"Thank you for this great post"
Arise and Shine
Good Safe Solid Business During Hard Times As People Prepare
Good Safe Solid Business During Hard Times As People Prepare
Barack Obama is “a gun-snatcher,” said Jim Pruett, left, owner of Jim Pruett’s Guns and Ammo in northwest Houston, He said sales had been booming recently
November 6, 2008 - On Concerns Over Gun Control, Gun Sales Are Up
11-07-08 Gun Sales Skyrocket After Obama Elected
10/29/2008 Gun Sales On Rise In Florida On Fear Of An Obama Presidency
October 28, 2008 - Gun sales up in Connecticut
October 29, 2008 - Gun shops in New Mexico see a huge rise in gun purchases in anticipation of an Obama Administration Judging by other reports this is becoming a national trend
*****************************************************
Obama election prompts surge in US gun sales
*****************************************************
Guardian UK
McClatchy newspapers
Friday November 7 2008
http://www. guardian. co. uk/world/2008/nov/07/uselections2008-bara...
Barack Obama said he would improve the economy.Turns out he already has, at least in one retail niche: gun sales
Starting in the days before the election, gun shops have been mobbed by buyers who fear that Obama and a larger Democratic majority in Congress will restrict firearm sales
Many were stocking up on things such as assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and handguns that they think would be the most likely targets of new laws, though practically everything related to shooting has been selling more quickly
"It's been an absolute madhouse," said Trey Pugh, a manager at Jim's Pawn Shop in Fayetteville, which is selling 15 to 20 AR-15 assault rifles a day."I'm getting guys come in and say I always wanted that gun, and give me that one too and that one and, oh, I need a gun safe, too"
Distributors are running out of assault rifles, he said, and prices are rising
On the stump, Obama didn't discuss sweeping changes to gun laws. But his stance that local authorities should be able to make "sensible" laws has worried some, as has the fact that many Democrats in Congress favor additional restrictions.The National Rifle Association, among others, stoked these fears during the election
Many purchases appear to be panic buying, Pugh said, because the government could not pass new gun laws before next year.Between the election, fears that the sour economy will spur more crime, hunting season and Christmas sales, the next couple of months will likely be wild for firearms dealers, he said
"Everybody, and I mean everybody, is buying guns right now," Pugh said
Stores in North Carolina, such as Young Guns in Apex and Perry's in Wendell, reported hectic sales and lines at cash registers
"It's been tremendous," said Barry Perry of Perry's Guns in Wendell."We have so many customers that parking has been a problem"
Online gun and shooting supply shops say sales in recent weeks climbed along with Obama's poll numbers
At Villagetactical. com in Oklahoma City, which concentrates mainly on gun parts, sales have doubled since summer, said owner Andy Glunt
"Some of them have said that they think if they don't buy it now, they won't be able to later," he said
Fears of more regulation were fueled by an NRA campaign that said Obama would crack down on guns That notion was amplified in gun forums such as glocktalk. com and AR15. com, where swarms of posters talked of having bought "Obama guns" or detailed election-related gun and ammo purchases.Some even speculated on things such as how a firearms confiscation plan would work
It's hard to gauge the likelihood of new laws. Obama has said that local jurisdictions should be able to impose regulations on guns to reduce crime on city streets.At the same time, he said owning guns, including handguns, is an American tradition and should remain legal
Obama, who taught constitutional law, has said that he believes gun ownership is an individual right
It's also unclear whether a serious push for regulation is likely from Congress. The number of Democrats there who support gun rights has been increasing.Also, the party fell short Tuesday of winning a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, leaving Republicans leverage against laws they don't like
Still, many gun owners fear that Obama will cave in to demands from members of his party who harbor extreme anti-gun views, said Wayne LaPierre, vice-president of the NRA
Obama campaigned as a supporter of gun rights, but the media never pinned him down completely on contradictions in his record, LaPierre said
"The reason gun sales are rising is that gun owners and second amendment enthusiasts are justifiably suspicious," he said
A Clinton-era ban on some semi-automatic assault weapons and parts such as high-capacity, military-style magazines was a political disaster for the Democrats, said LaPierre.The party would pay an even higher political toll if Obama broke the implicit promises he made to gun owners during the campaign
Alan Chapman, an IT professional who lives in Durham, bought a rifle similar to the AK-47 and a semi-automatic handgun in recent weeks because he expects tighter laws and higher prices.A neighbour bought a handgun for the same reason, he said
