The Most Accurate Gun Poll In America
BY Herschel Smith
11 years, 10 months ago
NYT:
In Idaho’s graceful, striated-marble Capitol, home to one of the more ardent and adamant state legislatures in the nation in standing up for the Second Amendment, lawmakers from both parties say that a torrent of public passion, even panic, about new proposed federal gun rules is pushing in only one direction: toward more guns, not fewer.
If Idahoans, like Americans in many states, have rushed to buy guns out of fear for personal safety in the aftermath of recent mass shootings, or out of fear of tighter legal controls, then democracy has already spoken, many lawmakers said. People have voted with their pocketbooks.
[ … ]
The speaker of the House, Scott Bedke, a Republican, said that he would not guess what might come from the session, but that the will of the people was clear.
“Idaho will push back,” he said, referring to federal gun control proposals. “A question that is rolling around in most Idahoan’s heads right now is, What part of ‘shall not be infringed’ don’t they get?”
Yea, this voting with the pocketbook has been happening all over America. I had placed my M1 Carbine on layaway several months before Christmas with Allen Arms in Greenville, S.C. In September, Allen Arms had a copious stock of guns. When I went to pay off my gun at Christmas there were no AR-15s, no M1 Carbines, no tactical shotguns, very few polymer frame pistols, and just a few revolvers left. It looked like a tornado had come through the store.
I have also noted before that Hyatt Gun Shop in Charlotte was reported to have done more than one million dollars worth of business the Saturday before Christmas. That’s one million dollars in a single day – on guns. I went back to Hyatt just a few days ago to place another firearm on layaway with them (and buy some ammunition), and the store was as crowded as I have ever seen it. There is no slowdown. And this sort of thing is happening (and has happened) all over America.
Do you want another example, a little less anecdotal?
And it won’t do much good to go direct to the manufacturer for an AR type rifle. Top companies like Bushmaster, and Rock River Arms report wait times up to two years for the guns. Stag Arms, which bills itself as the “Worldwide Leader in AR Manufacturing” is so backlogged they’ve stopped answering the phone: “Please know that we are currently experiencing exceptionally high call volume due to increased demand. Current response time is anywhere from five to seven business days for all voicemail inquiries.”
Note again – a two year wait time for a Rock River Arms rifle. These folks who have voted with their pocketbook will learn to cherish their gun collection, and they will want to bequeath it to their children and children’s children without the involvement of the federal government.
So listen, Eric and Paul. It might be that you are listening to the “polls” in your support for universal background checks. But I assure you, America is voting with it’s pocketbook. The vote is overwhelming, and it is fixed. We won’t change our minds. You need to get with the popular crowd and drop the support for gun control as fast as you can.
Gun control is an artifact of self-serving, crusty, old rich white men, angry feminists and effeminate inner city dwellers who have never ridden a horse across a snowy mountain, sat up all night with a dog who has been bitten by a Copperhead, or plowed a row in a garden on a sunny day. You’ll never reach the young people that way.
UPDATE: Thanks to Mike for the attention.
UPDATE #2: Thanks to David for the attention.
UPDATE #3: Thanks to Glenn for the attention.
UPDATE #4: More voting on gun control with money.
Specialized gun shops, super sporting goods stores and even big-box retailers are enduring a big-time demand for firearms ammunition as First Coast gun owners are buying up most of the bullets they can find.
“There’s a complete run on ammo and guns,” said Paul Rukab, who has owned St. Nicholas Gun & Sporting Goods on Jacksonville’s Blanding Boulevard for 22 years.
Bullets are leaving the store as soon as trucks arrive with new stock at local Walmarts and stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods and Academy Sports. Ammunition for long rifles and handguns is in highest demand.
It’s the same everywhere.
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On February 8, 2013 at 10:50 am, jean said:
Gun Control is just another attack on our values and heritage. They want us to live under a set of rules, but they will be exempted. Gun violence prosecutions are down under this administration, many of our federal law enforcement agencies have been given stand down guidance. How many gun prosecutions have happened in Chicago this year?
On February 8, 2013 at 12:06 pm, E NICHO said:
THE GOVERNMENT HAS FLOODED THE STREETS WITH CONVICTS , THE SCHOOLS HAVE REMOVED THE HIGH STANDARDS WE GREW UP WITH , THE CHURCHES HAVE BEEN CRUSHED WITH THE IMPRESSION THAT THEY HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR GOVERNMENT OR SOCIETY, THE MOVIE AND VIDEO GAME INDUSTRIES HAVE HIGH JACKED THE MINDS OF OUR CHILDREN WITH THEIR VIEWS OF VIOLENCE .THEY ALL CHOOSE TO BLAME THE PUBLIC FOR THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAVE CREATED . THEY CLEARLY USE THE DISPLACED AGGRESSION ,AND DENIAL AGAINST THE PUBLIC IN THEIR BLAME GAME TO GET TO THEIR FINAL END . IT SEEMS THAT THEY INTEND TO USE ANY MEANS NECESSARY TO REMOVE THE “RIGHTS” OF THE PEOPLE .
