Firearms Too?! What’s REALLY Going On?

[Deleted]

DBF and I went to a sporting goods store yesterday. This store also sells firearms. I was surprised to see a crowd around the firearms counter. Several employees were behind the counter hustling to take care of customers, but there were still a lot of people waiting. It piqued my curiosity enough to pay attention enough to notice that even though there were different faces, the crowd hadn’t lessened by the time we left the store.

Even the store employees were wondering aloud “WHAT is going on?!” They said they never have that kind of crowd in that part of the store. And the customers were buying, not just looking.

I knew about the toilet paper issues and the empty shelves at some grocery stores, but I hadn’t heard about an increase in gun sales. But I saw the crowd and the purchases with my own eyes. 

I was/am really curious about the thought processes that led so many people to the gun counter, and I’m pretty sure the root of it has something to do with this coronavirus mess. But what?

[Deleted]

They have to protect their toilet paper stash.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Is one symptom of Corona virus the loss of rational thinking?

[Tennesseer]

to protect their homes from burglaries to steal food and other needed supplies when the stores run out.  The desperate may be emboldened to take drastic actions.  Home owners want to protect what is theirs.

[Tiny]

Mar 13, 2020 17:12:56 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

to protect their homes from burglaries to steal food and other needed supplies when the stores run out.  The desperate may be emboldened to take drastic actions.  Home owners want to protect what is theirs.

   

 I can't wait to see reports of rural area  "local militias" setting up road blocks to keep strangers out of their communities in order to protect themselves from the virus.  

(and yes, I'm stereotyping all the people who live out in the "corn fields" beyond the Big City.   dang I did it again.   I gotta stop doing that.   but I just keep thinking how frightened I would be to live all alone out some sparsely inhabited area.   I project my fear of "alone"  and the lack of safety that implies on them.         I like living close to my neighbors and that there are lots of neighbors.   I can be "alone" without actually being alone.     )    I'm being somewhat facetious and disingenuous.    I know it's not like that at all.    

[Deleted]

Mar 13, 2020 17:06:57 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Is one symptom of Corona virus the loss of rational thinking?

I promise, I wanted to go up to each person and ask what exactly prompted them to go buy a gun that day. But I’m not completely crazy, so I didn’t ask anybody.

[Deleted]

Mar 13, 2020 17:16:46 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Mar 13, 2020 17:12:56 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

to protect their homes from burglaries to steal food and other needed supplies when the stores run out.  The desperate may be emboldened to take drastic actions.  Home owners want to protect what is theirs.

   

 I can't wait to see reports of rural area  "local militias" setting up road blocks to keep strangers out of their communities in order to protect themselves from the virus.  

(and yes, I'm stereotyping all the people who live out in the "corn fields" beyond the Big City.   dang I did it again.   I gotta stop doing that.   but I just keep thinking how frightened I would be to live all alone out some sparsely inhabited area.   I project my fear of "alone"  and the lack of safety that implies on them.         I like living close to my neighbors and that there are lots of neighbors.   I can be "alone" without actually being alone.     )    I'm being somewhat facetious and disingenuous.    I know it's not like that at all.    

I live up the road from the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. If the militia is setting up, it will probably be here...

I have seen local messages to stock up on ammo. People seem to think Martial Law is coming.

[Deleted]

Mar 13, 2020 17:12:56 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

to protect their homes from burglaries to steal food and other needed supplies when the stores run out.  The desperate may be emboldened to take drastic actions.  Home owners want to protect what is theirs.

I thought about this. I haven’t been to a grocery store lately, but I’ve seen pictures on FB of lines to get into Sam’s and seen posts about empty grocery store shelves locally. And I do believe that even the most upstanding citizen might get desperate enough to do something strange if they get hungry enough and can’t buy any food, especially (imo) if they have children that are hungry too.

If I’d been bold enough to ask complete strangers the questions I wanted to, I wouldn’t have been surprised if this was the answer that some of them gave, whether I thought it was logical or not.