"I just wish I could afford more," Chapman said."Prices are going to go up after the election just based on fear"
He thinks the Democrats could attack concealed carry permits, but that the most likely change is a new assault weapons ban
Longtime handgun owner Bob Nitchke of Mooreseville, who posts on glocktalk. com, isn't thrilled with the possibility of more regulation.But he thinks the panic over Obama is out of proportion to any threat
"I don't think anything is going to happen, particularly in the first couple of years," he said."I just don't think it's a priority right now, because they've got bigger things to deal with, like the economy"
Anything that's more extreme than the assault weapons ban, such as a bill to stop handgun sales, would be a political disaster, and just seems unlikely
"What I do know is that gun stores are making a lot of money," he said
Glunt, the owner of the online shop, said he wasn't completely happy about that windfall
"I'd rather have business a little slower and not have a threat to our second amendment," he said
Sales of guns are on the rise in FL due to voters fears of an Obama presidency (who cares neither candidate was born in US and all for Bilderberg Rothschild CFR AIPAC foreign policies, no difference)
Marc Maron talks to a gun shop owner in Las Vegas NV, who informs him gun sales are going up as Obama is leading in the polls and the locals are afraid of "Obamanition"
Brent Willard reaches for a hand gun while helping a customer at the hand gun counter at the Bulls Eye Pistol Range and gun shop in Wichita, Kansas USA, on Sunday
*******************************************
Gun Sales Thriving In Uncertain Times
*******************************************
Economic woes, fears that Dems will enact new controls drive increase
Washington Post
Oct 26, 2008
http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/27393833/
Americans have cut back on buying cars, furniture and clothes in a tough economy, but there's one consumer item that's still enjoying healthy sales: guns.Purchases of firearms and ammunition have risen 8 to 10 percent this year, according to state and federal data
Several variables drive sales, but many dealers, buyers and experts attribute the increase in part to concerns about the economy and fears that if Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois wins the presidency, he will join with fellow Democrats in Congress to enact new gun controls.Obama has said that he believes in an individual right to bear arms but that he also supports "common-sense safety measures"
"Even though [Obama] has a lot going for him, he's not very pro-gun," said Paul Pluff, a spokesman for Massachusetts-based Smith & Wesson, which has reported higher sales.Gun enthusiasts are "going to go out and get [firearms] while they still can"
Gun purchases have also been climbing because of the worsening economy, which fuels fears of crime and civil disorder, industry sources and specialists said
"Generally, we know that hard economic times always result in firearm sales," said James M.Purtilo of Silver Spring, who publishes the Tripwire Newsletter
Gary Kleck, a researcher at Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice whose work was cited in the District's recent Supreme Court gun-control case, said that although there are no scientific studies linking gun sales and economic conditions, people often buy firearms during periods of uncertainty.People often buy weapons because of concerns about personal safety or government actions to limit access to firearms, causing spikes in sales, Kleck said
Industry experts and law enforcement officials point to several examples over the years. In 1994, there was a rush to buy guns when President Bill Clinton pushed for a ban on military-style semiautomatic rifles. Handgun sales jumped last year after the massacre at Virginia Tech as some worried about personal protection and others feared sweeping restrictions on handguns, pushing applications for concealed gun permits in Virginia alone up 60 percent.People also rushed to buy guns after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles and the breakdown of order in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina
Bob Leyshion, who visited a gun shop in Manassas recently, said the economic crisis and Obama's lead in the polls were on his mind
"People are preparing for catastrophe right now," said Leyshion, 55, of Nokesville. "It's insurance.With the stock market crash and people out of work, and the illegal aliens in this area, the probability of civil disorder is very high"
Gun owners haven't been especially thrilled about the prospect of Sen. John McCain in the White House.They see the Arizona Republican as less of a threat than Obama, but they are still angry over McCain's support for certain gun-control measures in the past, such as requiring purchasers at gun shows to undergo background checks
Gun owners said McCain's moose-hunting running mate, Alaska Gov.Sarah Palin, is far more likely to champion Second Amendment rights
