St. Louis-Area Gun Sales Spike Amid Ferguson Riots

Gun sales in the St. Louis area have increased amid the riots taking place in Ferguson, Missouri over the shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Steve King, owner of Metro Shooting in Bridgeton, told the St. Louis Business Journal that the past few days have been “unbelievably busy” at his store as a result of a 50 percent spike in business.

“We’ve sold a variety of handguns, shotguns and AR-15s,” King said. “All of the sales are having to do with home defense.”

King added that the customers range from first-time buyers to experienced shooters looking to add to their arsenal. His store has 17 employees and had a revenue of $2 million in 2013.

“Usually it’s pretty slow through the summer, but this has been a huge spike for business,” King said. “People are hunkering down because those events are taking place too close to their own home … in some cases, a half a mile away. Lots of people are afraid.”

According to the St. Louis Business Journal, Mid America Arms in St. Louis is also reporting a similar increase in business

“We were closed Sunday and Monday, but today, sales have been brisk, and the store is full of people,” said Owner Al Rothweiler, who told the St. Louis Business Journal that sales increased 50 percent on Tuesday when compared with an average day in August. “Everyone who bought today mentioned something about Ferguson.”