Permit training & applications spike

[cobb]

I bet it gets even busier for instructors and counties in the next few months.
http://www.keyc.com/story/30797178/gun-permits-spike

[Bearcatrp]

Wife and I got our PTC couple months ago. Glad we did. Gun range I go to in waite park tells me business is booming. Seeing more ladies at the range. One less vote for bilary!

[MNblockhead]

Our politicians respond to terrorism by eroding our rights and trying to get rid of guns.
Their constituents respond by getting permits, guns, and training.

Hopefully, anti-gun politicians will see the writing on the wall and if not reverse their positions, at least quietly refocus their attentions.

What I find interesting about the article, however, is that they assert the recent interest is due to terrorism without giving any support for that assertion. They do mention the role of strict gun-law proposals, but dismiss that as the major factor, returning to terrorism. They do not quote any polls, research, or even anecdotal evidence to support it. My bet is that the Paris and San Bernadino attacks did have a major role in pushing lots of people to get of their butts and arm themselves, but it annoys me with the media makes statements like this without bothering to even get a quote from one of the many new permit holders.

While it was fairly positive piece, it was still sloppy journalism.

[cobb]

The question was asked by the reporter if it was politically motivated or motivated by the past shootings in Paris and San Bernardino? In 2008 and even more in 2012 the spike in training was contributed to the political climate, people taking permit class were afraid that their gun rights were going to be restricted, the people taking classes told me this. But I know for a fact that the current spike is because of the shootings, I ask the question in class as to why they are here and the majority tell me because of what has been happening and what is being report on the nightly news. Their are some that think Obama might try to put some type of gun control in place before he leaves office and do add that to their reason for getting a carry permit, but it is mostly driven by the shootings and the fear that ISIS is in the USA and going to attack.

[wasfuzz]

Two weeks ago I was told Blue Earth County processed 40+ permits in one week, normally 4-5 a week. Keeps us instructors busy.

[Lumpy]

Makes me think of how the Soviet Union and China handled food shortages: the people responded by hoarding food and the government responded by confiscating food.