OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Since the “Safer at Home” order began, gun sales at Jon’s Sport Shop in Oshkosh have skyrocketed.
“An unbelievable increase. It has finally probably hit the peak and come down some, but it is volatile,” Jon’s Sport Shop Owner John Gafner said.
Gafner tells FOX 11 95% of his customers want the same thing: protection.
“They’re afraid of the consequences of not having businesses, not having people working, and people stealing in order to survive.”
A Glock 19 was stolen from Gafner’s shop just days before Wisconsin’s “Safer at Home” order took effect.
Jon’s Sport Shop is offering a $2,000 reward for anyone who catches the culprit.
Since “Safer at Home” started on March 25, the Wisconsin Department of Justice has processed 18,479 background checks for hand guns.
In 2019, the state DOJ processed 11,438 background checks.
That’s a 62% increase.
Hand guns aren’t the only item going out with a bang.
Gafner says ammo is selling fast.
“Most stores are absolutely sold out. Because they’re used to a reasonable amount. We kind of hit it lucky in that we had an ammo buy that we committed to months ago that came in just before this.”
Keith Schaefer lives in Fond du Lac. He does gun transfers — completing background checks for sellers.
“A year ago this time, a good week for me would have been 5 transfers. An average week probably three or four. The last month and a half, it’s probably been 10 (per week).”
Schaefer says he’s noticed different types of buyers.
“A lot of first time buyers, probably 30%. Quite a few women buyers. Younger women, 20s and 30s, buying their first hand gun for protection..
Schaefer also told FOX 11 many of his distributors are running low on supplies, and many items are backlogged.
You can get in touch with Jon’s Sport Shop here.
