According to the Outdoor Wire, he was the “gun salesman of the year.”
But the person selected for that honor by the electronic news service wasn’t the owner of a sporting goods store, or somebody working the register at a pawn shop.
It was President Barack Obama.
Obama’s election this past November ushered in a well-documented boom in the sales of guns and ammunition, predicated on fears that the new commander-in-chief would place restrictions on purchases of automatic weapons.
“You could go to Wal-Mart and the shelves would be cleaned out,” said Nick Hart, who was in Comal Pawn Wednesday.
The post-election rush brought about shortages in ammunition, with gun-owners scrambling to stock up before legislation clamped down on their firearms.
Now, a year since the new president took office, there has been no significant legislation restricting firearms signed into law. And those selling guns and ammunition in Comal County said the buying frenzy seems to have died down.
“It seems like after awhile all the horror stories people heard about started to melt away,” said Norm Stephens, behind the counter at Comal Pawn. “Compared to the rush, they’ve slowed way down. But sales have still been steady.”
There are still shortages on certain types of ammo, Stephens said, but shelves were starting to fill back up after being near empty early in the year.
Howard Dietz, who owns Dietz Gun Shop and Range, said ammunition is starting to “dribble in” to his store.
He said sales are down since the post-inauguration January rush, likely because those who went on a buying spree might have bought enough to satisfy their appetite for firearms and ammo.
“It’s gotten slower,” Dietz said. “I think everyone might figure they’ve bought all the ammo they need, and anyone who wanted a rifle or handgun has probably gotten one by now.”
But just because the surge has passed doesn’t mean the register isn’t still ringing at local gun stores.
Dietz said his gun range has been busy, and both he and Stephens said sales have remained steady, even if they’re not at their post-election peak.
“People are still buying guns and ammunition, it’s just that the initial scare is over,” Stephens said.
