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GUN LEGISLATION STILL HAS PEOPLE UP IN THE AIR
Friday, March 22, 2013
By JERRY PITTMAN Publisher Brian Pogue, owner of B&P Shooting Sports, has not had a gun to sell i...read more

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Story By: CHICKASHA LEADER

GUN LEGISLATION STILL HAS PEOPLE UP IN THE AIR

Edition: Friday, March 22, 2013

By JERRY PITTMAN
Publisher

Brian Pogue, owner of B&P Shooting Sports, has not had a gun to sell in his Chickasha store since the first of the year when concern over President Obama's gun control measures created a frenzy that quickly emptied shelves of weapons and ammunition here and across the nation.
Pogue and others hope that Tuesday's announcement that Democrats were pulling a ban on assault weapons from legislation will help ease the demand somewhat.
“I think it will help,” Pogue said, blaming inaccurate media reports for fueling the craze. “Every day on the news, there were reports talking about ARs being banned. Assault weapons are fully automated and are not legal to own. What we sell are semi-automatics. Now they that they are not going to ban them maybe we can start to get supplied.”
The sign on the door of B&P states reduced store hours and notes “Sold Out of All Inventory.”
“I haven't had a gun to sell since mid-January,” Pogue said. “We've had a limited supply of ammo. We got two cases of 8mm and sold all 20 boxes in less than two days.”
Pogue said the few guns available from distributors are going to larger dealers.
“There are guns out there,” he said. “This is detrimental to small guys like me. When distributors get guns, they call the bigger places that buy 100 guns at a time instead five like the smaller shops.”
Pogue said adding to the shortage is the number of people who got caught up in widespread concern that Obama was trying to ban all firearms.
“Part of this is from people who have never owned a firearm or a rifle,” he said. “When that many people come into the market, the demand increases and the supply increases.”
Meanwhile, Pogue and others are waiting to see what final form gun legislation will take.
Pamela Pogue of B&P posted a story on Facebook that elicited responses that confirmed uncertainty abounds.
“Kinda makes you wonder what exactly is in the rest of the bill,” one man wrote.
Another said, “They're not done yet. They're just backing off for a while 'til they figure out another way to ban all firearms.”
Mistrust of Congress was echoed by another Facebook poster.
“They will amend this on the tail end after they get national registration and lower mag counts. Watch these tricky backdoor artists try to put it on us! Don't let up!! It ain't over, it's just begun,” the man said.
Brian Pogue understands those comments.
“Everything is still up in the air. That is part of the uncertainty,” he said. “They are backing off the AR ban but on handguns, we don't know what they are going to do. People are going to have to be more reassured before the nervousnesses ends.”
Meanwhile, the demand for spots in the store's concealed carry classes remains high.
“Our classes are booked all through to April,” Pogue said.