Springfield area gun shops see positive Trump effect

Many Americans are feeling more secure about their second amendment rights since the presidential election. Some local firearms store owners say they're seeing some positive effects since Donald Trump was elected president.

At The Sound of Freedom indoor gun range, folks are exercising their second amendment freedoms. And since the presidential election, it seems they're doing so more freely. "Before, they were sticking it in their closet. They were afraid to use it, afraid they'd never get any more. Now they'll come in and shoot, knowing they can turn around and buy some more," says The Sound of Freedom Indoor Gun Range owner A.G. Paul.

The ammunition shelves are full, the gun cases are stocked, and owner Paul says business is good since Donald Trump was elected.

"It seems like things are just holding steady, which is good. It's not good for our industry to have something like when right after Obama got elected and you couldn't even find ammo. I now have 22 ammo in bulk," Paul says.

Gun dealers believe the sale of semi-automatic weapons like the AR-15 may be a little different now than they were during the Obama years. "When there is a tragedy like San Bernadino, we notice a spike in things like magazines for ARs, ARs and AR ammo," Paul says.

"Americans have always been, if you tell me I can't have something, I'm going to buy one," says 417 Guns owner Brent Ball. He says the semi-automatics were one of the staples just before the election. "The sale leading up to it was an AR-15, a case of ammo, and ten magazines; that was like the, you could almost read it; that's what people were looking for," says Ball.

Now, he says his sales are actually up, as gun buyers relax. "People were looking for quantities; they wanted to buy multiples, and now it's more quality. They're looking for a nicer rifle, better ammo, that kind of stuff," Ball says.