"The industry and sportsmen have not been in love with McCain, but the selection of Palin wiped that all away," said Anthony Aeschliman, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation
More than three dozen interviews with gun dealers and buyers in Virginia and Maryland and with experts nationwide indicated that the increase in gun sales appears to be driven predominantly by concerns about the presidential election and the economy
Gun buyers were more likely to say they were responding to the political situation than to the economy, and all but three people said they feared that Obama would restrict gun rights.Two who indicated that they would support Obama anyway said their concerns about the economy and health care outweighed those about gun rights
Most buyers who emphasized the economy said they thought the worsening situation could lead to an increase in crime and jeopardize their safety.A few said they were buying guns as an investment
"Look at the political situation and the financial situation," said Fred Russell, owner of Russell's Gun Emporium in Hagerstown, Md. "It's common sense.People are scared"
Brad, 42, and Margaret Marcus, 47, who were at a Fairfax County shooting range recently with their two children for weekly target practice, said they sped up the purchase of two semiautomatic rifles that had been banned during the Clinton administration because they feared they could become illegal again if Obama wins.The couple, who run an online retailing business from their Ashburn home, said they viewed Obama's remarks about protecting the Second Amendment as campaign trail "pandering"
"I think right now people are scared Obama is going to take their rights away," said Margaret Marcus, who was carrying a Glock 19 9mm semiautomatic pistol under a blue jean jacket embroidered with "Winnie the Pooh" characters."He's definitely anti-gun, despite what you see in the mainstream media"
Law enforcement and industry data and anecdotal reports show that guns are selling well this year. In 2008, there were 8.4 million background checks from Jan. 1 to Sept. 28, compared with 7.7 million in the same period last year, a 9 percent increase, according to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System
The increase is also notable because it follows a heavy year for gun purchases, which industry officials and experts link to the Virginia Tech shootings in April 2007 and a burgeoning housing market crisis.NICS checks show a 20 percent increase in April 2007, compared with the previous year
This year's jump is a continuation of a trend that began in 2006, or about the time the housing bubble popped in parts of the nation, and remained steady last year as the political season began to take shape and the housing crisis grew.It is also a bigger jump than the average annual increases of about 5 percent or less typical since instant background checks began in 1998
Federal tax data also show that quarterly excise taxes collected on sales of firearms and ammunition have increased about 10 percent this year, compared with last year, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation
Gunmakers see the same trend. "We're ahead of last year," said Pluff, of Smith & Wesson."There's a few things that drive the market, and one of them is political elections"
On a recent weekend this month, a crowd of lookers and buyers milled around in the Virginia Arms Co. in Manassas. Some were shopping for large-capacity magazines, or clips, that attach to firearms and hold additional rounds of ammo.Those were banned during the Clinton administration and became legal again when the ban expired
"I'm looking for gun clips because I got the funny feeling that prices are going to rise, or they're going to be banned," said Wayne Heglar, 48, who lives in Aldie and builds custom motorcycles.Heglar said he also planned to stock up on ammo
"When the Democrats are in office, it seems like anti-gunners come out of the woodwork," Heglar said. He said expected Obama to use tax law to restrict gun ownership."A bullet will be a luxury," he said
At Clark Brothers Gun Shop in Warrenton, a sign over the door says: "Experts Agree . . . Gun Control Works!" Underneath are photos of Hitler, Stalin, Fidel Castro and Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.There are also posters that criticize Obama's record on guns
Steve Clark, the shop's owner, said customers have been buying weapons they fear would be restricted and that have been before, such as Colt AR-15s, semiautomatic rifles that go for $1,100
"What I hear a lot is fear that Barack will win the election and tax everything to the point that you can't afford anything," said salesman Eugene Proko, 51
Eddie NWO Censored
October 23, 2008 - Pawn Shops Doing Brisk Business
************************************************************************
Down and Out in Beverly Hills: Rolexes, Picassos Hit Pawnshops
************************************************************************
Bloomberg News
By Michael Janofsky
http://www. bloomberg. com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aQhOlWCOH...
