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Gun Sales Shooting Up Pre-Election

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03/07/12 Gun Sales
Doug Magditch Reports

Doug Magditch
[e-mail]
4:29 p.m. CST, March 6, 2012

FORT WORTH— Guns are shooting off store shelves. The US is on track to set another sales record in 2012. Whether it's a real or perceived threat, politics is playing a big part.

The Shooters Club is packed these day. More bullets are flying than usual. Between 2010 and 2011, sales at the store tripled, and it's headed for another record-setting year in 2012.

"You can see that our counters are pretty empty. i mean, we have a few guns, but people have been coming in. i've already sold two guns this morning," said Wade Hatton of The Shooters Club.

"I just wanted to have one while we could, you know? While we can go ahead and buy one now," said JW Sullivan, who bought one of those two guns sold.

There's a fear among some gun owners that President Barack Obama will try to ban hand guns, despite campaign promises that he will not. With the election around the corner, some gun owners are worried again.

That fear brought Sullivan out to buy his new gun.

"I've heard a lot of people talking that's an issue with the politicians, you know, a lot of concern with a lot of citizens around," said Sullivan.

Hatton says politics may play a part, but he hears more fears about gun manufacturers halting production.

"I think that's what people fear, is that big money is gonna say, 'No, nobody else can have guns. We're gonna quit manufacturing guns,'" said Hatton.

And many buyers are not motivated by politics.

"I want a Sig 380, rainbow titanium because it's purplish. It's pretty," said gun owner Melinda Gann.

Whatever the reason, gun sales have shot up. The FBI doesn't keep sales records, but does record the number of background checks submitted.

In 2011, that number hit a record high of 1.2 million in Texas.

In the first two months of 2012, the FBI's already received more than 225,000 background checks for potential gun buyers. That puts Texas ahead of every state, except for Kentucky.

It's a trend Hatton says he's happy to see.

"We make two orders a week for guns, and by the time they get here, they're usually sold," said Hatton.

Copyright © 2012, KDAF-TV

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