Video Story
Watch VideoGun sales, prices up, even during tough economy
Story By: Ryan Wilson
Source: KOAA
Published Sat Dec 27, 2008, 05:54 PM MST
Updated Sat Dec 27, 2008, 10:19 PM MST
It's not your typical stocking stuffer. But for Christmas, a lot of people found an assault rifle under the tree. "I got an AR-15 for my husband," said Colleen Case.
The holiday sales just boost the latest numbers.
"From the beginning of November till now, (it's been) unbelievable," said Mel Bernstein, owner of Dragon Arms. That's a gun store east of Colorado Springs.
Sales there are up 500-percent, selling about 40 guns a week over the last two months. Saturday was no different as more people bought guns and the last AR-15 here was sold.
"Going to this biker right here, proud owner," says Bernstein while handing it to the biker to hold.
Gun owners are worried president elect-Barack Obama will make buying assault rifles illegal. That set off a buying spree, and sent prices soaring. "Three months ago these were $350 dollars," Bernstein said holding an assault rifle. "Every week since then, they've been going up 25 to 30 dollars."
There's also another trend. More women are buying and shooting guns. "it's just fun, said Colleen Case.
Her sister-in-law Jenny Case has been shooting for about two months and does it in part, for that sense of security. "I feel a lot more confident, for example if my husband's not home, I have a five year old I want to be able to know that I can protect her," she said.
As the economy falters, gun sales appear to be firing on all cylinders, driven in part by a new consumer market and, in part, by the possibility of guns being taken off the market, that owners love to shoot and would hate to lose.