Nov.7 (Bloomberg) -- The worse the economy gets, the better it is for Jordan Tabach-Bank
....Business is booming,'' said Tabach-Bank, the chief executive officer of Beverly Loan Co.in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Loan is a pawnshop. Not just any pawnshop, but the kind that caters to people who hock Cartiers, Harley- Davidsons and Oscar statuettes when they need cash.They really need it now, Tabach-Bank said from a third-floor office, protected by bulletproof glass, off his showroom in the Bank of America building near Rodeo Drive
....I've never seen so many bankers, lawyers, doctors and actors'' with valuable things to pawn, he said. He pointed to an 18-carat white gold bracelet with 69 diamonds ($2,900) and an 18-carat yellow gold Rolex Yachtmaster II (....a steal'' at $18,500)
With credit drying up at regular lenders, ....in many cases now, we're not just the bank of last resort,'' Tabach-Bank said. ....We're the bank of only resort''
High-end pawnshops aren't like most of the 10,000 dealers affiliated with the National Pawnbrokers Association, a Keller, Texas-based trade group. The average U.S.pawn transaction is $75, according to the association's Web site
$27 Million Necklace
At Tabach-Bank's shop, ....confidential collateral loans,'' as they're called, have been made on art works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Amounts loaned range from several thousand dollars to ....six- and seven-figure deals,'' he said, with clients using the money to cover the mortgage, make alimony payments or finance cosmetic surgery
South Beverly Jewelry and Loan, also in Beverly Hills, has seen business triple in the past six months, said owner Yossi Dina.Some of the collateral is in a parking lot: About 60 cars, including Ferraris, Porsches and a Bentley
....We're making loans today we never used to,'' Dina, 54, said. ....Millions -- never used to have that. We're selling a necklace now, the client wants $2.7 million''
The thriving pawnshops show that hard times have reached even Beverly Hills, where the average per-capita income in 2006 was $50,218, almost triple that of all of Los Angeles County, according to the city of Beverly Hills Web site
The median price for Beverly Hills homes sold in the 12 months through September was $13 million, according to Trulia. com, which tracks local residential sales.That was down 16 percent from the year-earlier period
Climbing Defaults
The pawning surge has a drawback, according to shop owners. Just as falling real estate prices have led to record foreclosures in some cities, customer defaults have climbed by ....a couple of points over the last six months'' said Tabach- Bank
At Collateral Lender Inc.of Beverly Hills, the redemption rate has fallen seven percentage points to 82 percent and will likely drop more during the next six months, said owner Tal Schmargal, 52
People who fail to reclaim an item generally don't return to pawn another, brokers say.The ideal client is one who hocks a gold watch, redeems it by paying back the loan amount and interest, then hocks it again when the need arises
....We want them to get their goods back,'' Tabach-Bank said
Under California law, a pawned item remains in a shop for four months and 10 days, after which the client may get it back by paying off the loan or delay redemption by paying just the interest
The state dictates interest rates for loans up to $2,500, lenders for loans higher than that.The usual rate at Beverly Loan is 4 percent a month, Tabach-Bank said
Larger Diamonds
In downtown Los Angeles, King's Jewelry & Loan began seeing luxury business pick up about 18 months ago when variable-rate mortgages started resetting to higher payments, said owner Sam Shocket, 54, a member of the national association's board
....We were seeing more Rolexes, Patek-Philippe watches, larger diamonds,'' said Shocket, who deals almost exclusively with jewelry
....Instead of construction workers, we'd see major contractors,'' Shocket said of his customers. ....Instead of real estate agents, we'd see brokers. Instead of actors who played bit parts, we'd see someone you might recognize from ..The Tonight Show' ''
People who pawn in Beverly Hills confess to a wide variety of needs. Dina said he has loaned money to producers to finish movies. Tabach-Bank said clients have pawned items to pay for mortgages, emergency health-care, ....tummy tucks and face lifts'' and gambling debts, ....especially around Super Bowl season''
Keeping Secrets
Some clients trade in things they just don't want anymore, leaving them for the shop to sell. Beverly Loan has several cases of jewelry, including a white gold bracelet that would retail for about $38,000, Tabach-Bank said.His price is $20,000
The shop is also selling signed works by Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Norman Rockwell and Al Hirschfeld.Prices range from $2,500 for a Keith Haring to $250,000 for a Warhol print
Brokers in Beverly Hills won't identify clients, citing confidentiality as a cornerstone of their success
....We're like bartenders,'' Tabach-Bank said. ....People spill their guts to us even if it's embarrassing to them.They know we won't talk''
To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Janofsky in Los Angeles, at mjanofsky@bloomberg.net
‘’LET THEM EAT CUPCAKES’’ – Said Mary Antoinette when told of the STARVING FRENCH PEOPLE BEFORE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
Barack Obama is “a gun-snatcher,” said Jim Pruett, left, owner of Jim Pruett’s Guns and Ammo in northwest Houston, He said sales had been booming recently
November 6, 2008 - On Concerns Over Gun Control, Gun Sales Are Up
11-07-08 Gun Sales Skyrocket After Obama Elected
10/29/2008 Gun Sales On Rise In Florida On Fear Of An Obama Presidency
October 28, 2008 - Gun sales up in Connecticut
October 29, 2008 - Gun shops in New Mexico see a huge rise in gun purchases in anticipation of an Obama Administration Judging by other reports this is becoming a national trend
*****************************************************
Obama election prompts surge in US gun sales
*****************************************************
Guardian UK
McClatchy newspapers
Friday November 7 2008
http://www. guardian. co. uk/world/2008/nov/07/uselections2008-bara...
