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Wisconsin handgun sales skyrocket with Obama election

Monday, November 17, 2008 3:38 PM PST

By The Associated Press

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MILWAUKEE — Wisconsin firearms enthusiasts seem to be anticipating possible new restrictions on guns with Democrats taking control of the federal government.

Handgun purchases in Wisconsin rose 82 percent in the days before and after Barack Obama's election as president compared with the same 13 days in November last year, according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel analysis of state background checks.

Tom Smith of Eagle said he purchased two handguns, a .22-caliber snub nose and a .45-caliber semiautomatic, before the election when it became clear Obama would win.

"I bought them because I was afraid they were going to be outlawed...," Smith said.

Gun owners also are worried that Obama might push for tax increases on ammunition and gun accessories.

"I went out and stocked up on ammo. I bought 20 cases of rifle ammunition," Kyle Troeger of Muskego said.

Calls for background checks that are required for the purchase of handguns have flooded the state agency. In the first 13 days of the month, 2,642 background checks were requested. During the same 13 days last November, the number was 1,453, state Justice Department spokesman Bill Cosh said.

Where gun issues are in Obama's priorities is unclear, since the national campaign was dominated by issues involving the economy, energy and national security.

Obama's Web site says: "The Second Amendment creates an individual right, and he respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms. He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport and use guns."

Sean Eaton, owner of Fletcher Arms in Waukesha, said his handgun sales have increased 30 percent to 40 percent. The rush started in the days before the election and it has not slowed down, he said.

Eaton calls Obama and Vice President-elect Joe Biden the "most anti-gun people ever to be in the White House."

His clients are worried about restrictions such as those placed on high-capacity handguns and semiautomatic assault weapons under the previous Democratic president, Bill Clinton.

Often referred to as the Assault Weapons Ban or the Clinton Gun Ban, the legislation became law in 1994 with a 10-year sunset provision. It expired in 2004 and was not reintroduced during Republican President George W. Bush's administration.

Tom LaChe, second vice president of the Daniel Boone Conservation League in Richfield, said another reason for the increase is the value that firearms would take on if any sort of new regulations are put in place.

The value of what became known as pre-ban guns skyrocketed when the 1994 restrictions took effect. That could happen again should new restrictions be adopted.

"They're going to be worth their weight in gold," LaChé said, referring to the guns being snapped up recently.

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North County wrote on Nov 15, 2008 4:07 PM:

" This is typical Republican response. One issue voters are cancer to the system. Dems have control everything before and our guns were not taken away. By the way didn't Brady of the Brady bill serve under a republican president?? "

cheney119 wrote on Nov 15, 2008 5:32 PM:

" It's not just the typical republican response. It's cynical, uninformed, unjustified, and unnecessary, Obama applauded the Supreme Court decision that voided the Washington DC handgun ban. What else can you find to be afraid of? "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Nov 15, 2008 6:06 PM:

" Hey North Country, Wisconsin is a Liberal state. If the new guy wasn't such a threat to trample on the Second Amendment, then people wouldn't see the need to stock up. But my guess is if the Liberals want a Civil War in America they will get one if they try to take people's rights away that are in the Consitituion. "

abokaa wrote on Nov 15, 2008 6:24 PM:

" Yes, he was shot in the head when John Hinkley Jr. attempted to assassinate Reagan. Fear is a powerful motivator, and the NRA propaganda that was distributed during the election was full of it. My opinion of the NRA was seriously changed by the stuff they put out this time. Fear, hate, separatism. They acted more like the KKK than a rights advocacy group. "

cherokee wrote on Nov 15, 2008 11:21 PM:

" Mr. Obama will have to step carefully on many issues during his term. Gun control will be one of the issues that will divide the country and possibly given the situation even start the race wars again. Read the articles, the race situation is already heating up. Any restrictions on firearms will not be acceptable to many people. Plus Mr. Obama, stick to what needs to be fixed, our economy. Thank you. "

stink wrote on Nov 15, 2008 11:31 PM:

" Gun sales go up whenever a new president is elected. Doesn't matter the party of the new president, sales just go up. There have been a number of articles on this over the past week. I would put little stock into this, unless you sell guns, then you are making a nice profit every 4 years. "

biasmedia wrote on Nov 15, 2008 11:52 PM:

" wow cheney119 more lies from you im shocked.typical republican response, but Wisconsin is a Liberal state that votes manly DEMS in.Obama applauded the Supreme Court decision that voided the Washington DC handgun ban you claim,yet he said he was for gun bans and supported the dc gun ban when he first started running here is link http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8UQTAS80&show_article=1 so he was for it before he was aginst it i ask??? "

ACP wrote on Nov 16, 2008 8:15 AM:

" well abokaa it may surprise you to find out that in its formative years the KKK was no less than a terrorist branch of the radical democratic party bent on keeping recently freed slaves out of the vote. look where that got them. "

rs5 wrote on Nov 16, 2008 9:11 AM:

