County, state seeing increased gun sales

County, state seeing increased gun sales

November 8, 2001

BLUE DOOR PAWN on County Road G is one of several area gun-sellers that has noticed increased sales this October, perhaps in response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

Nearly two months have passed since the Sept. 11 attacks that brought large-scale terrorism to American soil and fear to the nation’s people.

And with the new fears, many people are on the defensive, purchasing guns and applying for concealed-weapons permits at an astounding rate, state and national statistics show.

According to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Colorado officials conducted more than three times the number of background checks for concealed-weapons permits in the month of October that they did in the same month last year.

In Cortez, both pawn shops and sporting-goods stores confirmed the increase in recent gun sales, but added that it is also hunting season and area residents tend to be armed already.

"I don’t know how you can really determine the reason for it, but yes, our sales are up this fall significantly over last year," said Dana Baxstrom with Blue Door Pawn on Road G.

Ty Baxstrom, also of Blue Door Pawn, said the most noticeable increase in sales was immediately after the attacks, although he didn’t have exact sales figures available.

"We sold quite a few guns right off the bat and that was more than normal. It’s been noticeable, for sure, but I don’t know what the exact numbers are."

Ty Baxstrom said the most popular guns right now, aside from hunting rifles, are small handguns like 9 mm or .40- and .45-caliber guns.

"It all depends on what you think is going to happen," he said.

But Montezuma County Sheriff’s Detective Lt. Kalvin Boggs said that since the Sept. 11 attack, the county has not seen a significant increase in concealed-weapons permits.

"We’ve had two new applications, and eight renewals, which is pretty much par for the course," Boggs said. "We haven’t seen an increase or a decrease in concealed-weapons applications."

The sheriff’s department does not conduct background checks for gun purchases in general, but is responsible for issuing concealed-gun permits.

Boggs said that per capita, the county is relatively well-armed and that there are 200-250 concealed-weapons permits in the county.

The process to obtain a concealed-weapons permit is relatively simple, Boggs said.

"If they don’t have anything on their criminal history that would federally prohibit them from carrying a weapon, or statewide prohibit them from carrying a weapon, the application is processed and they are fingerprinted," he explained.

Additionally, applicants must complete an approved handgun course and pay a $50 application fee.

"Currently the one (course) that most people take is the NRA pistol course. They offer it at the indoor pistol range and the outdoor rifle range. It’s a ‘get to know your weapon’ and personal-defense course. It’s a good course to take if you’ve never dealt with a firearm. Even if you have, it’s still a good refresher," Boggs said.

The sheriff does not require applicants to provide a reason for wanting to carry a concealed weapon, although he said there are a plethora of reasons people give.

"It’s constitutionally everybody’s right to keep and bear arms. The sheriff doesn’t require a good excuse," Boggs said.

Concealed-weapons permits, however, are only valid in the county where they are issued, Boggs cautioned. "There currently is no statewide concealed weapons permit for civilians."

Dana Baxstrom said that handgun sales are likely the best indicator as to whether people are taking up arms as a result of the terrorist attacks.

"People are looking for them," Baxstrom said of handguns. "They think that they should probably own a gun for protection."

Ken Banks of Shooters World on East North Street said that sales have been up, but reiterated the county’s tendency to be armed already because of rural necessities and a high number of hunters.

"I’m sure if the attacks had been a little closer to home, it would be a completely different story," he said.