Fear Fuels Gun Sales Locally
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Updated: 7:42 PM Nov 20, 2008
Fear Fuels Gun Sales Locally
Buy now or pay later, that's the message from gun rights advocates to anyone wanting or needing a gun in the wake of Obama's victory.
Posted: 7:40 PM Nov 20, 2008
Reporter: Carrie Cline
Email Address: carrie.cline@wsaz.com
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BARBOURSVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Buy now or pay later, that is the message from gun rights advocates to anyone wanting or needing a gun in the wake of Obama's victory.

Fears that President-elect Obama will strip away Second Amendment rights are fueling gun sales.

Before you ever even step foot into Classic Jewelry and Loan, the message is loud and clear. The sign reads, "Get your guns before Hussein Obama does!"

"I mirrored what the NRA is putting out there which is fact-based. President Obama is against the right to carry guns. He’s against any semi-automatic guns. He's actually against anyone under 21 owning a gun," said Rich Blakeman, owner of Classic Jewelry and Loan.

In this shop, guns are their bread and butter and lately business has been good.

"Conservatively, our business is up 80%," said Blakeman.

The surge in sales is partly due to a new radio advertisement he is running capitalizing on fear.

It says, "Fact: Just three years ago, Barack Obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sports shooting. Fact: Get your guns before your last chance is taken away. Get to Classic Jewelry and Loan before it's too late."

"Look at what he's done in the past, he has a voting record that supports gun restrictions," said Blakeman.

The latest issue of American Rifleman Magazine details President-elect Obama’s voting record.

"I would venture the membership of the UMWA probably owns more guns than anyone you've ever met." said Cecil Roberts, President of the United Mine Workers of America.

However that did not stop the Union from wholeheartedly supporting Obama for president.

"People think he's going to take their guns away and he's not," said one union member.

However gun enthusiasts like Brian Mullett are still concerned, "it puts you in the position where you may not be able to get what you want. So, you go into debt now because you may not be able to get it later," Mullett said.

"Plus there's the fact that there's the excise tax on ammunition. If that tax goes up 500%, then it's going to be too expensive to buy ammo and so we won't sell guns." said Todd Borders, co-owner of Borders Summit Market.

The owner of Classic Jewelry and Loan running the advertisements did admit he does not think President-elect Obama will even have time to focus on gun control given the economy, but still says anything is possible.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Old Bigin on Nov 23, 2008 at 09:30 PM

I'd rather be in the head of some dark hollar where the sun don't shine, than to be in some big city where guns are outlawed.
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 23, 2008 at 03:58 PM

"...are bitter and cling to their guns and religion..." I believe the comments below have proven this statement to be accurate, as I have long suspected. I am going to start referring to our President on January 20, 2009, as President Hussein. I will never buy anything from Classic Jewelry and Loan, ever! To the guy that is going to hoard all the water guns and stay in his Fort - not if I buy them all first. Do you think President Hussein will also ban BB guns and Cap guns? and what about SuperSoakers? I think I'll buy these up, too. Ya know, you can just never be too careful with an angry black Muslim as your president. Oh, I almost forgot, what do ya'll think President Hussein will do about Case knives? Darts? Firecrackers?
[ Report Abuse ]
Posted by: Anonymous on Nov 23, 2008 at 03:45 PM

You're out of your freakin' minds. You people make me ashamed to be from WV. I suppose you believe AIDS-infected needles are being left in movie theater seats, and that a member of the Nigerian royal family needs to stash $1,000,000 in a bank account in the U.S., only needing $100 from you to wire the money to your account. I believe you would buy a pill that promises you'll lose weight without trying. If Repubs really felt Obama was a terrorist, their accusations would not have ended with the election. If Repubs felt that Obama was not an American citizen, I believe there are intelligent investigators who would have uncovered this already (with proof). I believe that I live among some of the most gullible people in this entire world. You are either gullible or have brains made of Jello. Shame on the pawn shop for exposing and preying upon you for pure greed. The pawn shop owners know better because you cannot be this ignorant and run a business (with all the numbers and stuff).
[ Report Abuse ]
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