Charlotte Dealership Offers Free Gun As Gun Sales SpikeCharlotte, NC - For Paul & Crystal Rauch owning a gun is a matter of safety. Crystal says, “It just makes sense." The couple lives in a secluded area and has been victim to minor theft and vandalism. Paul says, “We just wanted to be able to protect ourselves in case something did happen." The Rauches are part of a growing number of gun owners. Carolina Sporting Arms manager Donald Ingram says, “When you take your baseline customer and the new people that are coming in droves and the women are coming in it spikes." The store sold more than 300 guns last month. Ingram says people still buy for sport, but the growing trend is for safety, “People are just fearful in general of the crime stats, the bump in the night." Last month a record 1.8 Million firearms background checks were run through the FBI's NICS system. North Carolina's numbers jumped more than 10K in December to 49,323. Mecklenburg County ran 1854 background checks for gun or conceal & carry permits. One local business is capitalizing on the surge. Keith Hawthorne Ford is sweetening each purchase of a new or used truck with a free gun. The promotion has been so popular that in just two weeks they've given away 20 Remington rifles. Background checks still apply. Dealership representatives couldn't speak with us on camera, but said the gun offer is driving sales. Back in Southwest Charlotte Crystal & Paul also own guns for sport. But the new conceal and carry permit holders say they're not taking chances. Crystal says, “I just think it is... it's smart." |
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