Bman505
02-12-2009, 08:52 AM
Got your gun? More people toting guns as firearm sales & permits rise across state, nation - and here
http://images.townnews.com/theblacksheartimes.com/content/articles/2009/02/11/news/doc4991deaa6749b505611325.jpg
There's been a 187% increase in gun permits issued January 2009 over January 2008.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:13 AM EST
Local farmer Jay Davis is worried. Recent reports of shootings and burglaries in Pierce County have caused him to think more about security. The change of leadership in Washington has him concerned about gun control.
Both circumstances have led him and his family to apply for gun permits.
“In the not-too-distant past, we didn’t lock our doors at night because we didn’t have to worry about stealing and shootings and that kind of stuff,” says Davis. “We didn’t worry about Washington taking guns, either. Sadly, it’s not that way anymore.”
The Beulah Community farmer says he has grown up around firearms used primarily for hunting.
“We learned how to handle them and use them safely,” he says.
Still, the need for personal protection led him to purchase a handgun.
Davis said recent shootings in Pierce County helped him make up his mind.
“Where we live, the law might not be able to get to you real fast,” he says. “You need something to protect yourself until help can arrive.”
The Davis family’s sentiment is part of a growing trend locally. Gun permits and sales are up in Pierce County as well as statewide.
Pierce County Probate Court clerks Sue Bradford and Kim Teabo say applications for gun permits have been high since January 1. Under state law, firearm permits are issued by the probate judge.
The number of permits to carry a firearm have tripled compared to January of 2008. Last year the probate judge’s office issued 16 during the month, compared to 46 this year.
The number of applications hasn’t slowed down so far in February, either. The office has received nine permit applications so far this month.
Probate judge Huey Davis Jr. says he feels the reason for the spike in permits is two-fold.
“I think politics and security both play a role,” he says.
The judge says the election of a Democratic administration - which generally tends to support gun control - has something to do with the increase.
The judge feels other factors are involved as well.
“The spike in the number of gun permits increased even before the election, so it is not all politics,” he says.
In fact, the number of gun permits issued in 2008, increased by almost 100 over 2007.
The probate court issued 249 firearm permits in 2008, compared to just 152 in 2007.
The judge, like Jay Davis thinks personal security is another big reason for the increase.
“Even in Pierce County, we’ve had some crimes that have gotten a lot of attention,” he says. “With that and with burglaries and a recession underway, people want to feel safe.”
Local firearms dealers also report a spike in sales.
Jackie Bennett, manager of the hunting department at one local hardware store, says sales over the last three months have been the highest of the year.
“We generally have good sales during hunting season, but we sold more guns in October, November and December than we did the entire nine months prior to that together,” Bennett says.
He says most customers have pointed to the political climate concerning the second amendment right to keep and bear arms as their reason for buying weapons. Still, security also has something to do with the increase in sales.
“The sale of handguns has almost doubled over this time last year,” Bennett says.
Legislation to require serial numbers on bullets has also led to a run on ammunition.
“We deal with six different suppliers and we can’t get bullets from any of them,” he says. “They simply don’t have any in stock.”
Jason Yarbrough says firearm “redemptions” have been high at a local pawn shop.
Redemptions in the pawn industry are the equivalent of sales in retail stores.
“I can’t say that it has increased any certain percent over last year, but it is definitely up.”
Getting a gun permit
Here’s what it takes to get a Georgia firearm permit, which allows you to carry a concealed weapon:
Step 1: Meet the license qualifications for Georgia as listed in Georgia Code 16-11-129. Basically, you have to be a state resident, a legal United States resident, a resident of the county where you are making your application and at least 21 with a clean criminal and mental history.
Step 2: Apply to the probate court in your county, where you will fill in an application, pay the required (usually nonrefundable) fees and find out how to get fingerprinted. Permits are usually issued within 60 days.
Step 3: Provide a photo ID and proof of residency. A Georgia driver’s license or state ID card will serve as both. Check with your local probate court for other qualifying documents. The permit is valid for five years.