" cheney119 How about these: in an interview given to the Chicago Defender on 12/13/99 obama supported increasing taxes on firearms and ammunition by 500%. obama supported a ban on the sale or transfer of all semi-auto firearms. Illinois senate debate #3 barack obama vs. Alan Keyes 10/21/04, obama voted to ban almost all rifle ammunition commonly used for hunting and sport shooting. S.397, vote 217 7/29/05 obama voted no on the Protection of lawful commerce in arms act. S. 397, vote 219, 7/29/05 obama also said in an interview with Anthony Licata when asked; you mentioned common-sense gun legislation. Would you consider the assault weapons ban and registration of guns to fall into that category of common-sense gun control? obama answer was I think those are two seperate issues. I think that when it comes to the assault weapons ban the answer is yes. I think AK47s generally are not used for hunting. AK47s or vest-piercing bullets are generally used to hurt people. And I think that it is legitimate for us to say military-style weapons that arnt traditionally used for purposes other than killing people. we have got to be careful about. "

TDN Bad Boy wrote on Nov 16, 2008 10:14 AM:

" Just remember, the puppet president doesn't have to seek a gun ban to trample on the Second Amendment. Any action by the Liberals after Jan. 22 will be considered trampling on the Second Amendment. That would be a huge mistake politically from the Liberals. But watch. There are going to hundreds of mistakes and broken promises. Troops out of Iraq, won't happen until the 2012 campaign heats up. Middle class tax cut, won't even be considered. Reduction of foregin fuel supply. Won't happen unless Liberals reverse stance on drilling. Either going to be a lie or a broken promise. Free healthcare? Govt. Healthcare cost at least $200 a week to star unless you are black and poor then you get affirmative action health care. Lies, Lies and Liberals. Get ready. "

cheney119 wrote on Nov 16, 2008 11:39 AM:

" The whole mentality of firearms ownership is based upon unsubstanciated fear of nothing. You poor babies are afraid of your own shadows. Take that $800 you paid for the Glock and you could by several hours of psychological counseling rs5. Biasmedia you could afford to retake that english composition course that you obviously failed. "

golfer wrote on Nov 16, 2008 1:08 PM:

" Puppet president. You have just described Bush perfectly. His strings were being pulled by Cheney, Rummy, etal. The worst president in modern & past history, who will be reflected as such. "

Diesel wrote on Nov 16, 2008 4:07 PM:

" cheney119 first off no Glock costs $800. And do you realize that there are many people who own a gun and do nothing but shoot in sactioned matches. Not all gun owners own weapons out of fear. You are so closed minded that perhaps it is you that needs to seek professional counseling. Your hate filled rants have taken away from any credible points that you try to make. I usually ignore you because you are so hate filled but felt the need to correct you about the price of a Glock. "

cheney119 wrote on Nov 16, 2008 5:56 PM:

" I own firearms myself, I see nothing wrong with the second amendment. I just think gun nuts are nuts. They base their lives on great big bunch irrational fears. If they were real men they could handle themselves with their fists and would not need to pack Iron to feel like a man. I don't carry a weapon because I don't have to, to defend myself. What's wrong with you people that think you need to? Spend the money on mental health counseling, gun nuts are all clearly mentally disturbed. "

cheney119 wrote on Nov 16, 2008 6:04 PM:

" If you were buying weapons simply to fire in target matches, why would you run out and buy weapons because of a change in administration? Makes not sense to me. No these people are afraid that someone will take away their guns, which is based on nothing Diesel, but the fear they have built up in their puny little brains. "

rs5 wrote on Nov 16, 2008 6:25 PM:

" Ok cheney119 everybody knows that in your little picture perfect kool-aid world that there are no taylor conleys, doing home invasions. No thomas declues, shooting someone over a drug deal. No brad hamricks, beating to death a young father and husband with a table leg. No tweeked out gun toting felon killing the mother of the girl who just broke up with him. Just sugar and spice everything nice. Im glad that your world is that way. BTW I dont own a gun. "

DW wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:51 AM:

" Cheney119 must be superman if he can defend himself against everything with his fist. I think one of the things this administration and congress will try to do is go after conceal carry permits. Remember cheney, YOU DO YOUR THING, AND I'LL DO MINE. The folks out there that you consider "gun nuts", are not the ones you need to be worried about. It's the clowns that are really nuts and are after your schwinn so they can sell for scrap, and are willing to do physical damage to you to get it. But of course if your superman, the bullets will bounce right off you, and a knife will break apon contact of your man of steel body. Then you can give them a thumpin'. "

Former Resident wrote on Nov 17, 2008 11:13 AM:

" Cheney119; It's not so easy to defend yourself when you are a FEMALE. We're not all big enough to stave off attacks from criminals with our hands. I feel much better knowing that I've got my friends Smith and Wesson backing me up when I'm out and about by myself. "

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