'Selling on fear': Guns stores see 50 percent spike in sales after Missouri shooting

Missouri residents fearing recent rioting over an officer's shooting of an unarmed African-American teen have flocked to gun stores.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatchreported on Tuesday that Mid America Arms' gun sales were up by 50 percent since the looting that happened in the wake of Michael Brown's death at the hands of a Ferguson police officer.

Owner Al Rothweiler told the paper the semi-automatic handguns and shotguns were the most popular items. And he said that the number of women shoppers had sharply increased.

“The things that have gone on (locally) have made people act,” Rothweiler explained, adding that he appreciated the business, “but I don't like selling on fear.”

Metro Shooting Supplies told the Post-Dispatch that firearm sales were “through the roof."

“Sales have been absolutely amazing for three days,” general manager John Stephenson said.

Owner Steven King pointed out to KMOX that it had been mostly men, but he also had seen a spike in other groups.

“Probably a dozen or two dozen guns to females, single mothers. We’ve sold to black people, white people. We’ve sold to Asians who have businesses on West Florissant.” King noted. “They’re just afraid of whats going on and they’re coming in to purchase either additional firearms or their first firearm.”

“They’re buying AR-15s, home defense shotguns, handguns, personal defense handguns, something for conceal carry.”

KSDK reported that use of the shooting range at King's store was also up.

Watch the video below from KSKD, broadcast Aug. 13, 2014.

[Photo: 'Portrait Of A Middle-Aged Man With Rifle On Shoulder In Gun Store' via Shutterstock]