Fear & Firearms

Just over a year ago, Southwest Florida gun stores experienced a frenzy of buying that industry veterans had never seen before. Store shelves were bare. Customers plunked down thousands of dollars on ammunition. The rush on weaponry was the result of regime change in Washington. Sales soared amid fears that the new administration would move quickly to institute bans on guns.

More than one year later, gun shops continue to coast on the wave of fear and uncertainty that initiated a rash of gun and ammo purchases. Shoot Straight, a chain of stores based in the Orlando area, is opening its first Southwest Florida location on Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. Gator’s Gun Werks, a new local shop, opened at the end of last year in Naples. Wolf Gunworks, an out of the way shop in Port Charlotte, doubled its size by 1,000 square feet. The owner is considering opening a second location.

“Fear is a commodity,” says Josh Hackman, the general manager at Fowler Firearms and Gun Range. Aside from the fear of government, the recession — and the expectation of higher crime and violence because of it — also serves to motivate customers. The store has a well-lit, wide open showroom with three tables, vending machines, top-40 music piped in over the speakers, Fox News playing on the TV and the requisite guns and rifles hanging behind the counter. Every employee is strapped with a sidearm. “It’s a friendly environment. There’s not a bunch of camouflage and animal heads on the walls,” says Mr. Hackman, who carries a Glock. He conducts a training course on concealed weapons permits every Sunday. “We used to get maybe 12 people and that was good,” he says. “I had 47 people last Sunday.” Most of those people will buy guns and ammo

Sarah Junkin and Carolyn Thomas prepare to shoot guns at Fowler Firearms & Gun Range. OSVALDO PADILLA/ FLORIDA WEEKLY and hopefully, return frequently to the shooting range.

HACKMAN While firearm background checks (an imprecise, general measurement of sales activity) in Florida have slowed since the change in Washington, they are still significantly higher than in past years. The sales appear to be driven by two prevailing fears: the government and high crime rates. Yet, gun control appears to be waning — the Supreme Court revisited the Second Amendment last week and there are hints that it is leaning toward expanding gun rights as it reviews a Chicago gun control law — and crime is significantly down both nationwide and throughout Southwest Florida. Violent crime has also dropped by most local and national measurements. In places like Fort Myers, where some violent crimes have increased, the frequency of crime is still significantly less than it was just five to 10 years ago when the economy was more robust.

Wayne Bergquist Guns and Gunsmithing in Naples. OSVALDO PADILLA/ FLORIDA WEEKLY The numbers mean nothing to Matthew Neuman, whose house was recently burglarized. He was unarmed during that incident and has since taken up shooting and brings his 7-year old son with him to watch. “I feel comfortable with a weapon,” he said.

Women are also shooting in greater numbers and the accessories available show it. There are pink- and raspberry-colored guns for the lady who wants to maintain an air of daintiness while packing heat.

“It’s an equalizer. There’s a lot of empowerment there,” says Mr. Hackman, who estimates that 40 percent of his clientele is female.

Just up the street from Mr. Hackman’s location, the new Shoot Straight gun store and range sports an eye-catching art deco-meets-the-old-west design. The range has a built-in air purification system and will hold an inventory of 1,500 guns. It’s one of the smaller stores in a chain that boasts locations in Apopka, Casselberry, Tampa and Lakeland. Another store is set to open in West Palm Beach later this year. Eventually, the concept could be sold nationwide.

“The number one seller right now is the fear of crime,” says owner Khaled Akkawi. That’s a concern that will exist regardless of what party is in power or where the crime rate statistics might be. Mr. Akkawi says he doesn’t base expansion decisions on the politics or economics of the moment, since opening up a store usually takes about two years once he’s decided on a location. “I’m in this for the long run. I’m not here for the political highs. I’d rather have a steady income and sales and just less legislation.” ¦

.. in the know

>> Florida is considered to be one of the most gun-friendly states. A concealed weapons permit allows carriers to avoid the three-day waiting period for gun purchases. It also allows people to carry a weapon except in designated areas like government buildings and schools. There is no limit to how many guns an individual can own.