Gun shop owner: Sales spiking after terror attacks

SURF CITY, NC (WWAY) — With recent terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, local gun shops are seeing a surge in sales.

“It’s just scary,” Surf City resident Sonya Osborne said. “It’s scary.”

Those terrorist attacks are just one of the reasons Osborne is thinking about buying her own gun.

“Because things have changed,” Osborne said.

She said that change is bringing awareness to guns.

“I think it peaked the interest and awareness that it’s our right for protection,” Osborne said.

Dorothy Royal, Owner of Surf City Guns and Ammo, said sales are increasing drastically.

“Our distributors told us that they had more sales last Friday than they did the entire month before,” Royal said.

She said her inventory is also going fast.

“Pistols and rifles,” Royal said.

Captain James Rowell at the Pender County Sheriff’s Office said their number of purchase permits have doubled so far compared to last year for the month of December. He said, in the first seven days of December 2014, they processed 38 purchase permits. This year, he said they have already processed 78 purchase permits in the first week.

Royal said she is also seeing more first time buyers and most say it is because of the attacks.

“I think the fact that this can happen anywhere at any time is what leaves people on edge,” Royal said.

While some politicians are pushing for stricter gun control, Royal said it is protection that every home should be able to have.

“I hope every home out there has a fire extinguisher and I hope every home out there never has to use it and that’s my feeling with firearms,” Royal said. “It’s just one more thing in your home that can prevent something from happening to you or your family.”

Royal said she recommends every first-time buyer takes her gun safety class. The next class is this Saturday from 8:30 to 5:30. Call the store to register, because seats are limited.

Royal holds the gun classes every second Saturday of the month.