I was a manager of a medium size LGS/Fishing store in SoCal during the Rodney King riots back in the 90's. People freaking out, nobody realizing there were waiting periods, SKS and M1 Carbines sold out in a couple days since they were cash and carry and people so freaked out they were even buying shark bang sticks just because they could walk with it. The worst part is that by the time many of the people's waiting periods were over, the whole situation had returned to normal and there were some who didn't want their purchases anymore.
Through the 90's I saw the weapon bans, mag bans, fixed magazines, welded or pinned muzzle brakes, no flash suppressors and countless other laws and mandates that caused fear, frustration and panic with old and new gun people alike.
Then I watched the exact same thing happen prior to Y2K while managing a large LGS in Socal. We had a ticket number machine 1-99 and we had so many tickets taken out several people would have the same number so we used the little letter next to the number to know who was first. People would grab a number, leave and call an hour later to see what number we were on and then keep calling until we were close enough they would come back. It was nucking futs. I can't even begin to explain the volume we did but it was just mind boggling kinds of business and money like I'd never seen before.
I got out of the biz not long after Y2K but in my experience there's always an event or something periodcally that awakens those who either enjoy the sport but haven't prepared or those who never thought about it until there's a reason. The best we can do is educate those who will listen, distance ourselves from those who refuse to, support each other and try to remain calm as a community to ensure our way of life endures.
Through the 90's I saw the weapon bans, mag bans, fixed magazines, welded or pinned muzzle brakes, no flash suppressors and countless other laws and mandates that caused fear, frustration and panic with old and new gun people alike.
Then I watched the exact same thing happen prior to Y2K while managing a large LGS in Socal. We had a ticket number machine 1-99 and we had so many tickets taken out several people would have the same number so we used the little letter next to the number to know who was first. People would grab a number, leave and call an hour later to see what number we were on and then keep calling until we were close enough they would come back. It was nucking futs. I can't even begin to explain the volume we did but it was just mind boggling kinds of business and money like I'd never seen before.
I got out of the biz not long after Y2K but in my experience there's always an event or something periodcally that awakens those who either enjoy the sport but haven't prepared or those who never thought about it until there's a reason. The best we can do is educate those who will listen, distance ourselves from those who refuse to, support each other and try to remain calm as a community to ensure our way of life endures.