By Jason Deal - Staff Writer
jdeal@theblacksheartimes.com
Published:
Story from http://www.theblacksheartimes.com/articles/2009/02/11/news/doc4991deaa6749b505611325.txt
Source: GeorgiaCarry.org and probate courts
http://images.townnews.com/theblacksheartimes.com/content/articles/2009/02/11/news/doc4991deaa6749b505611325.jpg
There's been a 187% increase in gun permits issued January 2009 over January 2008.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 4:13 AM EST
Local farmer Jay Davis is worried. Recent reports of shootings and burglaries in Pierce County have caused him to think more about security. The change of leadership in Washington has him concerned about gun control.
Both circumstances have led him and his family to apply for gun permits.
“In the not-too-distant past, we didn’t lock our doors at night because we didn’t have to worry about stealing and shootings and that kind of stuff,” says Davis. “We didn’t worry about Washington taking guns, either. Sadly, it’s not that way anymore.”
The Beulah Community farmer says he has grown up around firearms used primarily for hunting.
“We learned how to handle them and use them safely,” he says.
Still, the need for personal protection led him to purchase a handgun.
Davis said recent shootings in Pierce County helped him make up his mind.
“Where we live, the law might not be able to get to you real fast,” he says. “You need something to protect yourself until help can arrive.”
The Davis family’s sentiment is part of a growing trend locally. Gun permits and sales are up in Pierce County as well as statewide.
Pierce County Probate Court clerks Sue Bradford and Kim Teabo say applications for gun permits have been high since January 1. Under state law, firearm permits are issued by the probate judge.
The number of permits to carry a firearm have tripled compared to January of 2008. Last year the probate judge’s office issued 16 during the month, compared to 46 this year.
The number of applications hasn’t slowed down so far in February, either. The office has received nine permit applications so far this month.
Probate judge Huey Davis Jr. says he feels the reason for the spike in permits is two-fold.
“I think politics and security both play a role,” he says.
The judge says the election of a Democratic administration - which generally tends to support gun control - has something to do with the increase.
The judge feels other factors are involved as well.
“The spike in the number of gun permits increased even before the election, so it is not all politics,” he says.
In fact, the number of gun permits issued in 2008, increased by almost 100 over 2007.
The probate court issued 249 firearm permits in 2008, compared to just 152 in 2007.
The judge, like Jay Davis thinks personal security is another big reason for the increase.
“Even in Pierce County, we’ve had some crimes that have gotten a lot of attention,” he says. “With that and with burglaries and a recession underway, people want to feel safe.”
Local firearms dealers also report a spike in sales.
Jackie Bennett, manager of the hunting department at one local hardware store, says sales over the last three months have been the highest of the year.
“We generally have good sales during hunting season, but we sold more guns in October, November and December than we did the entire nine months prior to that together,” Bennett says.
He says most customers have pointed to the political climate concerning the second amendment right to keep and bear arms as their reason for buying weapons. Still, security also has something to do with the increase in sales.
“The sale of handguns has almost doubled over this time last year,” Bennett says.
Legislation to require serial numbers on bullets has also led to a run on ammunition.
“We deal with six different suppliers and we can’t get bullets from any of them,” he says. “They simply don’t have any in stock.”
Jason Yarbrough says firearm “redemptions” have been high at a local pawn shop.
Redemptions in the pawn industry are the equivalent of sales in retail stores.
“I can’t say that it has increased any certain percent over last year, but it is definitely up.”
Getting a gun permit
Here’s what it takes to get a Georgia firearm permit, which allows you to carry a concealed weapon:
Step 1: Meet the license qualifications for Georgia as listed in Georgia Code 16-11-129. Basically, you have to be a state resident, a legal United States resident, a resident of the county where you are making your application and at least 21 with a clean criminal and mental history.
Step 2: Apply to the probate court in your county, where you will fill in an application, pay the required (usually nonrefundable) fees and find out how to get fingerprinted. Permits are usually issued within 60 days.
Step 3: Provide a photo ID and proof of residency. A Georgia driver’s license or state ID card will serve as both. Check with your local probate court for other qualifying documents. The permit is valid for five years.
By Jason Deal - Staff Writer
jdeal@theblacksheartimes.com
Published:
Story from http://www.theblacksheartimes.com/articles/2009/02/11/news/doc4991deaa6749b505611325.txt
Source: GeorgiaCarry.org and probate courts