About those guns in the closet...

Prior to the elections, and practically ever since, gun sales in the United States picked up. The media was surprised and credited the spike in sales to fears on the right that the new administration would tighten gun ownership rules, or even ban gun ownership altogether. The president's promise not to do so carried no weight with these folks and they spent their salaries on guns and ammo. We heard a great deal about this as we met people at their doors during the campaign season.

I took a gloomier view than the media and ascribed the spectacular increase in sales of guns and ammo to at least a latent feeling on the right that they could overthrow the government, or cause all kinds of mischief that would lead to such an overthrow, by force of arms. In other countries this is known as a "strategy of tension" and fascists have proven the world over that it works. Coupled with right-wing hate radio, teabag rallies and incendiary calls from the right to resist healthcare reform and the census, my gloomy or jaundiced view seems reasonable. The right showed at least a defensive interest in excusing the assassins in their midst who took so many lives jut before and just after the election. Their silence now, and their lack of violence now that they're more fully armed, hints that some coordination is taking place on that end of the political spectrum.

The gun and ammo industry, which knows better than their best customers which ways the political winds are shifting, have done nothing to quiet the fears and anger of the people buying up their stock. It can reasonably be argued that these companies survive because of social crises, in fact. It used to be common practice that gun salesmen signed you up for the NRA when you made a first purchase. A drop or loss in sales means a drop or loss in NRA membership.

Regardless of why so many right-wing people have been buying up guns and ammo, there has been no legislation put forward to ban or restrict arms, arms sales or ammo manufacture and sales. An attempt by the right-wing to link gun ownership, or limitations on gun ownership, to pending healthcare legislation two months ago got laughed away. The NRA continues its ridiculous, though quite successful, local and state lobbying campaigns and have done so perhaps to the point that the organization's main rank-and-file, who generally join for ammo discounts, are growing complacent. Still, they are registering some impressive legislative successes.

Now gun and ammo sales are dropping, and dropping fast. Orders and backorders going to major manufacturer Sturm, Ruger and Smith & Wesson have flattened sales and caused at least a small stock dive which is registering this week. Sturm, Ruger is especially vulnerable because it makes low-end products that people can buy or pass by in their search for something better and more durable. Smith & Wesson still has police department sales to fall back on--the kind of weaponry that comes in useful when dealing with protests, strikes and civil disturbances. FBI background checks are down 20% from last year.

The guns that have been purchased will be resold, traded or put in the closet with the once-used exercise equipment. You will see them at yard sales next to the ab workout machine. It made sense when you bought it, but after a try or two you gave up and let the weight gain on you. You pass it by and feel guilty and fat.

I hope that the unused guns draw a stronger reaction--a wince, maybe, or outright shame. Were you really so easily hoodwinked into parting with your money by Rush Limbaugh or Bill Post or Glenn Beck? Would you really shoot your neighbor and climb over her body to get food and medicine during a social cataclysm?