[Deleted]

Mar 13, 2020 17:27:43 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

Mar 13, 2020 17:16:46 GMT -5 Tiny said:

   

 I can't wait to see reports of rural area  "local militias" setting up road blocks to keep strangers out of their communities in order to protect themselves from the virus.  

(and yes, I'm stereotyping all the people who live out in the "corn fields" beyond the Big City.   dang I did it again.   I gotta stop doing that.   but I just keep thinking how frightened I would be to live all alone out some sparsely inhabited area.   I project my fear of "alone"  and the lack of safety that implies on them.         I like living close to my neighbors and that there are lots of neighbors.   I can be "alone" without actually being alone.     )    I'm being somewhat facetious and disingenuous.    I know it's not like that at all.    

I live up the road from the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. If the militia is setting up, it will probably be here...

I have seen local messages to stock up on ammo. People seem to think Martial Law is coming.

I’ve seen posts on FB too saying that this will ultimately result in martial law.

Whatever the gun buyers are thinking, the bottom line is obviously that they think something might happen that will require that they be able to defend themselves. Whether the “something” is scarcity of necessities/martial law/zombies/whatever, they’re thinking something that hadn’t occurred to me.

[Tennesseer]

Mar 13, 2020 17:35:03 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Mar 13, 2020 17:12:56 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

to protect their homes from burglaries to steal food and other needed supplies when the stores run out.  The desperate may be emboldened to take drastic actions.  Home owners want to protect what is theirs.

I thought about this. I haven’t been to a grocery store lately, but I’ve seen pictures on FB of lines to get into Sam’s and seen posts about empty grocery store shelves locally. And I do believe that even the most upstanding citizen might get desperate enough to do something strange if they get hungry enough and can’t buy any food, especially (imo) if they have children that are hungry too.

If I’d been bold enough to ask complete strangers the questions I wanted to, I wouldn’t have been surprised if this was the answer that some of them gave, whether I thought it was logical or not.

I should have written 'home invasions' and not burglaries for the purpose of buying firearms.

But that's my guess for the rush to purchase firearms.

[billisonboard]

Mar 13, 2020 17:27:43 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

Mar 13, 2020 17:16:46 GMT -5 Tiny said:

   

 I can't wait to see reports of rural area  "local militias" setting up road blocks to keep strangers out of their communities in order to protect themselves from the virus.  

(and yes, I'm stereotyping all the people who live out in the "corn fields" beyond the Big City.   dang I did it again.   I gotta stop doing that.   but I just keep thinking how frightened I would be to live all alone out some sparsely inhabited area.   I project my fear of "alone"  and the lack of safety that implies on them.         I like living close to my neighbors and that there are lots of neighbors.   I can be "alone" without actually being alone.     )    I'm being somewhat facetious and disingenuous.    I know it's not like that at all.    

I live up the road from the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. If the militia is setting up, it will probably be here...

I have seen local messages to stock up on ammo. People seem to think Martial Law is coming.

If martial law were to be declared in this situation, it would be because people weren't following isolation requirements. Therefore to "defend yourself", all you would have to do is stay home.

[Deleted]

FTR, I have nothing against firearms. I DO absolutely have issues with irresponsible gun owners though. DBF and I both have guns. I have 1 that is technically my ex-husband’s, he just didn’t take it with him when we separated. And I have one I bought several years ago to protect my home against intruders. That purchase was prompted by a gang member threatening to come to my home to harm my son in the aftermath of him getting caught up in a fight where a parent, her child, and several more students jumped on his friend at school (true story, verified by school administrators and the police). 

I actually enjoy going to the range and shooting up targets, and I’ve always, and still do, hope that’s all I ever use a gun for. DBF likes going to the range too, but I’ve never asked him what made him buy guns in the first place.

I’m not even interested in a permit to carry, because although I’m pretty good in a controlled environment and have no qualms about lighting it up and emptying every magazine and gun available if necessary because there’s an intruder in my home, I don’t have much confidence about a public setting with random innocent people, variables, and unknowns.

