TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

Gun Sales Highest In Years

ADVERTISEMENT

By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: December 7, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Frank Pickett had a lot to get off his chest.

A lot of gun collectors and enthusiasts are having the same worries these days.

They don't trust the president-elect.

"They talk about getting these guns as a way to control crime," Pickett said. "Really, it's more about controlling people ... Taking guns away from lawful citizens doesn't reduce crime."

There are few products being sold at a higher-than-normal rate nowadays due to the suffering economy, but the recent election of Barack Obama has done a lot for the gun industry. That trend is evident across the country as well as Florida.

One glance inside the Hernando County Fairgrounds this weekend is proof. The gun show was packed Saturday and more large crowds are expected today.

The show was organized by the Hernando Sportsman's Club.

Not everyone noticed a difference between this weekend's show and the last one.

"I don't see a demand like they recently had in Miami," said gun show official and club member Dick Helmrich. "There is more selling than buying. It's been hard times."

President Randie W. Rickert disagreed. He saw a lot of people gather around the tables Saturday. The biggest sellers were the exotic ammunition.

He pointed to a box of ammo for a 348 Winchester.

"It's real rare," he said with a grin. "I got one myself. It was my grandfather's."

He walked up the stairs to the main stage and looked toward the main floor where more than 50 people were walking along the alleys between exhibitors.

"It was made in the 1930s and '40s," Ruckert said, still on his grandfather's rifle. "He paid $35 for it. It's worth about $2,400 now. I would never sell it."

The focus of the conversation turned to the recent election, the surge of gun sales nationwide and how the two are connected.
Ruckert didn't pull any punches.

"It's because of who was elected," he said, landing the blame squarely on Obama. "There are a lot of rumblings about gun (control) laws right now. That's been his historic stance."
Ruckert also recalled the 1994 Clinton Crime Bill that banned certain "assault weapons" from being owned or transferred.

The law "sunsetted" - or expired - in 2004.

That bill "sold more guns than anything," said Ruckert. "The anticipation of a ban will do that."

Prices are higher than ever before, but more and more guns and rifles are "flying off the shelves" at gun shops, he said.

He walked toward Pickett, who rarely attends gun shows nowadays because he is selling so many weapons at his shop in Newberry.

"I've been in this business for 23 years and November was the largest month I ever had," Pickett said. "We sold a lot of ammo, a lot of rifles and a lot of handguns."

He thinks the high sales in handguns are due to the fear that Obama will attempt to "do away with concealed weapons permits nationwide," he said.

One of the few vendors not selling guns was Caroline Hamby, of Tampa, who sold a variety of beef jerky products near the front entrance.

She noticed a lot of people attending the show hoping to sell their own guns. She pointed to one man who taped an orange sign on his back. He was offering to sell some from his own personal arsenal.

"With the new president, people are buying a lot of guns," said Hamby, who often attends gun shows in Tampa.

She has better luck down there. She only made $25 Saturday and was about ready to pack up and leave. A good day for her is about $800 to $1,000 in sales.

"I haven't really read what Obama is going to do about it, but a lot of people here are talking," Hamby said. "They think he's going to regulate ammo (sales), but I don't know."

The gun show will continue from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at the fairgrounds, located at 6436 Broad St. The club organizes four shows per year.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT