Gun Sales Spike Following Chattanooga Shootings

Last week's tragedy has caused a spike in gun sales locally, and shop owners said they believe fear is causing the jump. More orders keep coming in at Carter Shooting Supply as customers are anticipating more gun control. Summer sales were slow until last week, the owner said. "Thursday night, it immediately changed. It was honestly insane. I've seen it before," said Kristi Manning, co-owner of Carter Shooting Supply in Harrison. "I've been doing this for 16 years, so I've seen it in the past where something tragic happens and people kind of panic and want to feel secure. And that's what happened." Manning told NewsChannel9's Briona Arradondo the attack on Amnicola Highway Thursday has more locals concerned about their safety. Mohammed Youssef Abdulazeez shot and killed four Marines and a Navy sailor on July 16. "We're gun carriers, we're the South, we're Tennessee. We tote guns, we carry guns, we carry several guns. You'd never think it would happen here, but it caught us off guard," said Manning. Area gun shop owners shared their sales numbers over the weekend. The owner at Shooters Depot said they sold 89 guns in two days, and 289 people signed up for the handgun carry permit class. At Carter Shooting Supply, the shop sold 15 AR-15 rifles, 40 guns and 70 to 80 people signed up for the permit class. Both stores experienced much more activity than usual. "You're never going to take the guns out of the bad people's hands no matter what you do, so I feel like we need to arm ourselves, and be prepared," said Michael Brown, a Ringgold resident. "I feel like if there were more people that had arms, there would be less crimes. I may be wrong but that's what I think." Michael Brown understands the rush on guns. But he also weighed in on a conversation raising questions nationwide. "I hate the tragedy that happen, and I'm deeply sorry that it did happen here. But I feel like our servicemen should have been armed," said Brown. Carter Shooting Supply owner said they are also selling shirts that say "Nooga Strong" in light of the shootings. All of the proceeds will go to the families of the victims, Manning said. By Briona Arradondo