SWFL gun shops see increase in business

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Sales are up for gun shops in Lee County, like Fowler Firearms and Gun Range.

Manager Jon Dezendorf says some of the rush is related to the season, tourism and holidays. But some residents are also concerned, following the recent attacks in San Bernardino, California.

“Just ISIS in general and society in general, people are raising concern they wouldn’t before, but now they are,” said Dezendorf.

Dezendorf says he can’t estimate how many people walk through the doors, but said the volume is up.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) says they had over 25,000 requests from Dec. 1- Dec. 6 for criminal background checks to buy guns. A spokesperson says they added phone lines and increased staffing to deal with the volume of calls during the weekend.

Another gun shop in the Fort Myers area that normally closes at 5 p.m., says they’re staying open until 8 p.m.

Dezendorf says most of the requests their shop gets are for smaller guns, used for protection outside of the home.

“Usually it’s small handguns for self-defense. When it comes to the home, it’s a large handgun. Maybe a shot gun.”