Gun, Ammo Sales Rise in Wake of Attack
By Michael Betsch
CNSNews.com Editorial Assistant
September 16, 2001
(CNSNews.com) - While Americans nationwide come to grips with the catastrophe of the attack on the United States September 11, many are arming themselves against potential future threats to their liberty and their families, firearm dealers are reporting.
Some dealers are reporting that sales of firearms and ammunition exceed those surrounding the calendar change to 2000 from 1999.
"Anytime there's any uncertainty, there's an element in most people that tells them they may need to protect themselves at some point," said Scott Carter, a manager at Clark Brothers Co., a gun shop in Warrenton, Va. "Police can't be everywhere all the time. Some of the burden falls on the individual."
Carter said he's noticed a measure of nervousness on the part of some customers. "I think they're a little bit more apprehensive than they have been," Carter said.
Tuesday's terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, led to what Barry Hopkins described as "a temporary spike in the sale of ammunition and home defense-type guns."
Hopkins, a manager at Green Top Sporting Goods in Glen Allen, Va. noted that "some of the same feeling that there was about Y2K could have kicked in on that Tuesday or Wednesday."
"Obviously, the spike had to be attributed to something. And, from what we've talked about to other people in the industry and so forth, everybody knows that's what it is," said Hopkins.
Dave Engel, the owner of Clips 'N' Stuff in Albany, Ore. observed that the array of products that customers are purchasing "doesn't really reflect" the current demand for personal protection, yet he has seen an obvious "increase in magazines and ammunition and that sort of thing."
Hopkins has seen an increase in demand for "home defense-type guns" since Tuesday morning. He describes such guns as "some of the shorter barrel shotguns" that are "not necessarily used for hunting purposes."
Kurt Wilson, CEO of Survival Enterprises Inc. in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, said he's "selling battle weapons" to citizens concerned about their safety.
The firearms that Wilson sells are "the civilian versions" of assault weapons that he calls "nice, little, fun toys," including the AR-15, the predecessor of the M-16; the Israeli-made Uzi; and the older M-1 carbines.
Robert Naess, the owner of Black River Militaria in Cavendish, Vt., said he "wouldn't be surprised," by people looking to purchase kind of protection offered by semi-auto rifles, including "AKs, AR-15s, stuff like that."
Clark Brothers Manager Scott Carter said in his shop, the "most popular item" since Tuesday has been "the short-barreled police-type shotguns," and Naess said he thinks there is "no better defensive weapon than a shotgun."
Guns and ammunition have not been the only hot sellers among those preparing against future terrorist threats.
The Maryland-based Ranger Surplus chain has witnessed an increase in online sales of gas masks "all across the country, in particular New York and New Jersey," said Brenda Bradshaw, a corporate office manager with the retailer.
Ranger Surplus' website sells the "Israeli-designed" and "Nuclear-Bio-Radiation Rated" masks that can protect people against "terrorist attacks," among other things.
Bradshaw said some customers are "asking about what chemicals it would protect against," but added that most gas mask purchasers are only interested in protecting themselves from dust and debris, which can be harmful to their eyes and their respiratory systems.
N.Y. residents have also made significant purchases of "water purification tablets, water purifiers and different survivalist items," Bradshaw noted.
Wilson has also noticed a trend of people buying more health-related survival items since Tuesday.
He explained that when a disaster occurs, "there's not a lot of doctors around if you have an infection, so people want to stock up on the natural forms of fighting infections."
The orders that Wilson has been receiving from the Eastern U.S. are for "the alternative health care stuff," specifically colloidal silver and oregano oil.
There was also a suggestion on how to prevent similar catastrophes like the one that happened on September 11.
"I just wish there'd been a couple good old boys with weapons on those airplanes," said Carter. "If there'd been a sky marshal or a plain old citizen on there with a firearm, these things probably wouldn't have happened."
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