Barack Obama said he would improve the economy.Turns out he already has, at least in one retail niche: gun sales
Starting in the days before the election, gun shops have been mobbed by buyers who fear that Obama and a larger Democratic majority in Congress will restrict firearm sales
Many were stocking up on things such as assault rifles, high-capacity magazines and handguns that they think would be the most likely targets of new laws, though practically everything related to shooting has been selling more quickly
"It's been an absolute madhouse," said Trey Pugh, a manager at Jim's Pawn Shop in Fayetteville, which is selling 15 to 20 AR-15 assault rifles a day."I'm getting guys come in and say I always wanted that gun, and give me that one too and that one and, oh, I need a gun safe, too"
Distributors are running out of assault rifles, he said, and prices are rising
On the stump, Obama didn't discuss sweeping changes to gun laws. But his stance that local authorities should be able to make "sensible" laws has worried some, as has the fact that many Democrats in Congress favor additional restrictions.The National Rifle Association, among others, stoked these fears during the election
Many purchases appear to be panic buying, Pugh said, because the government could not pass new gun laws before next year.Between the election, fears that the sour economy will spur more crime, hunting season and Christmas sales, the next couple of months will likely be wild for firearms dealers, he said
"Everybody, and I mean everybody, is buying guns right now," Pugh said
Stores in North Carolina, such as Young Guns in Apex and Perry's in Wendell, reported hectic sales and lines at cash registers
"It's been tremendous," said Barry Perry of Perry's Guns in Wendell."We have so many customers that parking has been a problem"
Online gun and shooting supply shops say sales in recent weeks climbed along with Obama's poll numbers
At Villagetactical. com in Oklahoma City, which concentrates mainly on gun parts, sales have doubled since summer, said owner Andy Glunt
"Some of them have said that they think if they don't buy it now, they won't be able to later," he said
Fears of more regulation were fueled by an NRA campaign that said Obama would crack down on guns That notion was amplified in gun forums such as glocktalk. com and AR15. com, where swarms of posters talked of having bought "Obama guns" or detailed election-related gun and ammo purchases.Some even speculated on things such as how a firearms confiscation plan would work
It's hard to gauge the likelihood of new laws. Obama has said that local jurisdictions should be able to impose regulations on guns to reduce crime on city streets.At the same time, he said owning guns, including handguns, is an American tradition and should remain legal
Obama, who taught constitutional law, has said that he believes gun ownership is an individual right
It's also unclear whether a serious push for regulation is likely from Congress. The number of Democrats there who support gun rights has been increasing.Also, the party fell short Tuesday of winning a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate, leaving Republicans leverage against laws they don't like
Still, many gun owners fear that Obama will cave in to demands from members of his party who harbor extreme anti-gun views, said Wayne LaPierre, vice-president of the NRA
Obama campaigned as a supporter of gun rights, but the media never pinned him down completely on contradictions in his record, LaPierre said
"The reason gun sales are rising is that gun owners and second amendment enthusiasts are justifiably suspicious," he said
A Clinton-era ban on some semi-automatic assault weapons and parts such as high-capacity, military-style magazines was a political disaster for the Democrats, said LaPierre.The party would pay an even higher political toll if Obama broke the implicit promises he made to gun owners during the campaign
Alan Chapman, an IT professional who lives in Durham, bought a rifle similar to the AK-47 and a semi-automatic handgun in recent weeks because he expects tighter laws and higher prices.A neighbour bought a handgun for the same reason, he said
"I just wish I could afford more," Chapman said."Prices are going to go up after the election just based on fear"
He thinks the Democrats could attack concealed carry permits, but that the most likely change is a new assault weapons ban
Longtime handgun owner Bob Nitchke of Mooreseville, who posts on glocktalk. com, isn't thrilled with the possibility of more regulation.But he thinks the panic over Obama is out of proportion to any threat
"I don't think anything is going to happen, particularly in the first couple of years," he said."I just don't think it's a priority right now, because they've got bigger things to deal with, like the economy"
