By Matt Gleckman

Ken Banks, owner of Shooter’s World in Cortez, says that business is up from last year. Attributing this boost to the upcoming Y2K scare, however? Banks doesn’t think so.

"We have sold a few extra boxes of ammo but we haven’t sold a bunch of fanatical stuff," says the owner, who stated that the store is always careful about what they sell. "I think that sales are up because people are just spending more money this year."

One patron from Shooter’s World however, stated that he was taking some Y2K precautions. The Arriola man, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that he has purchased a few extra boxes of ammunition and has removed some cash from the bank.

"I just want to be prepared," he says. "There are a lot of fanatics out there and living way out in the country you just never know. If anything does go wrong the law won’t be out there in an instant."

At the other end of town, Arrowhead Pawn Shop owner Dale Foote says that he is seeing the reverse side of this scenario.

"This is the worst business has been in 10 years," says Foote.

Foote stated that due to computer problems, a background check (necessary to buy any firearm) that normally takes 10 minutes has been taking up to three hours.

"The people just don’t want to wait that long," said Foote. "Instead they just end up looking in the newspaper or buying the gun off of the black market."

Most of the guns that the owner has sold have been .22 rifles "for a kid’s first gun", some shotguns and a few pistols.

Ty Baxstrom, a salesperson at Blue Door Traders, stated that the majority of their firearm sales came before the hunting season.

"Recently we have sold a couple of guns that were Christmas gifts and some smaller pistols to women who want to keep a weapon in their purse for personal protection," Baxstrom said.