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Residents stocking up on guns, ammo

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By Samantha Friedman, Staff Writer Updated 10:29 PM Friday, October 9, 2009

Gun sales have increased dramatically across the U.S. since the Obama administration has been in office.

Some citizens who own guns say they fear the Democratic-majority Congress will push legislation to restrict gun ownership.

Although the figures for gun sales across the country and Ohio for this year won’t be available for several months, there is still some indication that emphasis is being placed on gun protection by the number of concealed-carry permits purchased during the first half of 2009.

Holly Hollingsworth of the Ohio Attorney General’s Office said permit approvals from the first half of this year have already surpassed the total for last year.

In Butler County, there were 1,391 new permits purchased and 1,571 renewed in 2008. In the first 6 months of 2009, there have been 1,497 new permits purchased and 604 renewed.

“In 40 years I’ve never seen anything like the Obama effect,” said Howard Matre, owner of Matre Arms and Ammunition in Seven Mile. “People are afraid of what might happen and losing the ability to protect themselves.”

Matre said the issue is the Second Amendment and the fear it might be watered down. He said their warehouse has been overwhelmed with 50 to 100 calls a day from people who need ammunition.

“Ammo sales are down right now, there is a shortage,” Matre said.

Most manufacturers have been able to keep up with gun sales, but ammo has occasionally been in short supply this year.

There have been threatened legislative efforts against ammo sales in some states, so people have been buying as much ammo as they can in calibers they enjoy shooting. “Sales have just skyrocketed,” said Jeanne Stoner, of Stoner Holsters in Middletown.

Stoner said she thinks sales have increased because people are more frightened of crime and want to be able to protect themselves.

“We have people coming in saying they never thought they’d be buying a gun,” she said.