Anything that's more extreme than the assault weapons ban, such as a bill to stop handgun sales, would be a political disaster, and just seems unlikely
"What I do know is that gun stores are making a lot of money," he said
Glunt, the owner of the online shop, said he wasn't completely happy about that windfall
"I'd rather have business a little slower and not have a threat to our second amendment," he said
Sales of guns are on the rise in FL due to voters fears of an Obama presidency (who cares neither candidate was born in US and all for Bilderberg Rothschild CFR AIPAC foreign policies, no difference)
Marc Maron talks to a gun shop owner in Las Vegas NV, who informs him gun sales are going up as Obama is leading in the polls and the locals are afraid of "Obamanition"
Brent Willard reaches for a hand gun while helping a customer at the hand gun counter at the Bulls Eye Pistol Range and gun shop in Wichita, Kansas USA, on Sunday
*******************************************
Gun Sales Thriving In Uncertain Times
*******************************************
Economic woes, fears that Dems will enact new controls drive increase
Washington Post
Oct 26, 2008
http://www. msnbc. msn. com/id/27393833/
Americans have cut back on buying cars, furniture and clothes in a tough economy, but there's one consumer item that's still enjoying healthy sales: guns.Purchases of firearms and ammunition have risen 8 to 10 percent this year, according to state and federal data
Several variables drive sales, but many dealers, buyers and experts attribute the increase in part to concerns about the economy and fears that if Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois wins the presidency, he will join with fellow Democrats in Congress to enact new gun controls.Obama has said that he believes in an individual right to bear arms but that he also supports "common-sense safety measures"
"Even though [Obama] has a lot going for him, he's not very pro-gun," said Paul Pluff, a spokesman for Massachusetts-based Smith & Wesson, which has reported higher sales.Gun enthusiasts are "going to go out and get [firearms] while they still can"
Gun purchases have also been climbing because of the worsening economy, which fuels fears of crime and civil disorder, industry sources and specialists said
"Generally, we know that hard economic times always result in firearm sales," said James M.Purtilo of Silver Spring, who publishes the Tripwire Newsletter
Gary Kleck, a researcher at Florida State University's College of Criminology and Criminal Justice whose work was cited in the District's recent Supreme Court gun-control case, said that although there are no scientific studies linking gun sales and economic conditions, people often buy firearms during periods of uncertainty.People often buy weapons because of concerns about personal safety or government actions to limit access to firearms, causing spikes in sales, Kleck said
Industry experts and law enforcement officials point to several examples over the years. In 1994, there was a rush to buy guns when President Bill Clinton pushed for a ban on military-style semiautomatic rifles. Handgun sales jumped last year after the massacre at Virginia Tech as some worried about personal protection and others feared sweeping restrictions on handguns, pushing applications for concealed gun permits in Virginia alone up 60 percent.People also rushed to buy guns after the 1992 riots in Los Angeles and the breakdown of order in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina
Bob Leyshion, who visited a gun shop in Manassas recently, said the economic crisis and Obama's lead in the polls were on his mind
"People are preparing for catastrophe right now," said Leyshion, 55, of Nokesville. "It's insurance.With the stock market crash and people out of work, and the illegal aliens in this area, the probability of civil disorder is very high"
Gun owners haven't been especially thrilled about the prospect of Sen. John McCain in the White House.They see the Arizona Republican as less of a threat than Obama, but they are still angry over McCain's support for certain gun-control measures in the past, such as requiring purchasers at gun shows to undergo background checks
Gun owners said McCain's moose-hunting running mate, Alaska Gov.Sarah Palin, is far more likely to champion Second Amendment rights
"The industry and sportsmen have not been in love with McCain, but the selection of Palin wiped that all away," said Anthony Aeschliman, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation
More than three dozen interviews with gun dealers and buyers in Virginia and Maryland and with experts nationwide indicated that the increase in gun sales appears to be driven predominantly by concerns about the presidential election and the economy
