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Gun show business booming
Donna McCutcheon doesn’t hunt or own a gun, yet still wants the right to bear arms. But as she surveyed hundreds of weapons enthusiasts during the weekend Eastman Gun and Knife Show at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, she thought many were displaying overkill.
“It seems like everyone’s scared,” the Adairsville resident said on Saturday. “I know the new (Obama) administration is for gun control, but I think it will be limited in what they can do. As far as a ban goes, I don’t see how they could take all the guns away, but it seems like everyone here is scared all the guns are going to be bought up or taken away. I just want the right to have a gun.”
Concern over a new Democratic president and Democratic Congress limiting gun rights ran deep at the show.
“There’s definitely an increase of people here today,” said Ron Thompson of Dalton, who attends gun shows regularly. “Ammo has doubled in price, guns have doubled in price. The shelf life of ammo is not as long as it used to be, so you can’t store large quantities like you used to. I hope (Obama) does well, but he doesn’t need to be messing with our gun rights — if he does, there’ll be resistance.”
Lawrence “Bubba” Mauldin of Bubba’s Pawn and Jewelry said that line of thinking was driving business to his store in Calhoun.
“I’ve seen an upsurge since two weeks before the (November) election,” he said. “It’s getting better and better — business has increased by at least 50 percent. People are afraid. They’re coming in every day and saying, ‘They’re going to take our guns away!’ I can tell you this, there’s going to be a fight if they try and take our guns away.”
National Rifle Association recruiter Herb Speas of Morganton, N.C., said from his booth, “We’re definitely seeing more people join with the new president.”
Melanie Smith of Adairsville has been a vendor at gun shows for 10 years, and noted an increase in attendance six months before last fall’s presidential election.
“Before the election people were buying up certain types of guns and ammo — like semi-automatics — because they thought they would become restricted,” she said. “Everyone was hesitant and didn’t know what was going to happen. And I think people still aren’t sure. That’s why attendance is up so much.”
Robert McKay of Villanow, who specializes in duplicating “siege weapons” from 2,500 years ago up to the 14th century, was carrying around an “ancient Chinese semi-automatic crossbow” he made out of wood. He’s also seen an increase in attendance.
“I think people fear things are going to change,” he said, “and that they will not be able to freely see shows like this anymore. I don’t think guns will be banned, but I do think they will be restricted. I believe they’re stacking the deck against us, and whether they restrict guns or ammo, either way the end result is the same.
“They may try to move in these changes slow, but there will be resistance.”
Carlos James, originally from Brunswick but now living in the Dalton area, was one of the few blacks in the crowd.
“I’ve been trying to find a gun for protection, something my wife can be comfortable with,” he explained. “As far as Obama goes, the last thing I heard was that he was going to try and get rid of guns, but I don’t think that will pan out. People need guns to protect their homes, otherwise crime will go up.”
James said he settled on a .40-caliber “Israeli Desert Eagle” at the gun show.
“I sold a .45-caliber years ago, but I feel more comfortable with a smaller gun,” he said. “I had two or three guys in front of me when I bought (the Eagle). I’m waiting to pick it up.”
Lee Morris owns The AR Bunker in Newnan and markets at 40 shows a year.
“There’s a 70 to 80 percent increase in attendance overall,” he said. “This is the biggest Dalton show ever — by a long shot. The reason is the election. People want to get something before they’re not able to. There’s been an increase of ammo sales in my shop. They believe primers (that set off the gunpowder in the bullet) will go inert after three years, or the price of ammo is going to see a 500 percent increase.”
Doug Janousek of Ellijay had a display of Civil War pistols, but wasn’t making any sales.
“They’re buying ‘Rambo’ weapons and ammo,” he observed, “the AK-47s (Russian semi-automatic rifle) and stuff like that by the ton. I think we’re on the fast pace to socialism. They’re already talking about putting markings on the ammo to be able to tell who’s got it.”
Jose Diaz of Dalton, who brought his wife and three children to the show, seemed awed by the sheer amount of weaponry.
“I don’t know if it’s a good idea to sell guns at a show like this,” he said. “There’s just too many of them. There’s already too many criminals in the streets because it’s so easy to get a gun.”
Matt Eastman, who brought the gun show to town and hosts 30 shows every year throughout Georgia, said the current stop in Dalton boasted 100 vendors.
“We’ve got the most guns in here we’ve ever had,” he said.
Thompson summed up the thinking.
“Everybody thinks things just happen on TV until it hits them in the face,” he said. “Now everybody’s afraid.”
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