Some residents are turning to local gun stores as political tensions rise ahead of Election Day.
Charles Blackwell, owner of Sharp Shooters Knife & Gun, said sales have increased during the intense political climate.
“Depending on the polls that day, we’ll see an uptick in traffic. We’ll have people come in and specifically say they’re buying a gun before the election, just in case,” Blackwell said.
Blackwell stated he has seen an interest in residents “increasing their firearms for personal safety and political reasons.”
“It has a lot to do with what politicians have said in the past, their stance on the issues, and what their objectives are,” he explained. “A lot of my customers don’t agree with those.”
“Every time there’s an election year we see an increase in our business, but this one has been very volatile,” Blackwell added. “Texas, they’ve been buying pretty heavy the last 8 years anyway, but nationally they say it’s on a big increase.”