OM-freaking G…just what i’ve been saying…more unstable people with guns and the NRA spewing some facts that prob include every time a police officer uses a gun which of course make it much higher that a gun is used more to stop crime than to commit it…don’t believe it people, there are way more people getting killed with guns than being saved. sells are up and so are shootings!

DEW26M Says:

Sun, Jan 25, 2009 at 11:42 am

Great news, nothing better in a poor economy than a bunch of gun-wielding, poor, and hungry Americans.
Look at the bright side I guess, we should be able to kill off about 40% of the population in a matter of months. Then overpopulation will be a thing of the past. But hey, at least the big three will still be in business in lieu of the situation. When the money gets real thin, everyone will know who still has some, and it won’t be us.