Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
Gun afficinadoes in both Churchill and Northern Lyon counties are gobbling up more guns and ammunition before President-elect Barack Obama takes office in January.
A ban on military-style semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines expired four years ago after the Clinton Administration pushed for new requirements in 1994.
Yet, gun dealers in Fallon and Fernley said the mention of higher taxes and restrictions on certain types of rifles and ammo is causing an increase in sales during the past two weeks.
Kevin Weishaupt, owner of Frontier Liquor and Sporting Goods in Fallon, said he understands the new administration would like to curb sales.
Weishaupt said a partial federal weapon’s ban could be resurrected.
“And he (Obama) has proposed in the past a 500 percent (excise) tax increase on ammo and weapons,” Weishaupt added.
Weishaupt was referring to a federal law banning the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons, known as the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Obama said he supports the second amendment, but he also favors some limitations placed on the sale and usage of certain types of rifles and ammunition.
Weishaupt said Obama has pitched these recommendations because “he knows he can’t take them (weapons) away.”
Weishaupt said business has been very steady, and he has sold many handguns and sporting-type, semi-automatic rifles such as the AR 15 (military version is the M-16), the Mini 14 and the AK-47.
Likewise, Dan Aboytes, a sales representative for True Value Hardware in Fernley, said buyers have been busy purchasing rifles and ammo.
“They (buyers) want to get their guns before anything else happens,” he said.
Aboytes said the Fernley business was packed with buyers.
“We’re actually low on inventory (of ARs),” said Aboytes said. “Our wholesalers are already low on their stock.”
Not only have rifle and handguns sales been brisk, but ammunition has also been a hot commodity.
Cashier Becky Beltran said the most popular ammunition has consisted of the following calibers: .22, .762 and .222.
With the increased business has come longer waits for mandatory background checks. Aboyte said before the election, the average wait for an applicant was under 10 minutes. Now, the time is taking upward to one hour.
Sierra Jewelry and Loan’s Fallon location has also increased its gun sales this month.
“People are asking for more of the semi-automatic rifles,” said store manager Kim Hammer.
Hammer said she has also seen an increase in wait time for background checks.
“On some days we have had to wait for an hour, but ATF is good most of the time,” she added.
According to national statistics, the FBI received more than 374,000 background requests during the first week of November.
David Ford, store manager of the Fallon Wal-Mart, said more ammunition has been sold this month.
“Actually, it’s been significant,” he said.
Because Wal-Mart doesn’t sell semi-automatic rifles, Ford said gun sales have been normal for this time of year.
Likewise, Jimmy Chicola, a salesman at Premier Pawnbrokers, said he hasn’t seen an increase in gun sales, either.
A ban on military-style semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines expired four years ago after the Clinton Administration pushed for new requirements in 1994.
Yet, gun dealers in Fallon and Fernley said the mention of higher taxes and restrictions on certain types of rifles and ammo is causing an increase in sales during the past two weeks.
Kevin Weishaupt, owner of Frontier Liquor and Sporting Goods in Fallon, said he understands the new administration would like to curb sales.
Weishaupt said a partial federal weapon’s ban could be resurrected.
“And he (Obama) has proposed in the past a 500 percent (excise) tax increase on ammo and weapons,” Weishaupt added.
Weishaupt was referring to a federal law banning the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons, known as the Federal Assault Weapons Ban. Obama said he supports the second amendment, but he also favors some limitations placed on the sale and usage of certain types of rifles and ammunition.
Weishaupt said Obama has pitched these recommendations because “he knows he can’t take them (weapons) away.”
Weishaupt said business has been very steady, and he has sold many handguns and sporting-type, semi-automatic rifles such as the AR 15 (military version is the M-16), the Mini 14 and the AK-47.
Likewise, Dan Aboytes, a sales representative for True Value Hardware in Fernley, said buyers have been busy purchasing rifles and ammo.
“They (buyers) want to get their guns before anything else happens,” he said.
Aboytes said the Fernley business was packed with buyers.
“We’re actually low on inventory (of ARs),” said Aboytes said. “Our wholesalers are already low on their stock.”
Not only have rifle and handguns sales been brisk, but ammunition has also been a hot commodity.
Cashier Becky Beltran said the most popular ammunition has consisted of the following calibers: .22, .762 and .222.
With the increased business has come longer waits for mandatory background checks. Aboyte said before the election, the average wait for an applicant was under 10 minutes. Now, the time is taking upward to one hour.
Sierra Jewelry and Loan’s Fallon location has also increased its gun sales this month.
“People are asking for more of the semi-automatic rifles,” said store manager Kim Hammer.
Hammer said she has also seen an increase in wait time for background checks.
“On some days we have had to wait for an hour, but ATF is good most of the time,” she added.
According to national statistics, the FBI received more than 374,000 background requests during the first week of November.
David Ford, store manager of the Fallon Wal-Mart, said more ammunition has been sold this month.
“Actually, it’s been significant,” he said.
Because Wal-Mart doesn’t sell semi-automatic rifles, Ford said gun sales have been normal for this time of year.
Likewise, Jimmy Chicola, a salesman at Premier Pawnbrokers, said he hasn’t seen an increase in gun sales, either.
