Two new ''shall issue'' states report firearms sales and training on the rise

In recent weeks, both Colorado and Minnesota legislatures revised their concealed carry laws from "may issue" to "shall issue".

Even though these states laws previously recognized SOME citizens' right to self-defense, their law had been abused in many places by the political whims liberal sheriffs. And despite their experience with concealed carry, anti-self-defense extremists in those states are still warning of death in the streets on the eve of "shall issue" passage.

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In a new editorial, the Grand Forks Herald is informing it's neighbors that "N.D.'s experience should reassure Minnesotans worried about concealed weapons."

Click on the "Read More..." link below to read about how the new "shall issue" laws in Colorado and Minnesota are quickly being put into practice by citizens eager to protect themselves.

• Colorado's Rocky Mountain News: Handgun safety classes swelling.

If Colorado's sheriffs aren't yet feeling pressure from the state's new conceal-carry law, the schools and gun shops that train people to use handguns safely certainly are.

Many are enlarging classes and adding night sessions to meet the increased demand since the Colorado law went into effect May 19.

Under the new law, applicants must pass a handgun safety course.

"I'm booked clear into August," with day and evening classes, said instructor Roger Miller of the Firing Line in Aurora. He also offers private lessons - at $75 an hour.

Similar stories come from operators of The Shootist in Englewood and Rocky Mountain Gun Safety in Colorado Springs. The latter reported a surge in female enrollees, but other gun schools have not.

"We're getting 50 to 60 calls a day asking about our classes," said Jon Vargason of The Shootist.

The new law requires sheriffs to issue conceal-carry permits to law-abiding citizens with no felony criminal background record and who take and pass a course on handgun safety.

Previously, it was up to each police chief and sheriff to decide who got permits. In areas such as Denver, it was virtually impossible to get one.

• Minneapolis Star Tribune: Would-be pistol packers are surging to the gun shops.

Area gun shops are reporting a surge of customer traffic as a result of Minnesota's new conceal-and-carry gun law.

People are signing up in droves for the required six-hour certification class. And sales of handguns -- along with accessories such as holsters, fanny packs and cleaning kits -- are reportedly on the rise.

"We're getting a lot of calls. The interest in handguns is really high," said Jeff Kempf, owner of Armored Fire Gun Shop & Range, a gun shop and shooting range in Circle Pines. "We've got about 700 people signed up for the class."

At Cabela's, the sporting-goods giant in Owatonna, handgun sales on some recent days have been double the normal volume.

"It's dramatically increased the percentage of handgun sales as opposed to long gun sales," said Chad Garteski, manager of the hunting firearms department, referring to rifles and shotguns.

Garteski would not release actual sales figures but said media attention to the handgun issue is working in his store's favor.

"It's on the front page of every paper and it's on the news every time you turn around," he said. "So even people that wouldn't normally be interested are coming in to look."

The state's new conceal-and-carry law took effect Wednesday.

Law enforcement officials are required to issue permits to applicants 21 and older who meet standards of U.S. citizenship, handgun safety training and a criminal and mental-health background check.

Previously, police chiefs and sheriffs had broad discretion to grant or deny permits.

Russ Thurman, editor of Shooting Industry magazine in San Diego, predicts a big rise in sales to women. "Women want to be more self-reliant; they want to protect their homes and children on their own," he said.

To women, add businessmen, the elderly and the physically challenged. They are among the people taking the certification class at Bill's Gun Shop & Range. Instructors at the Robbinsdale range taught more than 300 people in May, and another 300 are signed up for June.