Gun sales see record Black Friday
Buyers swamped dealers, causing the FBI center that handles background checks to crash twice.
Was there something in this year's turkeys that made folks want to buy a gun?The day after Thanksgiving saw a record number of background-check requests from gun dealers. The calls came in so fast and furious, in fact, that the FBI centers that handle the requests crashed twice that day, USA Today reports.
Though accurate gun sales numbers are hard to come by, the overwhelming activity suggests that Black Friday was one for the record books for the firearm industry.
The FBI thought it was prepared for the day, particularly after hitting its previous one-day record on Black Friday 2011. That day, the bureau's call center took 129,166 requests.
But this year, the bureau took 154,873 calls, or about a 20% increase. You can't equate that to number of guns sold, however. The buyer may have decided against a purchase at the last minute. Or the buyer might have picked up more than one gun.
What was the reason for the new sales? Observers point to three areas. First, President Obama's re-election may be spurring fears of a new crackdown on guns. Obama hasn't exactly done much in this area -- in fact he signed a law in his first term allowing loaded guns in national parks -- but he did suggest in one of the presidential debates that he was in favor of reintroducing an assault weapons ban.
Another reason is a growing interest in guns on the part of women. The National Rifle Association says that women are its fastest-growing membership group. A final reason is that hunting and other shooting sports are gaining in popularity. MSN Money's Bruce Kennedy reported Wednesday that there was a 9% increase in hunters last year compared with 2006.
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Here's the deal. I am willing to bet ANY Republican $10,000 that over the next 4 years, Obama will NOT take away your guns.
That's right... TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS (in memory of Mitt Romney).
So come on, Republicans. Man up. If you are right, and Obama takes away your guns, you get $10k. But if I am right, and you still have your guns in 4 years, you have to pay me. Let's do this. Put your money where your mouth is.
Come on, Republicans. Show us how deep your convictions go. If you truly believe you are right, then you have the chance to make $10k from one of those dirty liberals.
Let's do it, cowards. I'm calling out every single Republican. Prove that you really believe what you say. Put your money on your belief.
America which has 300 million of the World's 7000 million population has 10,000% more arms and ammunition than the rest of the 6.5 billion of the Earth's total population.
Their is bound to be a a tremendous mass killing event here in this country. Call it a war, a Tea Party revolt, a right-wing conservative correction or whatever; a high volume of ex-Europeans who call themselves "real Americans" are destined to inflict a massive slaughter on all other peoples not fitting to their ideals.
I wonder how many of the Black Friday gun buyers were first-time gun owners - and how many were rednecks and skinheads just adding to the arsenals they already have...
The only purpose of a gun is to kill at a distance. Or, if at close range, fire MANY bullets at the target (see Gabby Giffords). The "recipients" of those bullets don't have to be doing anything wrong or dangerous - the gun itself makes no value judgements. The owner/shooter does that, and there are too many nutjobs out there with too many guns. Gun nuts keep telling us that there are millions of "responsible gun owners" out there. But almost every week we see news reports about a FORMER "responsible gun owner" who planned or perpetrated a massacre. This isn't one-on-one, but the target is an entire schoolroom or mall or movie theater or workplace. This isn't self-defense, but a deliberate desire to end the lives of multiple people (including children) who have not done a thing to deserve it. This isn't done by criminals; it's done by people who, YESTERDAY, were "responsible gun owners."
we no longer live in a free country. we live in a world of social dependendents who have chosen to trade freedom and responsibility for "free" cheese and a promise of security.
the enforcement of drug and firearm prohibition has allowed the gov to turn this country into a pig powered police state and everyday it is becoming more and more like the USSR. don't believe me? type in <border patrol> on youtube and watch video of illegal roadblocks
Then the NRA and gun manufacturers "tell you" that he is going to take your gun away, so you immediately run out and give them your money. You just hand over your money, because they scared you into believing that the President... who has not said one word about taking your guns... is secretly planning to take your guns.
You fall for this crap, which is an obvious ploy to get your money and sell more of their product. You take the bait hook, line and sinker... then claim to be the smart one?
Well in that case... BREAKING NEWS: The President is planning on taking away cars, because he says cars are dangerous and kill people. Quick, go out and buy as many cars as you can before the President takes them away.
What? That is a ridiculous idea and you don't believe me? Oh the irony.
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[BRIEFING.COM] Stocks entered the weekend on a mixed note as the S&P 500 shed 0.1% while the Dow ended with a gain of 0.1%.
The major averages began the day on a lower note as nine of ten sectors saw losses of more than 0.5%.
The consumer staples sector was the lone exception as the group spent the entire day in positive territory thanks to the relative strength of Dow component Procter & Gamble (PG 81.89, +3.19). The second-largest staple stock advanced ... More
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