'Tremendous' spike in N.J. gun applications after Obama speech

It varied by town, but some saw a tremendous spike in gun applications. Watch video

Fear over President Obama's executive orders on firearms led to a notable surge in gun purchases and permit requests in many parts of the New Jersey, according to gun stores and police departments.

The increase has ranged from place to place: Some towns reported the typical early-January weekday demand, while others called the surge record-setting as prospective gun owners begin the permit application process at their local police departments.

"The spike has been tremendous," said Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez of the Howell Police Department. "It seems to be a record-setting pace at this point."

In South Brunswick and River Vale, gun permit applications have at least doubled, officials at both departments said.

"It is very common for us to see increases when there is talk of changes to gun laws," South Brunswick Police Chief Raymond Hayducka said.

In Marlboro and Elmwood Park, however, it's business as usual -- but business as usual in 2016 is more than double the pace of ten years ago. In 2015, the federal government carried out 90,034 criminal checks, called NICS checks, for prospective New Jersey gun buyers, according to federal data. In 2005, the figure stood at 36,852.

Ironically, Obama's executive actions appear to have been a boon for gun shop proprietors, at least in the short term.

"Obama is our best salesman and he proves it again," said Mel Katz, owner of Defensive Security in East Windsor. "As soon as he makes these executive orders, everyone is going to buy guns."

http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2016/01/obama_is_our_best_salesman_nj_gun_shop_owner_says.html

Obama's executive actions, announced just after the new year in an emotional speech, would expand background checks at gun shows and for online purchases. Gun shows are effectively banned in New Jersey, due to a state law requiring all gun purchases to be carried out on a licensed gun dealer's premises.

The federal government would also hire hundreds more people to carry out background checks. Legal challenges to Obama's new rules are a near certainty.

The executive actions come after a series of mass shootings, beginning with the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012 and ending, most recently, with the San Bernardino terrorist attacks in December. Obama has exhorted Congress numerous times to tighten the country's gun laws, but the Republican-controlled legislative branch has stymied his efforts.

Advocates for stricter gun control argue that the shootings are proof that America's gun laws are too lax, but concern over new restrictions have sent gun permit applications skyrocketing in a state that already has some of the most strict laws in the country.

Jeff Green and Bill MacStudy, co-owners of Garden State Shooting Center, a range and gun shop in Lakewood, say sales have been steadily increasing since President Obama's announcement.

MacStudy said they've seen a diverse mix of clientele, too, from senior citizens to 18 year olds.

"A lot of the customers are saying it's their right to have (guns)," he said. "It's their right to have them and they don't want to lose their rights."

Green and MacStudy say they've noticed an uptick in sales since the shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. Amid that terrorist attack,  customers  at the shop are concerned for their safety.

That fear has also led to an influx in attendance in classes on how to handle and shoot firearms.

"The classes sell out every month," Green said. "Every time there's an incident in the news, people realize the police can't protect them, and we get a spike in sales. Every one of these incidents happens in a state where people can't protect themselves."

It's not that police are incompetent, MacStudy said, but rather they can't be everywhere at once.

 "When seconds count, police will be there in minutes," he said. "And that's why people want to protect themselves."

Chief Jody Farabella of the Millville Police Department said that fear over new gun laws has helped stoke gun demand.

"Some people are frightened they aren't going to be able to purchase them," said Fabarella, who added that five to seven people apply for gun permits every day.

At Bob's Little Sport Shop in Glassboro, business has never been better.

The increase in gun ownership is directly related to people's trust in the government, said owner Bob Viden Sr.

"Many of them feel like they are afraid of their own government and that's a shame," Viden said Wednesday in his store. "They are afraid they don't have the protection they need and want a gun to protect their family."

At one Jersey City gun shop, the mood toward Obama was anger, tinged with mockery.

A black-and-white image of Obama dressed as the Cowardly Lion from "The Wizard of Oz" -- the flier is captioned "The Lyin' King" -- hung next to a row of hunting and trap guns on Monday. Above that was an picture of former Pope Benedict XVI that reads, "Obama, if I could do it, so can you! RESIGN!!"

"He exploited everyone in the room to promote something he knows nothing about," said Caso's owner Frank Caso.

Said Caso's daughter, Virginia: "They don't want anybody to have a firearm."

With reporting by Alex Napoliello, Cristina Rojas, Noah Cohen, Don E. Woods, Terrence T. McDonald and Jonathan D. Salant.