Photo by Cliff Williams/Times-Georgian
Carroll County Probate Court Judge Betty Cason said her office has already received more permit applications this month than all of last January.
In January 2012, 135 people applied for permits. In the seven days the office has been open so far this year, 152 people have come in to apply.
"Anytime something like this happens, we see a spike," Cason said, referring to the Dec. 14 school shooting in Newtown, Conn., which left 28 people dead. "People just feel they need that protection, especially when there's a lot of talk about possibly restricting their gun rights."
In December 2012, Cason's office had 243 applications pass through, many more than normal.
Gun sales have also seen a sharp spike since the tragedy.
Sam Duke, who works in the gun department at Carrollton's Barnes Store on Bankhead Highway, said the increase started after President Barack Obama was elected and escalated after the Newtown shooting.
Duke said the store can't keep the popular AR-15 — the semi-automatic rifle used by 20-year-old Adam Lanza in the Connecticut tragedy — in stock.
"As soon as we get some in, they're sold," Duke said. "We've sold more than 100 since the shooting."
AR-15s aren't the only kind of firearm in short supply after the increase — Duke said he's also seen a rise in sales of small guns, like 9mm Lugers.
"We've seen a large increase in the number of ladies getting guns," Duke said. "A lot of husbands who want their wives to be protected."
While the business at the Barnes Store gun counter is thriving, Duke said he's uncomfortable with the reason.
"I hate that we're benefiting from this tragedy," Duke said.
Chief Deputy Brad Robinson of the Carroll County Sheriff's Office said he's a strong supporter of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, but that those wishing to have a permit should be patient.
Robinson said he's seen a "huge increase" in the number of people coming to his office to be fingerprinted, a requisite for all permit applicants.
"There have been days when we've had more than 30 applicants, when on a normal day before all this happened, we'd have one or two," Robinson said. "They are just coming in droves."
Robinson stressed that the boom has placed a greater workload on the office staff.
"Certainly if an individual wants one, it's up to their discretion," Robinson said. "We just ask them to realize that it's the jail staff doing the fingerprinting, so please be patient because they're adding to everything else they've already got to do."
However, Robinson said the surge is "really not called for," since permits aren't required in most cases.
"I don't think they realize that people have the right to have a firearm without any permit at all," Robinson said. "So it's really not called for since they have the right to have them anyway."
Cason brought up a concern she has about state gun laws — the lack of a requirement for applicants to have completed a safety training course.
"I would rather they be safe if they are going to have them, obviously," Cason said. "Most states require a 12-hour training course in gun safety. Georgia is one of a few states that don't require any kind of training."
In general, the only people prohibited from possessing guns are felons, felony probationers and people younger than 18 (except that minors may possess guns for hunting).
However, civilians must register certain weapons with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, including sawed-off shotguns, sawed-off rifles, fully automatic machine guns and silencers.
In Carroll County, a fee of $76 must be paid to the Carroll County Probate Court to receive a permit. This fee covers the $30 application charge, the charge of $5 for fingerprinting and records check at the sheriff's office, $40 for the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation for a complete criminal records history and $1 for mailing fee.
False, Lanza left the Bushmaster rifle in the trunk of the car. Lanza did not use the rifle to kill anyone. Lanza used pistols.
Judge Napolitano knows why American's have a second amendment, it's not to hunt deer.
http://www.judgenap.com/index.php?post=my-latest-column-guns-and-freedom
If you do not wish to own a firearm then do not, but, do not make it so those who wish to own firearms cannot.
It simply has to do with extreme paranoia and an inane fear that President Obama will soon be going door to door to collect your guns!
Gun dealers and the Fox News Channel constantly promote this paranoid fear beacause it serves their respective purposes well.
It's incredible that in our community of high unemployment, high food stamp (EBT Card) usage, low wages and in light of reduced paychecks due to the 2% increased return in socal security payments, that so many paranoid people will spend so much money to buy yet another weapon out of idotic fear that the President is coming to collect their guns!
Guns are expensive! Assault weapons are very expensive! Bullets are expensive! Gun permits (at $76) are expensive! I wonder how many car payments are not being made this month; how much rent is not being paid, groceries not being purchased, kid's clothing not being bought, all because of this insane out of control paranoia over guns and President Obama?
As for Georgia's lack of a gun safety class requirements; please do you really think insane paranoid racists really need a gun safety class?
Many of these same people failed their GED tests!
As for needing 30 round ammo clips; I can understand that. Just listen to the "accurate" deer hunters in the woods as they shoot off 10 to 20 rounds at a time. They don't need a gun safety class, they need target practice because they can't even shoot straight!
Got stats to show how many gun owners failed a GED?
No, I thought not.
i didnt realize deer would stand still while the hunter takes 20 shots at them. Interesting.
Sounds like you would dictate not only that people shouldn't own guns, but that someone else knows better than me how I will spend my own money - butt out, I say.
Bravo Governor Perry!!
Gov. Rick Perry released the following statement regarding President Obama's executive actions:
"The Vice President's committee was appointed in response to the tragedy at Newtown, but very few of his recommendations have anything to do with what happened there.
"Guns require a finger to pull the trigger. The sad young man who did that in Newtown was clearly haunted by demons and no gun law could have saved the children in Sandy Hook Elementary from his terror.
"There is evil prowling in the world - it shows up in our movies, video games and online fascinations, and finds its way into vulnerable hearts and minds. As a free people, let us choose what kind of people we will be. Laws, the only redoubt of secularism, will not suffice. Let us all return to our places of worship and pray for help. Above all, let us pray for our children.
"In fact, the piling on by the political left, and their cohorts in the media, to use the massacre of little children to advance a pre-existing political agenda that would not have saved those children, disgusts me, personally. The second amendment to the Constitution is a basic right of free people and cannot be nor will it be abridged by the executive power of this or any other president."
"The Only Way To Stop a Bad Guy With A Gun Is A Good Guy With A Gun." Wayne LaPierre, President - NRA