The amount of gun permits issued to residents in Newtown, Conn. has increased significantly following the Sandy Hook massacre last December.
Since Adam Lanza used his mother’s gun to fatally shoot 20 students and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School, the town folk have taken matters into their own hands when it involves protecting their children.
Almost immediately after this horrible massacre, many people in town practically ran to get guns.
“We were just swamped from January all the way through April 4,” said Victor Benson, 55, who owns a gun shop in New Milford. “I’ve seen a couple guys come to my shop, and the permits were still warm from the laminator.”
Many residents shared why they’re choosing to obtain permits.
“I think people realize that you can’t call the police all the time and expect them to save you,” said Newtown resident Bill Stevens, 48 years old, an avid hunter who owns more than a dozen firearms. “It’s sinking in to some folks that ‘I need to take responsibility for keeping my family safe.”
However, not all residents are boarding this bandwagon.
“If you look at how many guns the Lanza family had in their home and what that led to, it’s a recipe for disaster,” said Newtown resident and founder of a gun-control advocacy group called Newtown Action Alliance Dave Ackert.
Residents of Newtown, Conn. aren’t the only ones that are eager to get their hands on firearms – the nation seems to be gunning for guns as well.
Gun makers sold $4.15 billion worth of guns in 2012, which is a 48 percent increase from 2011’s sales totaling just $2.8 billion.
Looks like gun violence just scares people into getting more guns. And the cycle continues…
SOURCE: WSJ