Gun buyers were more likely to say they were responding to the political situation than to the economy, and all but three people said they feared that Obama would restrict gun rights.Two who indicated that they would support Obama anyway said their concerns about the economy and health care outweighed those about gun rights
Most buyers who emphasized the economy said they thought the worsening situation could lead to an increase in crime and jeopardize their safety.A few said they were buying guns as an investment
"Look at the political situation and the financial situation," said Fred Russell, owner of Russell's Gun Emporium in Hagerstown, Md. "It's common sense.People are scared"
Brad, 42, and Margaret Marcus, 47, who were at a Fairfax County shooting range recently with their two children for weekly target practice, said they sped up the purchase of two semiautomatic rifles that had been banned during the Clinton administration because they feared they could become illegal again if Obama wins.The couple, who run an online retailing business from their Ashburn home, said they viewed Obama's remarks about protecting the Second Amendment as campaign trail "pandering"
"I think right now people are scared Obama is going to take their rights away," said Margaret Marcus, who was carrying a Glock 19 9mm semiautomatic pistol under a blue jean jacket embroidered with "Winnie the Pooh" characters."He's definitely anti-gun, despite what you see in the mainstream media"
Law enforcement and industry data and anecdotal reports show that guns are selling well this year. In 2008, there were 8.4 million background checks from Jan. 1 to Sept. 28, compared with 7.7 million in the same period last year, a 9 percent increase, according to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System
The increase is also notable because it follows a heavy year for gun purchases, which industry officials and experts link to the Virginia Tech shootings in April 2007 and a burgeoning housing market crisis.NICS checks show a 20 percent increase in April 2007, compared with the previous year
This year's jump is a continuation of a trend that began in 2006, or about the time the housing bubble popped in parts of the nation, and remained steady last year as the political season began to take shape and the housing crisis grew.It is also a bigger jump than the average annual increases of about 5 percent or less typical since instant background checks began in 1998
Federal tax data also show that quarterly excise taxes collected on sales of firearms and ammunition have increased about 10 percent this year, compared with last year, according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation
Gunmakers see the same trend. "We're ahead of last year," said Pluff, of Smith & Wesson."There's a few things that drive the market, and one of them is political elections"
On a recent weekend this month, a crowd of lookers and buyers milled around in the Virginia Arms Co. in Manassas. Some were shopping for large-capacity magazines, or clips, that attach to firearms and hold additional rounds of ammo.Those were banned during the Clinton administration and became legal again when the ban expired
"I'm looking for gun clips because I got the funny feeling that prices are going to rise, or they're going to be banned," said Wayne Heglar, 48, who lives in Aldie and builds custom motorcycles.Heglar said he also planned to stock up on ammo
"When the Democrats are in office, it seems like anti-gunners come out of the woodwork," Heglar said. He said expected Obama to use tax law to restrict gun ownership."A bullet will be a luxury," he said
At Clark Brothers Gun Shop in Warrenton, a sign over the door says: "Experts Agree . . . Gun Control Works!" Underneath are photos of Hitler, Stalin, Fidel Castro and Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi.There are also posters that criticize Obama's record on guns
Steve Clark, the shop's owner, said customers have been buying weapons they fear would be restricted and that have been before, such as Colt AR-15s, semiautomatic rifles that go for $1,100
"What I hear a lot is fear that Barack will win the election and tax everything to the point that you can't afford anything," said salesman Eugene Proko, 51
Eddie NWO Censored
October 23, 2008 - Pawn Shops Doing Brisk Business
************************************************************************
Down and Out in Beverly Hills: Rolexes, Picassos Hit Pawnshops
************************************************************************
Bloomberg News
By Michael Janofsky
http://www. bloomberg. com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aQhOlWCOH...
