Legislation Threat Leads to Record 'Panic Buying' of Guns in SC

On Dec. 14, 2012, Adam Lanza barged into Sandy Hook Elementary School and shot 20 children and six adult staff members. He also killed his mother and himself that day.

That same month saw more background checks for SC gun sales (43,132) than any other month in the 14-year history of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In fact, it was a 31 percent jump over the second-highest month (February 2012). 

But gun store owners say it's not about the shootings, it's about the threat of tougher gun control.

"It's the bans and the limitations that (President Obama) is trying to put on guns and the restrictions on ammunition rounds," said Larry Sligh Jr., owner of Lexington Pawn and Gun.

The NICS statistics — which show a steep increase in background checks ever since Obama was first elected in November 2008 — appear to back Sligh. Deadly shootings such as the movie theater shootings in Aurora and Clackamas Town Center both led to increased discussions about gun control. That debate reached a fever pitch following Sandy Hook.

In all, background checks for gun sales enjoyed a banner year in South Carolina in 2012. The 308,408 background checks in 2012 were up 34 percent over 2011. The actual gun sales are not tracked — just the background checks needed to purchase guns. (See data from the past 14 years here.)

"You have government stepping in and saying, 'You can't do this,'" said Doc Giunta, owner of Tombstone Firearms in Lexington. "And the more you have government stepping in, the less you're going to stem anything."

Obama's announcement last week of a list of proposals aimed at curbing gun violence and his public push for a renewal of the assault weapons ban of 1994 has many 2nd Amendment advocates awaiting inevitable change. 

And the anticipation of that change can engulf the firearm industry in new demand.

Sligh knows all too well how politics can positively and negatively affect business. Customers have been pouring into his store since right before Christmas. 

"When (Obama) was elected four years ago, it was the same thing," he said. "Except this time it's worse. (The proposed restrictions) are not just on anything, (they're) on everything."

One Upstate gun store owner, Brad Reece of James Firearms in Greer, calls it "panic buying."  

Giunta agrees. 

"There's been a panic with people because they're seeing their liberties fading away," he said. "People are going out and buying firearms more for personal protection." 

An assault weapons ban, gun advocates say, is utterly ineffective at putting a dent in gun crime, and also requires the public and mainstream media to lay down arbitrary definitions of what constitute a prohibited weapon. Collapsible stocks, detachable magazines and other features are viewed by Democrats like Diane Feinstein as elements of an "assault weapon," though even the term comes under scrutiny by industry professionals. 

"That's the thing: How do you define assault weapon? You could have a hatchet and call that an assault weapon," Giunta said. "I don't believe that the average person beside the police and the military should have machine guns. That's a little over the top. But everyone has a way that they define what an assault weapon is."

From tax hikes, to magazine capacity caps, to bans - gun retailers and manufacturers are expecting something to successfully hit President Obama's desk that will make them alter their business model. When you deal in a product that can kill, change is nothing new. 

While the industry may take a major hit if all of Obama's proposals become reality, gun store owners don't think it would change the reality on the ground.

"It's just like drugs," Giunta said. "If you're going to do something, it's going to happen because the drugs are out there."

Giunta says most people want guns either for protection or for a sport like hunting, especially in South Carolina. While he does believe in tighter rules on background checks, Giunta said putting restrictions on guns or ammunition will only stop people from enjoying their sport or the freedom to protect themselves.

"The only ones who do harm with guns are the bad guys," he said. "It's the law-abiding citizens who will suffer."