8 • OctOber 2019
COVER STORY
COAST RIVER bUSINeSS JOUrNAL
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Demand-driven
firearms and am-
munition short-
ages that once
fueled government
conspiracy theories
has subsided, local
retailers say.
Nikki Underwood
The panic sent shock-waves through
the firearms industry, leading some dealers
to unwisely invest in inventory that soon
dropped in demand, particularly AR-style
rifles.
“While its good for the industry in the
short term, in the long term it ended up
causing a lot of discontent,” Kelland said.
“Nobody was able to get anything, and
then when you could, everybody jumped
on it and it just snowballed. We are our
own worst enemies in that respect — peo-
ple would panic buy, then the next person
can’t get it and the conspiracy theories start
flying.”
Anxiety over weapon availability has
since subsided and ammunition that was
once scarce, such as .22 caliber bullets, is
now readily available.
Commercial Loan Officer
Walmart
503-815-7276
nunderwood@fibrecu.com
www.tlcfcu.org
A DIVISION OF
CREDIT UNION
Walmart, America’s largest gun retailer,
announced in September plans to reduce
gun and ammunition sales, roughly a month
after 20 people were killed in a Walmart in
El Paso, Texas.
Kelland is hopeful these policy changes
will translate into more sales for smaller
shops like his.
Ammunition sales account for about
30% of the business, he said, which was cut
50% after Walmart opened a store in War-
renton in June 2018.
“My ammo sales have dropped precip-
itously after Walmart moved in,” Kelland
said. “I just don’t move the big lots like I
used to.”
NFA sales
In December 2018, Kelland acquired his
Class 3 Firearms License, which permits
him to sell National Firearms Act (NFA)
restricted weapons and components, from
fully automatic machine guns to silencers.
“I had an initial burst of 10 suppressor
sales, then nothing since May,” Kelland
said. “Unfortunately, they’re all sitting in
a safe because none of the paperwork has
cleared from back in February. It takes that
long.”
Conceal carry permits, personal
safety trainings
In lieu of terrorist attacks and mass
shootings, self-protection has become an
increasingly popular segment of firearms
sales nationwide. In 2015, more than 14.3
million conceal carry permits were issued
nationwide, an increase of 1.73 million —
the largest ever.
Currently, approximately 6% the U.S.
adult population holds a permit, according
to NICS. Washington has among the high-
est per capita level of permit holders with
515,065 registered conceal and carry gun
owners, while Oregon has 226,255. Flor-
ida has issued the most, with 1.58 mil-
lion. The number of women with permits
has increased twice as quickly, according
to data compiled by the Crime Prevention
Research Center.
Kelland, who has more than 20 years
combined in military and law enforcement
training, offers a monthly Concealed Hand-
gun License (CHL) in Warrenton, which
he said has become increasingly popular.
He’s now considering adding a new course
focusing more on personal safety.
“It will open up another avenue for peo-
ple who aren’t necessarily gun people to get
into the mindset of personal protection and
safety without having to use firearms,” Kel-
land said.
Kelland believes the course could have
a broad appeal.
“Everyone should be cognizant of
what’s going on around them and how to
keep themselves safe in any kind of envi-
ronment,” he said. “It’s a lot of situational
awareness, danger cues, what to look for in
your day-to-day routine, how to drive tacti-
cally but not offensively.”
Much of the training will focus on situ-
ational awareness, counter surveillance and
the premise of “How to make yourself a
harder target,” Kelland said.
“It’s not about getting into a gun fight
with somebody, it’s about avoiding them. If
you can keep yourself safe through obser-
vation, you’re already ahead of the game.
There’s a certain segment of the population
that doesn’t think that way and the idea is to
give them the tools,” he said.
Details about the cost and location of the
course are still being determined.