On February 8, 2013 at 4:01 pm, Phil Sr. said:
I contributed my fair share to the local economy AND quite a bit to the folks all over America!
Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition.
On February 8, 2013 at 9:27 pm, Gunny G said:
Don’t forget to stock on reloading components as well. Powder, lead, primers, etc. Just like our forefathers did.
One more thing our forefathers gave us? The RIGHT to declare:
“I WILL NOT COMPLY!”
On February 8, 2013 at 9:29 pm, Gunny G said:
Ah, one more thing. Check out “The Friends of the NRA” banquets in your area. A great way to support the NRA Youth.
On February 9, 2013 at 10:37 pm, Lou Gots said:
I cast my vote for a Wyndham M4 clone just before the SHTF.
On February 9, 2013 at 10:37 pm, JeremyR said:
This is exactly the danger – where are people buying their guns from now? Gun stores.
Once they push background checks, gun stores will be the only choice.
Then they start regulating the gun stores. Or force them to carry huge amount of liability insurance. Etc, etc etc.
On February 9, 2013 at 10:52 pm, Veeshir said:
The “debate” over gun control has been the people buying guns and the politicians trying to figure out how much they can get away with.
On February 9, 2013 at 11:26 pm, Joel Mackey said:
I can assure you, now is the time to sell your guns, not buy.
If 1624 was the time to sell tulip bulbs…
If 1720 was the time to sell the south sea company stock…
if 1929 was the time to sell the DOW
if 1989 was the time to sell the Nikkei
if 1999 was the time to sell internet stocks
if 2005 was the time to sell housing
then now is the time to sell military style weapons.
On February 10, 2013 at 12:38 am, NavyOne said:
Curiously enough, it is happening even here in blue California. Of course, I live in a Navy town, San Diego. . .
On February 10, 2013 at 5:23 am, SacTown said:
The gun run has not included shotguns or revolvers in Commiefornia – those are very plentiful. Self-loading pistols and rifles only. Our pols are talking about banning the already emasculated version of the AR-15. My neighborhood shop received a shipment of Bushmasters a couple of weeks ago. I snapped one up at 5% off MSRP. This shop is not price gouging, even sold their .223 at a third of the hopped-up price I’ve seen online.
On February 10, 2013 at 6:40 am, SDN said:
Joel, this isn’t an investment to make money; this is an investment in freedom.
On February 10, 2013 at 6:46 am, Boilermaker said:
I hope people note that Dick’s Sporting Goods has a company policy now NOT to sell evil black rifles. I talked to the counter man in the gun department at the local store to confirm their policy. Then I told them I would not be buying anything at Dick’s again. There are plenty of local shops who haven’t buckled on the God given rights protected by our constitution. If you believe in the 2nd amendment think twice before supporting Dick’s.
On February 10, 2013 at 7:00 am, egoist said:
Went to my fav shop yesterday and it was sort of creepy. The shelves / walls mostly bare. No handgun ammo. Lots of people, lots of high prices (for what little was left).
A taste of what the high inflation of the $US will bring.
On February 10, 2013 at 7:56 am, megapotamus said:
Once the gun-grabbers have been crushed back into the marginal societal position their numbers and legitimacy warrant, I look forward to a collapse in pre-loved gun and ammo prices. Yes, fellow babies, this too shall pass…..
On February 10, 2013 at 8:04 am, NorCal said:
But I assure you, America is voting with it’s pocketbook.
Good article but as a grammar nut:
its not it’s
On February 10, 2013 at 8:50 am, Steve S. said:
Question for JOEL MACKEY:
Do you think we buy our guns as investments? As part of our retirement portfolio?
On February 10, 2013 at 11:05 am, muttlap said:
Hey Joel, I’ll be happy to trade your guns for some worthless $$…just give us a call…:-).
On February 11, 2013 at 10:21 am, richard40 said:
If this latest gun grab fails, and their are no new gun regs, then prices will fall back to normal, and Joel will be right. But if not, anything that was banned will soar even higher, and many will also be sold on the black market, thereby making it EASIER for criminals to get guns.