Gun sales have skyrocketed across the nation since Democrat Barack Obama was elected president in November. Many gun owners fear the new president will seek new restrictions on gun ownership.
But Rick Taggert, owner of Alpha Omega Firearms, in Syracuse isn’t worried. He’s putting his faith in the National Rifle Association to oppose government gun-grabbers.
“What are they going to do? Come knock on my door and take my guns? I think the NRA is a strong lobby and will keep that from happening,” said Taggert.
Gun control remains a volatile national and local issue. Nationally, it’s unclear whether President-elect Barack Obama will pursue restrictions on gun ownership. At a press conference in Chicago on December 7th, Obama said that no one should worry that he will curb gun rights as president.
“Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear,” said Obama.
In New York, state legislators are considering several pieces of gun control legislation.
Onondaga County has approximately 46,000 firearms owners, according to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Pistol License Unit.
Americans have contradictory views on gun control. A Quinnipiac University poll taken in summer 2008, for example, suggests that most people would support stricter gun control. Out of the 1,783 registered voters surveyed nationwide, 54 percent said they support stricter gun control laws in the United States; 40 percent opposed and 5 percent .
Thomas Buckel, a Democrat who represents the 7th District in the Onondaga County Legislature, agrees with those who support stricter gun control.
“We have a terrible epidemic of urban violence, especially among urban youths. And much like we address the use of alcohol and tobacco as public safety, we need to restrict the usage of guns, especially among youths,” said Buckel.
In the New York state legislature, several bills on guns await action, according to Project Sunlight, a Web site that tracks New York State Assembly bills and laws.
For example, bill number A4657, sponsored by Adriano Espaillat, D-New York City, would hold gun manufacturers liable damages, including punitive damages, “if the weapon they produced was acquired illegally and used to injure or kill a person in New York state.” The bill was referred to the judiciary committee on January 9th of this year and has been tabled since.
At Alpha Omega Firearms in Syracuse, owner Rick Taggert suggestss that some of his customers may have “jumped the gun” on Obama’s potential plans. “My gun sales have soared since the election. It’s great. But, people may be too quick to judge what Obama is going to do on gun control,” said Taggert.
As an Illinois state lawmaker, Obama supported a ban on all forms of semiautomatic weapons and tighter state restrictions generally on firearms. A semi-automatic weapon will fire one round and instantly load the next round with each pull of the trigger. Semi-automatic firearms fire as rapidly as the shooter can pull the trigger.
A ban on semi-automatic weapons would put him out of business, said Taggert. “All I’d have left to sell would be a few musket rifles,” said Taggert.
He dismisses the effectiveness or gun-control laws and downplays the national and local debate about what to do about guns. Said Taggert: “Those who clamor for weapons will find a way to get them.”
(Landon Sears is a senior majoring in broadcast journalism.)
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