Dept of Homeland Security now visiting bulk ammo purchasers at home ?!?

[son of the revolution]

Maybe the reluctance to post pics of your ammo stockpile isnt so paranoid after all ! Seems the DHS is now monitoring bulk mail order ammo purchases and showing up to question people at their homes !!

Gun sales going ballistic
Fears of regulation, crime spur sales of firearms and ammo
By Don Lehman
dlehman@poststar.com
Updated: Friday, March 20, 2009 10:32 AM EDT

Gunmakers can thank a former New York senator and presidential candidate for an ongoing boom in gun sales, if you ask one local firearms vendor.

George Nemec, owner of Nemec's Sport Shop & Farm & Garden Center in Warrensburg, said gun sales at his business began to increase about two years ago, after Sen. Hillary Clinton announced her intent to run for president. People were concerned about the possible impact of a Democratic president on the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

"Handguns, shotguns, rifles -- it's every type," Nemec said. "People are worried the government is going to take their guns away, or they're going to tax them (guns and ammunition) to death."

With a Democratic president in office and economic troubles fueling fears of rising crime, guns -- and the rounds they fire -- are a hot commodity these days.

Across the country, gun dealers are reporting a big uptick in sales of both firearms and ammunition. Requests for federal background checks for prospective gun buyers have surged since last fall, with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reporting a nearly 50 percent increase after the election of President Barack Obama.

Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, said gun and ammunition sales around the country have risen in recent months.

He said many are concerned a Democratic president and Democratic-controlled Congress will change gun laws and could potentially ban certain types of firearms, like those commonly referred to as assault rifles. Democratic lawmakers are generally viewed as less friendly to gun owners than their Republican counterparts.

"We're hearing it around the country. People are concerned about losing their guns," King said. "If they buy them now, they'll be grandfathered if the laws are changed."

Locally, gun dealers are seeing a number of trends when it comes to sales and purchases of firearms and ammunition.

Most said gun sales are up, while others said they are steady. Ammunition sales have risen dramatically, they agreed.

"We're selling a lot of guns. It's been that way since November," said Kevin Zacharewicz, owner of Zack's Sport's in Round Lake. "Handgun sales are up; self-defense shotguns are up. People are worried about what's going on financially."

Zacharewicz said state government trends are also motivating sales in New York. The state Senate is now controlled by Democrats, which has many gun owners in the Empire State concerned about what gun-control laws might be pursued.

"There's a lot of concern about the government and what they're going to do," said John West, whose family runs The Crossroads Country Store & Sport Shop.

At MacGregor's Gun Shop in Queensbury, owner Scott MacGregor said he's seen a "sudden influx" of customers wanting to buy "home defense-type weapons," like shotguns.

Everyone interviewed by The Post-Star for this story agreed ammunition of all calibers has gotten tougher to find, as gun owners stock up. Prices skyrocketed in recent years as metal prices went up, which caused many gun owners to stock up in anticipation of rising ammunition prices.

There are also concerns that some larger calibers, or those used by military-type weapons, could be banned, restricted or taxed more heavily.

One northern Warren County resident found out recently the government is paying attention to such ammunition sales.

West said a customer of his recently stocked up on .223-caliber rounds, a caliber often used in assault-style weapons. The customer bought 1,000 rounds a few months ago through a mail order company.

Shortly after the purchase, he received a visit from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whose interest was apparently piqued by a large-scale purchase of that caliber.
"His wife was home. He was at church," West said.

"People are buying a lot of ammunition in bulk these days," said Kathie Ferullo, owner of Discoveries USA, an outdoors outfitter in Warrensburg that sells guns and ammo. "For some types, we have to wait on a waiting list."

The down economy is also causing people to liquidate some of their valuable assets, including guns.

West said his business hasn't seen a big rise in gun sales, but it has seen a rise in people wishing to sell guns to his store for economic reasons. He said one man recently brought in an 80-year-old antique rifle to sell because he needed money.

"We've had guys come in with three or four guns to sell," he said.

[bige64]

DHS can eat the shit off my shoe if they show up at my house asking questions without a warrant...

[Whiterook]

Just 1,000 rounds? Sheesh, I'd like to hear more about that.

[BigDaddyJay]

DHS can eat the shit off my shoe if they show up at my house asking questions without a warrant...

Ditto. However, I have to call at least a little BS on the quote from OP. I have purchased way more than a 1000 rounds over the last couple of months. At least 1500 rounds in that cal alone. No DHS call, no nothing. I think more is going on here than is being said. If DHS were to visit everyone buying that little ammo (1000 ain't much) they would need MANY more agents

Jay

[son of the revolution]

Ditto. However, I have to call at least a little BS on the quote from OP. I have purchased way more than a 1000 rounds over the last couple of months. At least 1500 rounds in that cal alone. No DHS call, no nothing. I think more is going on here than is being said. If DHS were to visit everyone buying that little ammo (1000 ain't much) they would need MANY more agents

Jay

Maybe it is a typo or something , that does nothing to diminish the fact that its now apparent that DHS is behaving in the very best impersonation of the fabled Jack Booted Thugs and questioning people , without probable cause or warrant , for purchasing a legal consumer product .

Couple this behavior , with the recent Missouri Information Analysis Center Report , and the other various proposals /attempts at silencing dissent and doing everything possible to get rid of guns , and we should all be extremely alarmed .

[Kenshin]

They wanna scare people into stop buying bulk ammo because we citizens who can buy it are starting to make it scarce for the criminals and government. Not only that were driving the cost up so they have to pay more for ammo instead of other things. They don't like it. They want the ammo and were taking most of it!

[tl_3237]

Since there's no requirement to report the sale of ammo on the seller's part, how would the gov't know about the purchase? Any ammo selling mail order company that would voluntary give out that info wouldn't be in business long.

West said a customer of his recently stocked up on .223-caliber rounds, a caliber often used in assault-style weapons. The customer bought 1,000 rounds a few months ago through a mail order company.

Shortly after the purchase, he received a visit from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, whose interest was apparently piqued by a large-scale purchase of that caliber

Was a good sound bite for publication and alarmism but, frankly, fails the credibility index test -- just BS by the person being interviewed.

[Kimba]

Ditto. However, I have to call at least a little BS on the quote from OP. I have purchased way more than a 1000 rounds over the last couple of months. At least 1500 rounds in that cal alone. No DHS call, no nothing. I think more is going on here than is being said. If DHS were to visit everyone buying that little ammo (1000 ain't much) they would need MANY more agents
Jay

Hey, by hiring more agents, it's just a way to stimulate the economy. Isn't it nice that we cand lend a hand in the revitalization of America. I say we should all do our part and buy as much bulk ammo that our secret caches can hold. After all, it's for the good of our Nation.

[Willtallica]

I would like to be paid to be an agent, see people's coo ammunition supplies, and guns.

[BigDaddyJay]

Hey, by hiring more agents, it's just a way to stimulate the economy. Isn't it nice that we cand lend a hand in the revitalization of America. I say we should all do our part and buy as much bulk ammo that our secret caches can hold. After all, it's for the good of our Nation.

True enough - I guess I failed to take into account how badly President Obama wants to stimulate the economy Can anyone apply for this job - I looked at usajobs.com which is where all the gov jobs are. Good luck if you can figure out just how to apply to one. No wonder they can't find decent people to fill their roles.....

Still not worried about a visit from DHS though. I still think the article is "taking creative liberties".

Jay