Gun sales at one local sporting goods store increased this month after the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., but the shop owner hopes those buyers will educate themselves on how to use and store their new weapons for the safety of themselves and others.
Dan Mahoney, owner of Mahoney’s Outfitters, said much of the renewed interest in guns — particularly assault-style weapons — comes from people not knowing what restrictions might be implemented by the government because of several mass shootings this year.
“A lot of this is unknown and it’s feeding on itself. The more people talk about it the more people think it’s going to happen,” he said. “It’s like the Mayan calendar ... a lot of people believed that.”
In the days and weeks since 20 school children and six teachers or staff were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School, people across the country flocked to gun stores. Johnson City residents were no different.
“Gun sales have definitely been up, black gun sales,” Mahoney said, referring to semi-automatic assault weapons. “Everybody wanted a black gun because all of a sudden the government was saying they were going to introduce legislation,” he said. “Half of the people didn’t know what it looked like.”
Still, interest was high and so were sales. “The so-called black guns sold out of stores in a day or two,” he said.
Statewide, there were a record number of background checks for gun sales on the weekend of the Connecticut shooting. For that Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation performed 9,772 background checks, according to spokeswoman Kristin Helm. That was 500 more checks than the second biggest weekend on record, which was Black Friday and the two following days in November.
Mahoney said the last time there was a so-called gun scare came just before a 10-year ban on assault weapons that began in 1994.
“For 10 years you couldn’t buy black guns. Then when it was reinstated, nobody wanted them,” Mahoney said. “There were six or eight years when nobody wanted them. Any dealer who had one on their shelves had to look at them for years.”
Then interest slowly began to increase and seemed to peak after some type of mass shooting, just as it did a couple weeks ago. But given the time of year that shooting occurred, part of Mahoney’s increase in gun sales likely came from holiday sales as well as a growing interest in target shooting, he said.
“Five years ago, you didn’t have a lot of people target shooting. Now, you have men and women getting out there doing that,” Mahoney said. That drives gun and ammunition sales, he said. “I don’t want to sell a gun for the wrong reason. I want to sell a gun for the right reason … the right reason is target practice, home protection, anything you responsibly use a weapon for,” Mahoney said.
“The question now needs to be on gun safety (and) responsible ownership. If you heave a weapon in the house, how do you keep it away from your kids, how do you keep it away from someone stealing it?” Mahoney said.
He encourages gun owners to take the handgun carry permit class even if they never intend to obtain a carry permit. “Those classes teach you how to handle it, how to keep it,” he said.
Mahoney also said there needs to be a conversation about how to keep mentally ill people from purchasing a gun. “People that are buying guns for the right reasons, they need to continue (so) leave them alone. People who are buying them because of hysteria” should reconsider such a purchase, he said. “I appreciate the business, but I would like to see more responsible stuff coming out of it (like) what do you do when you have one.”
cityguy writes:
December 31, 2012
9:02 AM
How come people have to take a test to drive a car, but do not have to take one to buy a gun ? Both can kill multiple people.
Flip writes:
December 31, 2012
10:56 AM
Cityguy: I agree with you that there should be a "test" to get a weapon. In this case it is called a background check. Happy New Year!
dragonfly writes:
December 31, 2012
11:02 AM
This is really unbelievable. For what reason are people rushing out to buy these? Why do they need them? Even the NRA agrees people do not need military style assault weapons. Who are you planning to use a gun on that will spray several bullets at one time? Where can you take them to use if someone comes in with one--the theaters; schools? I have to applaud the gun sellers who take a loss by taking these immediately off the shelves before anymore nut cases get them. They seem to have more of a sense of ethics. Now alot of people are getting armed with weapons they know nothing about. It's like we're getting ready for war on each other. No one can see past the noses on their faces and look down the line at the consequences.
washcores writes:
December 31, 2012
11:56 AM
dragonfly, none of the rifles/guns in question can spew multiple bullets at the same time, not even a gatlin gun can do this. The guns in question are no different than a revolver, one trigger pull one bullet. They do have magazines that can hold multiple rounds just like 99.9% of all hunting rifles. Also military rifles are select fire which are not available (semi, 3 round burst and full auto). You can do MORE damage with a hunting rifle (larger caliber and more destructive) or furthermore a shotgun. Research things a little and stop commenting on a subject you know nothing about. Also there was a car accident this weekend that killed a toddler due to a drunk driver, we need to ban cars as well I guess. Have a good day and happy new year.
dragonfly writes:
December 31, 2012
12:05 PM
washcores--still, the fact is even the NRA agrees we don't need assault weapons in the hands of the average citizen. Same to ya.
washcores writes:
December 31, 2012
3:25 PM
Assault rifles (or weapons as you are stating), are capable of fully automatic or select fire, just to clarify that a little more. Assault weapon styled civilian versions are still semi-auto, like any other hunting rifle. And I agree the average person doesn't need a fully auto weapon (a true assault rifle).
Flip writes:
December 31, 2012
8:13 PM
The bottom line is responsible weapon ownership, background checks, and the Second Amedment. Happy New Year!
truthful writes:
December 31, 2012
8:29 PM
I`m ready for the New Year got my guns and had them for years and going to buy more when time comes. I carry my for self protection and Hunt with mine but anyway HAPPY NEW YEAR !
mudman writes:
January 2, 2013
8:29 AM
The right was not repealed , infringed yes, the last one was Clinton and he also infringed the law. Maybe no reason to be doing this but we have the right to do this , its America .
bakerjw writes:
January 2, 2013
2:34 PM
All one has to do is read the writings of the founding fathers to see their intent on enumerating our right to bear arms. The constitution does not give us any rights, it only enumerates them. Their intent is that the right to bear arms is a deterrent to those that would oppress the people. If you look throughout history, you will see overwhelming examples that disarmament precedes oppression. Millions have died after being disarmed.
If my owning arms deters our benevolent government from overreaching more than it already has, then the 2nd amendment is serving it's purpose. They've already intruded on the 4th amendment with the patriot act. they can label you a domestic terrorist, put you in jail, and deny you the right to speak to anyone including legal representation or family. If they take this right, then it is not a large step from them labeling some speech as seditious and dealing with it as needed.
And when has the NRA stated that people have no right or need of tactical arms? I am curious for a link to that.
provided.