EDITOR'S NOTE: Voice your thoughts on this story. Just click on “register” or “log-in” at the bottom of the article to participate. Now that we have created this great new site, existing users may have to register again. It’s quick and easy!

---

Simply by winning the presidential election two weeks ago, Barack Obama has single-handedly fueled a surge in gun sales across the country.
 
Just days after Obama emerged as the nation’s first black president-elect, gun buyers were rushing to stock up on handguns, assault rifles and plenty of ammunition.
 
Last month, there were more than 108,000 more background checks for gun purchases than in October 2007, a 15 percent increase. From Nov. 3 to 9, the FBI reported nearly 375,000 instant checks, compared to 252,000 in 2007.
 
Gun enthusiasts expressed concern that an Obama administration will resurrect the ban on assault weapons that expired in 2004, while others claim they are “terrified” and need to protect themselves from a potential nationwide race war.

The increase in gun sales will come under closer scrutiny this weekend when NBC anchor Al Roker airs a documentary entitled "Al Roker Reporting: Armed in America," a new MSNBC Special that premieres Sunday, Nov. 23 at 10:00 p.m. EST on MSNBC. In his first investigative report, Roker tracks the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ efforts to stop gun crimes in America. 
 
At a time when working families are struggling to pay for gas and groceries - the worst economic crisis since The Great Depression – bad times have apparently not deterred many Americans from spending thousands of dollars  – perhaps even millions - on guns in the past two weeks.
 
One Georgia gun shop advertised an "Obama sale" on an outdoor sign, the Associated Press reported, but the owner took it down after people complained that the shop appeared to be issuing a call to violence against the country's first black leader.
 
Bill Murrain, an Atlanta attorney who began his career as a civil rights lawyer, told BlackAmericaWeb.com the rush to arm in some communities is unfortunate but should not be taken too seriously because in his mixed but predominantly African-American middle-class neighborhood, some of Murrain’s neighbors have guns, some are retired military and none are dangerous.
 
“In none of our many discussions over the last month have we been unduly or increasingly concerned about our safety,” Murrain said Wednesday. “There has been no irrational exuberance to rush out and arm ourselves. We have instead been discussing how we can do our part to preserve our community and contribute to helping President-elect Obama resurrect the Constitution left in tatters by the current administration.”
 
This summer, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to end the District of Columbia's 32-year ban on handguns, but gun advocates say they aren’t taking any chances because Obama could appoint justices who support Obama’s position on tough new gun laws.

"They're scared to death of losing their rights," David Hancock, manager of Bob Moates in Virginia, told the Associated Press. Gun sales, Hancock said, have nearly doubled in the past week and are up 15 percent for the year. On Election Day, salespeople were called in on their day off to serve the crowd.
 
Jeff Serdy, who owns AJI Sporting Goods in Apache Junction, Arizona, told The Arizona Republic that his customers are "normal people, not kooks" and they are buying as many weapons and as much ammo as they can afford.
 
"Instead of buying boxes,” he said, “they are buying cases."

Please Login or Register to Rate this article




Comments On this Article