Gun sales rise in Bakersfield

By Rachel Leach
Staff Writer

Gene Thome of Bear Mountain Sports here in Bakersfield is having a difficult time staying on top of all the orders he is getting on guns, ammo and gear. He has been very busy and is working hard to keep a full stock of all products in his store.
When asked if he has seen a rise in gun sales, he assured me they had. "Oh yeah," he said. "They've gone up about 400 percent."
He said that people are stocking up mostly due to the recent election of our new President. "It's because of Obama and his past voting record. He's been anti-gun and because of that, he'll probably make another attempt at even more gun bans."
The firearms-purchasing frenzy is good news for Gene and his store and even gun stores nationwide; business is definitely booming. Corrections officer, Elliott Hopkins, of the Pelican Bay Correctional Facility said he too has noticed a significant increase in the amount of guns and ammunition sales not only in Bakersfield but statewide.
"Sales are up everywhere; I think that a lot of people are worried that the new administration is going to take away the rights of gun owners." Hopkins says that the actual price of the firearms has gone up as well.
That does not seem to be stopping anyone though. Most people apparently haven't minded spending more money on their purchases so long as they still have their 2nd Amendment rights. It makes sense that the sky rocketing gun sales is a result of the election of Barack Obama. It's doubtful that it's just sheer coincidence that since his election firearms sales have increased up to 400 percent just in Bakersfield. Besides, he's got the voting record to prove it; can't argue with that.
In fact, Chris Cox of the NRA had an interview with Fox News toward the end of the presidential campaign. He said that numerous times Obama has promised to protect an individual's rights to own guns. His own campaign website, which is still up, says in a section titled "Sportsmen," that he will do whatever it takes to protect those rights. However, according to Chris Cox Obama has voted to ban single shot and double barrel shotguns, supported a 500 percent tax increase on guns and ammunition and even supported criminal prosecution for those who use their firearms in self defense.
"People are buying up guns in fear that their rights will be taken away. And they should be worried." (You can watch this interview by doing a simple search on foxnews.com). These readily available facts are what seem to be fueling the locals to head over to their nearest gun shop.
Local gun enthusiast and avid hunter, Alex Valov, said that he and his fellow sportsmen are genuinely worried about the new President's ideology regarding the 2nd Amendment. He said, "The whole city of Bakersfield must feel the exact same. I had to buy my gun in San Luis." The shops he went to in town were sold out of the particular firearm he was looking for. It's no secret that gun sales have increased in light of the new administration's anti-gun history. The potential expansion upon past and even current laws has obviously driven the multitudes into a buying frenzy of firearms and ammo that could be soon outlawed. Local gun owners still remain positive though. They are hopeful that the new administration will recognize the 2nd Amendment and respect the rights that are entailed.