Survived 8 Years of Bush/Cheney and NOW I'm Frightened. Gun & Carry Permits Rise at Alarming Rate

[K Gardner]

One of our local TV Stations ran a feature story on last night's news about the unprecedented increase in gun sales and carry permits in Tennessee. They cited "the economy and the political climate" as the two factors for the increase. Specifically, they said, "people are worried with Democrats in control, they will take away their guns."

At work, in an emergency room full of comparatively well-educated and literate doctors and nurses, I am surrounded nightly with talk of "facism", "Obamanation", and watch nurses spend free time shopping for guns and ammo on the internet. Instead of investing in the stock market, they're buying ammunition and guns. The dialogue is straight from Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity: "We're not living in America any longer ! This is a fascist state !" Of course, being the only Democrat in the unit, and tending toward goodwill, I offered to buy them plane tickets to the country of their choice. Work is a hostile environment for me now.

Are hate & fear mongers like Hannity, Beck, et al providing the fuel for this insanity? Are they Trying to Incite the nation to violence and armed conflict within our own citizenry? Everyday, there seems to be a new massacre reported somewhere in our nation. If any of you are thinking about moving or visiting Tennessee in the future...I'd consider rethinking it. Anyone else noticing a trend such as this in their state or city??

East Tennessee Handgun Permits Sky Rocket

New figures from the Tennessee Department of Safety show an explosion in the number of residents with handgun permits over the past six months. The amount of handgun permits has increased 10 percent in Knox County and 12 percent in Blount County since October 2008. "Business seems to be good right now," said David Perry, owner of Gunny's Indoor Shooting Range in Maryville. "We've got a lot of handgun carry permit holders coming to our classes and we've got a lot of people buying guns for the first time."

In October 2008, there were 206,513 people statewide with handgun carry permits. The current numbers for April 2009 show the number of people with handgun carry permits in Tennessee rose to 222,822.

E. Tenn. Gun Sales Through the Roof

The owner of Gunny's Indoor Shooting Range in Maryville says gun sales skyrocketed the day after the presidential election. "In response to President Obama's past gun record, where he was probably the most anti-gun candidate we've ever had," David Perry says. But politics is not the only reason gun sales are strong. A struggling economy is also boosting weapons sales. Ammunition for handguns used for self-defense is also selling fast and hard to find. Some local stores report a 200 percent increase over normal sales.

Obama Named Gun Salesman of the Year

President-elect Barack Obama's election has spurred a surge in gun sales, firearms retailers and enthusiasts say, as gun owners brace for what they believe will be a new era of gun control in Washington.

An electronic news service that covers outdoor news has even named Obama its "Gun Salesman of the Year."

Firearms associations began to suspect that political considerations were driving gun sales late last year as the number of background checks increased. But end-of-year figures showed a big spike in background checks for the last three months of 2008, and in November, the month Obama was elected, the number of background checks was 42 percent greater than in November 2007.

"It's not a hard tea leaf to read," said Jim Shepherd, publisher of the news service Outdoor Wire, which claims Obama's election has "frightened consumers into action."

[michreject]

1. I'm in Greeneville at the moment lookin for land

My family is here. I know of only one person that doesn't have a CCW.

I do shoot IPSC and 3 gun at Oak Ridge.

[Doctor_J]

2. Don't worry. All of the applicants are carefully screened

so that only sane, responsible folks get guns & ccw permits.

:sarcasm:

[lazer47]

3. You if want to fear something,, Fear the ones who DON"T get

their guns legally or get a legal CCW.

[blindpig]

4. I wouldn't scoff

When SC went to carry permits I expected the worst, but it didn't happen. The state actually seems to be doing a good job of screening. Problems with permit holders have been very rare.

[Bandit]

5. Didn't both of the recent mass shooting guys have legal guns and permits?

Laws only mean something if they are enforced and obeyed. That is why it is urgent that accountability for the last eight years happens.

[K Gardner]

9. Totally agree about "accountability". If Bush/Cheney were tried at The Hague or even indicted,

it would have to take some wind out of the sails of some RW Talkers whom I consider very dangerous.

Or not.. I suppose it could make the perceived "threat" worse. Stewart's mocking of them last night included a video of Michelle Bachman and Hannity talking about our planned "re-education camps for children".

The world has gone mad.

[jules1962]

6. I am here in the Tri-Cities

and I hear this "Obama is gonna take our guns" shit daily. Then I hear"We all need to arm ourselves". I say go ahead. Because if you want to take your guns and fight the govt. for one of your ridiculous paranoid ideas, then it will thin out the herd of you morans. I guess they never stopped to think that if they go against the govt. with their guns, they will be taking on law enforcement and possibly the military. Now that just doesn't sound very patriotic does it? Jeez. This is now the 1700's. Idiots. I love Tennessee for the most part. If we could just get rid of the Faux news idiots that are here. I do see the numbers dwindling though.

[lazer47]

10. It is not the government that worries me,, it is the lawlessness

that is taking place in our society,, taking my weapons away from me will not stop that lawlessness,,however that same lawlessness will not prevail my household, or hurt my family,,

[K Gardner]

11. The wingnuts *I* know are NOT arming themselves against "criminals".. they're arming themselves

against "the new fascist government" and some perceived "takeover". I have absolutely nothing against people having a gun for personal protection. But when even the NEWS SHOWS state the reason for increase in sales is the "political climate", that has nothing to do with lawlessness.

[lazer47]

14. I don't mean for this to come accross wrong,, however "wingnuts"

are lawfull gun owners worst enemy, and those that believe in the 2nd amendment,,If "Wingnut Repuggies" can get this stired up enough then the "gun control freaks" will do their work for them and then they can be in charge again,,I am not one of those chickrn little folks,,,The sky is falling crowd,,,or paranoid,,, Just very careful and very well armed.......

[Blue_Tires]

7. what's that guy aiming at?

[Mr. Hyde]

8. law enforcement is being cut back by about 40% in my area at a time when record #s of folks

are out of work which ultimately leads to desperation and despair which has a way of making people do things they might not otherwise do. If ever there was a time for CCW laws, this would be it. And I think we all know this shit is going to get worse before it gets better (if it gets better).

[xchrom]

12. +3

[winyanstaz]

13. People are also buying guns just to protect their homes and families..

as they see that it might be getting rough. Especially if food prices keep on rising and jobs keep on being out sourced.
It has never stopped a single criminal from getting a gun. If anyone can still get a gun, what is the point of having the law? Only law abiding people will register and criminals will go on being criminals.
It is however an excellent way for the government to get more money for the fees. It also lets the police know where to go when it is time to round the guns up.

[K Gardner]

15. Yes, but even the media has now picked up on the GUN FRENZY and are putting the

blame rightfully where it should go: at the feet of the fearmongering RW hosts like Beck and Hannity, et al.