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Natural disasters typically jump-start gun sales, and Hurricane Katrina was no exception.
Evacuees who had lost guns, law enforcement officials needing additional firepower and locals fearing riots helped fuel a surge in gun sales in Katrina's aftermath, local gun sellers said.

And one day in particular -- Sept. 1 -- spawned a frenzy after false rumors swirled about riots and looting in downtown Baton Rouge.

Jim McClain, owner of Jim's Firearms, said sales during the first week of September will likely top December, which is typically the strongest month of the year.

By late last week, there had been 5,000 background checks, with only two denied, he said.

"This was by far the best month of the year for the gun industry," he said.

"We've easily doubled our typical handgun sales in the first two weeks," said Laurie Aronson, president of gun wholesaler Lipsey's, which has about a dozen active retail customers in the Baton Rouge area.

"They've sold everything on their shelves and they're buying not only to sell, but to replenish their inventory," she said.

Even into the third week after the hurricane, McClain was selling more guns in the morning than he would typically sell all day.

McClain and Aronson said the number of first-time buyers was not as high as it was the summer Baton Rouge had a serial killer on the prowl, when McClain estimated 80 percent of the new customers were first-time gun buyers.

Nevertheless, McClain said his safety classes filled up as well.

McClain said he saw a lot of people who lost their guns in the flood or didn't have access to them. Many were from Jefferson and Orleans parishes and didn't want to go back into the city without a weapon.

The National Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, local sheriff's offices, police departments from around the state, the State Police -- all were looking for guns and additional ammunition, McClain said.

He said he got 18-wheelers in from Dallas and Shreveport to help handle the load.

McClain said he came by his store the day of the storm, just to check on things. That Tuesday, he got a generator going, secured the store and slept there that night with a couple of employees. Wednesday morning, there was a line of people at the door, and business that day was brisk.

Thursday, Sept. 1, however, brought crowds so big they had to make people wait in the parking lot. Images of looting in New Orleans, reports of shots fired on rescuers and the arrival of evacuees to Baton Rouge had spurred rumors of local malls being looted and downtown ruled by armed thugs.

Asked about whether he felt racial animosity played a factor in the surge, McClain pointed out he had many black customers in the store, and the atmosphere was one of support and camaraderie.

As did others, McClain said that, rumors aside, he thinks the surge was simply for personal safety and protection.

"Anytime that you have civil unrest … it adds a lot of anxiety," McClain said, adding that even benign images, such as gas lines or empty store shelves, can add to the stress.

"This was just out of the norm for everybody here," he said.

"It's because of what was reported," Aronson said of the handgun spike.

By Sept. 1, local radio stations were abuzz with talk of civil unrest, though calls for calm and against rumor mongering became more common into the afternoon.

"Here in Baton Rouge, I think a lot of rumors got started," Aronson said. "(People) were just taking precaution. Any time people feel that their lives are threatened, they're gonna want to protect themselves and there's nothing wrong with that."

"When you throw a match -- it could be the pictures or reports out there -- it just starts a fire," he said.

"There was a concern … about trouble moving into the Baton Rouge area," said Scott Roe, one of the owners of Spillway Sportsman in Port Allen.

Roe said he sold 170 firearms in three days after the storm, with only two delays stemming from the background check. Buyers came in from the New Orleans area, Napoleonville, Paincourtville, Morgan City and Lafayette.

McClain and Roe said that while wild rumors did help fuel sales, they don't have any reservations about the guns they sold. Both said background checks went smoothly, and each said they turned away two potential customers they didn't feel right about.

McClain would not provide details. "In my opinion, they did not need to have a firearm," he said.

Roe said he got two men who seemed too upset, too hot-headed about the influx of people into the city and turned them away.

McClain said he's proud of the way Louisianians have handled the aftermath, though he said the "people who are shooting at rescuers, they can burn in hell."

"When we all settle down, this south Louisiana community is going to be 100 times strong than it's ever been," he said.

Aronson said anyone who bought a gun but feels that they, in the rush of the moment, didn't get the counsel or training they needed, should go back and sign up for safety classes or talk to the retailer.

"The most important thing is that they learn how to use them," she said. "It's not going to do you any good to buy a handgun if you don't know how to use it.

"If you're afraid of it or don't want to take the time to learn how to use it, I suggest you don't buy one."

Advocate staff photos by susan cohen

Customers line up at Jim's Firearms on Siegen Lane on Sept. 1. Gun sales surged in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and are still selling well.

Some patrons of Jim's Firearms show the guns they are waiting to buy earlier this month.

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I bought a new shotgun.

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Toe,

What kind and what gage??? I have a Russian made 12ga SxS "Stagecoach Gun" with external hammers that I keep loaded with #7 shot and in close proximity of my wife or I when we are asleep. Officially, it's my pheasant gun

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It's an 8-shot pistol grip Mossberg, 12-gage

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I have a Benelli tactical beside my bed, a safe full of black guns and I have a CC permit. So I'm always armed.

Oh and the Benelli is my can gun/key.

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TD,

My wife has the CHL (Concealed Handgun License) in the family. I never got around to forking out the cash (about $140) for the course which includes required range time. She carries a Russian made Makarov, .380ACP, 13-Shot. The cartridges are CorBon 90gr.JHPs. The woman has always out shot my shakey ass with any of my handguns