Local Dealers Report Steady Sales and Shortages
When it comes to selling things these days, there are a lot of homes on the market but not too many buyers.
A lot of cars on lots but not too many people test driving.
But it's a very different bottom line when it comes to handguns.
Cliff Boyd owner of the Cliff's Rifle Shop in Traverse City says "our business has been very steady now we have quite an increase in demand for handguns, and handgun ammo, powder, primers, reloading supplies, definitely a surge in the demand for that."
But these days, it's a different customer coming in reaching for a rifle and picking up a pistol. Cliff described it as "small amounts of people that are buying firearms both shotguns, home defense firearms as well as handguns that have never owned a gun in their life."
Cliff isn't alone. In fact across the country, gun sales are up. I took a look through the latest FBI statistics...according to the bureau gun sales rose last year by more than 8 percent with some regional locations seeing nearly double that amount. Those numbers have paced even higher since November. Experts blame two factors, panic over the economy, and concerns an Obama administration may revisit gun control laws.
Those increased sales have actually made it difficult for most retailers to get shipments of guns to replace the ones flying off their shelves.
Cliff says "in terms of handguns this has been the toughest time we have ever had for handguns, no question about that."
Cliff and other stores I checked with are reporting the same thing lots of customers coming in to buy "but supply is where the downfall is right at the present time it seems like the supply is running out or it certainly is very short and when we have difficulty getting guns they are just not out there because we have very good sources."
So guns are being sold but right now if you want to come in and pick one out you may have to wait. Shipments to dealers that used to have dozens of models may now only have a few. It seems manufacturers are rerouting shipments to those regions, and metropolitan areas where sales are soaring and not to feel up empty racks here. Cliff says "there have been different manufacturers that we have gone weeks without seeing any firearms."
