Local Gun Shops See Boost in Sales

Gun sales spike following tragedy and talk of stricter gun laws.

Rich Smith has seen sales triple at his Busch Boulevard gun shop since last week.  Fueled partly by fear of safety and the potential for stricter gun laws, more customers are coming into Borderline Firearms than ever before. "It’s been absolutely bananas," Smith said of the store located at 2501 W. Busch Blvd., which is close to both Carrollwood and Westchase. "The phone has been non-stop." The boost in sales comes after 20 children and six adults were killed at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school by a young man using a military style rifle. Current gun laws and mental health have been topics of discussion since the incident. On Wednesday, President Barack Obama ordered a committee to begin analyzing current gun laws, including reinstating…

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What's Tampa Bay Saying?

Assault Weapon Ban: Is it Time?

One Tampa Bay area lawmaker says yes. What do you think Tampa Bay?

Last Friday’s massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., has prompted one local lawmaker to take up the charge to push Congress to pass two proposed gun control acts. U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, says it’s time for Congress to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines along with them. She’s also urging Congress to close a loophole that allows the immediate sale of weapons at gun shows. “There is no reason people need access to assault weapons and high-capacity magazines,” Castor said in a statement posted on her website. “Commonsense regulation is appropriate. It is time for us as a Congress and as a nation to take swift action. Congress should consider and pass the assault weapons ban this week.” Castor is the …

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Joe

8:10 am on Saturday, January 5, 2013

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