Politics play role in recent spike in gun sales

Across the United States, people are buying so many guns that gun makers are having a hard time keeping up with demand.

The experts point to a few reasons why gun sales are surging, and the one most frequently cited has to do with politics.

Elise Richmond of Palm Springs is among those locally helping fuel the demand for firearms.

“Guns aren’t just for guys, just for men, guns are for everyone, for hobbies and for protection,” said Richmond, who recently became a gun owner for the first time.

Interested in learning about guns as a hobby, and increasingly concerned about her personal safety, Richmond received a handgun as a gift from her husband.

“When I hear women say, that they are scared of guns, well, I was taught that if you don’t know about a gun, you shouldn’t touch it. But if you go forward with classes and training with that weapon you have purchased, and learn about it, you will have no fear of touching that gun,” said Richmond.

Year to date, gun sales are up 20 percent compared to last year, based on the number of background checks conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Increasingly, buyers are women and the elderly, according to Palm Desert gun dealer Mark Wasserkrug, who owns the store “Guns of Distinction”.

In one sign of soaring demand, the dealer says it used to take 3 to 5 days to receive shipments from popular gun maker Glock.

But now, it can take up to 6 weeks or longer for deliveries.

“We’re getting a lot of first time buyers, people that, when they come into the shop, say to me, gosh I never thought I’d be in a gun shop. I never thought it would come to this, that i’m going to be buying a gun,” said Wasserkrug.

The dealer and many analysts say “politics” is the biggest factor driving gun sales.

In fact Wasserkrug and others in the gun industry refer to President Obama as “salesman of the year” when it comes to firearms.

They say sales are surging because buyers fear the President will push for strict gun control measures if he is re-elected.

A similar spike in sales happened in 2008 in the days before and after Obama won the Presidency.

“The initial election with President Obama there was a lot of concern that if he got elected, there would be a sweeping change in the industry. There was a rush on guns, Obama was our best gun salesman ever. This year its going to be the same thing, as we approach the election, the wholesalers and the distributors, their supplies are drying up,” said Wasserkrug.

Another concern for gun owners and gun advocates is a development now taking place at the United Nations.

More than 140 countries, including the United States, are negotiating a new UN arms Trade Treaty.

Many american gun owners fear the agreement, if ratified, could infringe on their second amendment rights.

“I think there are people in this country, willing to fight for the right, many of us won’t give up our second amendment rights,” said Richmond.

The dealer at “Guns of Distinction” says a number of his first time gun buyers are buying weapons in response to recent layoffs at valley police departments, including in the cities of Indio and Cathedral City.

They’re also concerned about parolees now being released early from the state’s prisons because of overcrowding.

FBI background checks for gun purchases in California increased by 17 percent in 2011, compared to the year prior.