All that to say, I own guns myself and yes, I’ve gone out and bought a gun because of something I feared might happen, but it was a specific, stated threat. Not a conspiracy theory or my imagination gone wild. Nor do I have any illusions about possibly being a hero that saves the day in whatever kind of  attack or “war” other people may be imagining.

[weltschmerz]

Mar 13, 2020 16:42:35 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

DBF and I went to a sporting goods store yesterday. This store also sells firearms. I was surprised to see a crowd around the firearms counter. Several employees were behind the counter hustling to take care of customers, but there were still a lot of people waiting. It piqued my curiosity enough to pay attention enough to notice that even though there were different faces, the crowd hadn’t lessened by the time we left the store.

Even the store employees were wondering aloud “WHAT is going on?!” They said they never have that kind of crowd in that part of the store. And the customers were buying, not just looking.

I knew about the toilet paper issues and the empty shelves at some grocery stores, but I hadn’t heard about an increase in gun sales. But I saw the crowd and the purchases with my own eyes. 

I was/am really curious about the thought processes that led so many people to the gun counter, and I’m pretty sure the root of it has something to do with this coronavirus mess. But what?

Looters and the breakdown of society. Haven't you seen any Disaster or Apocalypse movies?    

People don't know what's coming, and they feel helpless. Nobody knows how this thing will play out. Folks need to feel they have some semblance of control, and one can do that by stocking up on non-perishables or buying firearms.

[Deleted]

I found about 300 rounds for my firearm when I was moving, so between that and my TP stash from Amazon, I guess I'm good.  

Firearms tend to be a BIG deal in more rural areas where you have to put down your own problem/injured wildlife and can't just call the cops over to help with an emergency because they are an hour or two away.

Personally, if I had to choose between a gun and a dog I'd choose a dog. They are fantastic early warning systems and deterrents. 

[thyme4change]

Mar 13, 2020 17:06:57 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Is one symptom of Corona virus the loss of rational thinking?

If so, the Coronavirus is not new.

[Gardening Grandma]

Mar 13, 2020 22:40:53 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

I found about 300 rounds for my firearm when I was moving, so between that and my TP stash from Amazon, I guess I'm good.  

Firearms tend to be a BIG deal in more rural areas where you have to put down your own problem/injured wildlife and can't just call the cops over to help with an emergency because they are an hour or two away.

Personally, if I had to choose between a gun and a dog I'd choose a dog. They are fantastic early warning systems and deterrents. 

And good company too

[Deleted]

Mar 13, 2020 22:40:53 GMT -5 @shastasnewlife said:

I found about 300 rounds for my firearm when I was moving, so between that and my TP stash from Amazon, I guess I'm good.  

Firearms tend to be a BIG deal in more rural areas where you have to put down your own problem/injured wildlife and can't just call the cops over to help with an emergency because they are an hour or two away.

Personally, if I had to choose between a gun and a dog I'd choose a dog. They are fantastic early warning systems and deterrents. 

I agree that dogs are great early warning systems and good deterrents. A “good” dog will warn you of potential intruders before the intruder does anything to set an alarm off. When I had my 2 big dogs, they made me feel better than my alarm ever had, because I knew I’d be alerted if anyone was on my property period, before they could even get to the house itself.

DBF’s dog will sound the alarms, but it could be anything from a cat or squirrel in the yard.... to something I can’t even figure out that’s causing her to bark or get upset. That doesn’t give me the kind of confidence I had with my dogs, because when they barked or sounded the alarm, it was always for a reason that I needed to know about. Even if it was just that someone was approaching the house or had pulled into the driveway.

Firearms have gotten to be a bigger deal here in recent years, but because of 2 legged wildlife and an alarming increase in crime. But I imagine the increase in sales because of that has been spread out over time, and not a sudden surge like what I saw the other day.

