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Gun control discussions following last week's Connecticut school shooting have prompted a spike in semi-automatic, large capacity rifle sales.
The president has voiced his support of a now-expired federal law that baned some semi-automatic rifles labeled as assault weapons. Gun stores in KELOLAND are seeing their fair share of sales. Many don't have any of those rifles left.
Retailer Sportsman's Cove in the small community of Webster has never carried a lot of military-type semi-automatic rifles. But it usually has some.
"It started about Monday morning, phones started ringing harder and more and more and more inquiries that we sold out quickly on what we had in inventory," owner Doug Johnson said.
When Johnson checked with his suppliers, they were out too. Johnson only has one left in his building and he's saving it for a customer.
With the President pushing for tighter gun control, people continue calling the sportsman's store.
"It has tapered off a bit. I think people are realizing that the inventories are gone," Johnson said.
The store has also sold more ammunition used in the rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines.
Despite the revenue boost, Johnson doesn't want tragedy to lead to an increase in sales.
"It's a shame. I would rather not sell another weapon because of something like this," Johnson said. "I wish it would never have happened."
Empty slots remain where the suddenly highly-demanded semi-automatic rifles once stood in his store. Johnson isn't sure when he'll have more in stock.
Johnson says it's common to see gun sales increase along with the discussion of gun control. Sales also rose during the election.
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