Gun sales in the St. Louis area are increasing in the wake of the looting and chaos that followed the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old, last Saturday in Ferguson, Missouri.
Michael Brown, 18, was fatally shot by police last Saturday.
“They’re just afraid of whats going on and they’re coming in to purchase either additional firearms or their first firearm,” Steven King, owner of Metro Shootingm told CBS affiliate KMOV.
“They’re buying AR-15s, home defense shotguns, handguns, personal defense handguns something for conceal carry,” added King, whose store is located in the suburb of Bridgeton.
Tensions between police and protesters are at a high, as officers in riot gear have been blasting gatherers with tear gas and rubber bullets. Meanwhile, seeing an opportunity to take advantage of the situation, looters have been on the prowl pillaging unsecured shops and stores.
“The things that have gone on (locally) have made people act,” said Al Rothweiler, the owner of Mid America Arms in St. Louis, “but I don’t like selling on fear.”
Rothweiler told the St. Louis Dispatch that sales at his store are up 50 percent since the shooting.