[ktunes]

I was/am really curious about the thought processes that led so many people to the gun counter, and I’m pretty sure the root of it has something to do with this coronavirus mess. But what?

any time there is some kind of threat you see a rise in gun sales...you may not have noticed it before but it's not unusual...

[gambler]

I always keep enought Ammon on hand to restart the ear of nothern aggressions

[gambler]

That should be war not ear. Will not let me edit

[OldCoyote]

Mar 13, 2020 17:26:57 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

Mar 13, 2020 17:06:57 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Is one symptom of Corona virus the loss of rational thinking?

I promise, I wanted to go up to each person and ask what exactly prompted them to go buy a gun that day. But I’m not completely crazy, so I didn’t ask anybody.

Pink Cashmere, the politest people you will ever meet, will be there!

especially at gun shows!

[pulmonarymd]

Mar 29, 2020 14:13:22 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Mar 13, 2020 17:26:57 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

I promise, I wanted to go up to each person and ask what exactly prompted them to go buy a gun that day. But I’m not completely crazy, so I didn’t ask anybody.

Pink Cashmere, the politest people you will ever meet, will be there!

especially at gun shows!

Another fantasy I see. She w me proof, otherwise I will believe they are nothing but a cross section of society like every other group

[OldCoyote]

Mar 29, 2020 15:19:57 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Mar 29, 2020 14:13:22 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Pink Cashmere, the politest people you will ever meet, will be there!

especially at gun shows!

Another fantasy I see. She w me proof, otherwise I will believe they are nothing but a cross section of society like every other group

Ever been to a gun show Doc?, I will be happy to take you to one or two.

Consider that a personal invite.

[pulmonarymd]

Mar 29, 2020 15:26:08 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Mar 29, 2020 15:19:57 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Another fantasy I see. She w me proof, otherwise I will believe they are nothing but a cross section of society like every other group

Ever been to a gun show Doc?, I will be happy to take you to one or two.

Consider that a personal invite.

P

No interest and that’s not proof. Anecdotes don’t count

[OldCoyote]

Mar 29, 2020 15:28:04 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Mar 29, 2020 15:26:08 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Ever been to a gun show Doc?, I will be happy to take you to one or two.

Consider that a personal invite.

P

No interest and that’s not proof. Anecdotes don’t count

Personal experience, at any gun show, standing at a gun counter waiting your turn to request a look at a particular gun, there is no pushing shoving, no one cuts into line!

There are plenty of excuse me , pardon me , and thank you when you are there.

Can you imagine that, people being polite,,, wonder if it has to do with every one around you may be heavily armed??

[OldCoyote]

Something else, there are always lots of cops at the gun shows, you can tell right away who is the cops and who are the shoppers.

[pulmonarymd]

Been in lots of situations where people were politely waiting in line without police presence. Imagine that. Does my anecdote trumps yours? Proof other than anecdotes please

[OldCoyote]

Mar 29, 2020 15:40:34 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Been in lots of situations where people were politely waiting in line without police presence. Imagine that. Does my anecdote trumps yours? Proof other than anecdotes please

The police at the gun shows are under cover, but it is still easy to tell who are cops.

[mollyc]

Pretty piss poor world you live in if people only have manners when they fear being shot.

I always thought manners were just part of every day life.

[Deleted]

Mar 29, 2020 15:34:09 GMT -5 OldCoyote said:

Mar 29, 2020 15:28:04 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

P

No interest and that’s not proof. Anecdotes don’t count

Personal experience, at any gun show, standing at a gun counter waiting your turn to request a look at a particular gun, there is no pushing shoving, no one cuts into line!

There are plenty of excuse me , pardon me , and thank you when you are there.

Can you imagine that, people being polite,,, wonder if it has to do with every one around you may be heavily armed??

I live in the South. People here are generally polite and courteous. Not always, of course, but generally so. The phrases you mention are a part of life, not extraordinary or limited to situations where people may be heavily armed.

That whole Southern hospitality and genteel manners thing is real for many of us Southerners.