Nov.7 (Bloomberg) -- The worse the economy gets, the better it is for Jordan Tabach-Bank
....Business is booming,'' said Tabach-Bank, the chief executive officer of Beverly Loan Co.in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Loan is a pawnshop. Not just any pawnshop, but the kind that caters to people who hock Cartiers, Harley- Davidsons and Oscar statuettes when they need cash.They really need it now, Tabach-Bank said from a third-floor office, protected by bulletproof glass, off his showroom in the Bank of America building near Rodeo Drive
....I've never seen so many bankers, lawyers, doctors and actors'' with valuable things to pawn, he said. He pointed to an 18-carat white gold bracelet with 69 diamonds ($2,900) and an 18-carat yellow gold Rolex Yachtmaster II (....a steal'' at $18,500)
With credit drying up at regular lenders, ....in many cases now, we're not just the bank of last resort,'' Tabach-Bank said. ....We're the bank of only resort''
High-end pawnshops aren't like most of the 10,000 dealers affiliated with the National Pawnbrokers Association, a Keller, Texas-based trade group. The average U.S.pawn transaction is $75, according to the association's Web site
$27 Million Necklace
At Tabach-Bank's shop, ....confidential collateral loans,'' as they're called, have been made on art works by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat. Amounts loaned range from several thousand dollars to ....six- and seven-figure deals,'' he said, with clients using the money to cover the mortgage, make alimony payments or finance cosmetic surgery
South Beverly Jewelry and Loan, also in Beverly Hills, has seen business triple in the past six months, said owner Yossi Dina.Some of the collateral is in a parking lot: About 60 cars, including Ferraris, Porsches and a Bentley
....We're making loans today we never used to,'' Dina, 54, said. ....Millions -- never used to have that. We're selling a necklace now, the client wants $2.7 million''
The thriving pawnshops show that hard times have reached even Beverly Hills, where the average per-capita income in 2006 was $50,218, almost triple that of all of Los Angeles County, according to the city of Beverly Hills Web site
The median price for Beverly Hills homes sold in the 12 months through September was $13 million, according to Trulia. com, which tracks local residential sales.That was down 16 percent from the year-earlier period
Climbing Defaults
The pawning surge has a drawback, according to shop owners. Just as falling real estate prices have led to record foreclosures in some cities, customer defaults have climbed by ....a couple of points over the last six months'' said Tabach- Bank
At Collateral Lender Inc.of Beverly Hills, the redemption rate has fallen seven percentage points to 82 percent and will likely drop more during the next six months, said owner Tal Schmargal, 52
People who fail to reclaim an item generally don't return to pawn another, brokers say.The ideal client is one who hocks a gold watch, redeems it by paying back the loan amount and interest, then hocks it again when the need arises
....We want them to get their goods back,'' Tabach-Bank said
Under California law, a pawned item remains in a shop for four months and 10 days, after which the client may get it back by paying off the loan or delay redemption by paying just the interest
The state dictates interest rates for loans up to $2,500, lenders for loans higher than that.The usual rate at Beverly Loan is 4 percent a month, Tabach-Bank said
Larger Diamonds
In downtown Los Angeles, King's Jewelry & Loan began seeing luxury business pick up about 18 months ago when variable-rate mortgages started resetting to higher payments, said owner Sam Shocket, 54, a member of the national association's board
....We were seeing more Rolexes, Patek-Philippe watches, larger diamonds,'' said Shocket, who deals almost exclusively with jewelry
....Instead of construction workers, we'd see major contractors,'' Shocket said of his customers. ....Instead of real estate agents, we'd see brokers. Instead of actors who played bit parts, we'd see someone you might recognize from ..The Tonight Show' ''
People who pawn in Beverly Hills confess to a wide variety of needs. Dina said he has loaned money to producers to finish movies. Tabach-Bank said clients have pawned items to pay for mortgages, emergency health-care, ....tummy tucks and face lifts'' and gambling debts, ....especially around Super Bowl season''
Keeping Secrets
Some clients trade in things they just don't want anymore, leaving them for the shop to sell. Beverly Loan has several cases of jewelry, including a white gold bracelet that would retail for about $38,000, Tabach-Bank said.His price is $20,000
The shop is also selling signed works by Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg, Norman Rockwell and Al Hirschfeld.Prices range from $2,500 for a Keith Haring to $250,000 for a Warhol print
Brokers in Beverly Hills won't identify clients, citing confidentiality as a cornerstone of their success
....We're like bartenders,'' Tabach-Bank said. ....People spill their guts to us even if it's embarrassing to them.They know we won't talk''
To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Janofsky in Los Angeles, at mjanofsky@bloomberg.net
‘’LET THEM EAT CUPCAKES’’ – Said Mary Antoinette when told of the STARVING FRENCH PEOPLE BEFORE THE FRENCH REVOLUTION
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