Aftermath: As C.O. gun sales rise, moms renew call for reforms

Business is steady at Trigger Happy Guns, as the Bend gun shop’s staff see more people taking up arms to protect themselves.

“Business is good. It’s obviously, you know, going up a little bit. A lot of people are scared out there. They feel like if somebody can do this in Florida, why can’t they do it here in Central Oregon?” gun broker Eric Priller said Tuesday.

The AR-15, a semi-automatic firearm, is popular with people because of its military style and accuracy when shooting. There are more than 10 million AR-15s in the U.S.

Trigger Happy Guns said it sees sales go up after a mass shooting happens in America.

Priller said Oregon and Washington have two of the stricter background check laws in the nation.

While the federal government is trying to find out as much information about you, the more information you give, the easier for you to walk out with a new firearm.

Gun buyers have to provide identification, including personal information, and answer several questions to determine if they’re qualified to purchase a gun.

If a person is flagged by authorities, gun sellers are not allowed to sell a firearm to that person.

Megan Ellingsen, advocate for Mom’s Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said now is the time to stop being silent and demand gun reform.

“We should not have to worry about being shot down in a place of worship, being shot down in a club where people are celebrating life by salsa dancing,” Ellingsen said.

The organization is not asking for a ban on guns, but common-sense gun laws that keep guns away from criminals.

“Eighty to 90 percent of Americans support background checks, so we’re trying to bring that voice in Congress,” Ellingsen said.

For Trigger Happy Guns, it’s not the firearm it is protecting, but rather making sure the guns are purchased by a law-abiding citizen.

“We don’t want what happened in Florida to happen here in Central Oregon, so that is why we want everybody to be protected. We want everybody to protect their families,” Priller said.