Coronavirus panic buying leads to rise in gun, ammunition sales

Gun stores across the country are seeing an increase in sales due to fears of possible social unrest because of the coronavirus.

OF BREAD, 3 PACKS OF TOILETPAPER, 7 PUMPS OF SANITIZERAND ONE MORE THING YOU MAYLOAD UP.... A 32.

WHY ARE WESEEING A RUN TO BUY GUNS?

WMAR2 NEWS' RAY STRICKLAND FINDSOUT.16 37 01“Do you have anyshotguns left?

Weshotguns.

Youshotguns.

We will have morelater this week” JustinMudgett came to Maryland EliteFirearms in Carroll County tobuy a gun and some ammo.

Hesays HE DECIDED TO BUY NOWbecause of his concerns overthe novel coronavirus.

16 3404“You dongoing to happen.

Theretalks of shutdowns,lockdowns,.

Statewidenationwide.

And you just donknow whatSo, call it fear.

It is whatit is” 16 09 22“It picked upbig time last wee” DanHartman is the owner of thisCarroll County gun store Hesays business is boomingunlike anything hesince Maryland passed theFirearms Safety Act whichbanned some assault styleweapons seven years ago.Hartman says the increase insales is directly related tothe virus.

16 05 26“I thinkin times of kind of panic likethis people are worried.

Theywant to be able to defendthemselves in times likethis” He says NOT ONLY DIDTHE STORE SELL OUT OFshotguns...BUT THEY'RE runninglow on some ammo TOO.

16 07 14“Youbut youwhy.

Paul Brockman is thespokesperson for PatriotPicket, a gun rights advocacygroup in Maryland.

He says gunstores are seeing an uptick inbusiness across the countrybecause of the viru━leadingto a rise in prices.

16 19 42“A very good friend of minesells ammo.

Three weeks agoyou can get a case of 9mm for180 bucks now i━300 ifyou can find it” Hartmanssays most of the people buyingguns at his stores are firsttime buyers.

His advice tothem“Take time to learn it.

Learnhow it works and be familiarwith it." For Mudgett, he saysitsorry.

16 34 26“if you canleave your house.

You canreact to anything.

You have tobe proactively prepared.

InCarroll CountyRayStricklandWMA━2 NewsA DOG DAYCARE IN OUR A