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New Law Could Hurt Local Business

Reported By: Rob Hughes (rhughes@kswt.com)

El Centro, CA October 15- A new law could hurt local business. Bill AB-62 was signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger this week despite stiff opposition from the gun community.

"Criminals don't come into a gun store to purchase a gun," said Bill DuBois, C.E.O. of Border Tactical Indoor Shooting Range In El Centro.

DuBois believes a new law restricting ammunition sales won't help police catch criminals.

"It's just sort of a harassment of lawful gun ownership, because certainly criminals are going to steal their ammo, or they're going to import it from some less restrictive state, that's what we're seeing, it's a perception by the buyer," said DuBois.

Dubois points out the law, which requires gun stores to keep track of who buys ammunition, and only allows ammo sales to be made face to face, will slow down investigations.

"If I were a defense attorney and my client was accused of shooting somebody with a 9 millimeter, I would subpoena every record of every box of 9 millimeter in the last 3 years, I would want to depose every one of them to see where every one of them went," said Dubois.

In the meantime, Dubois is seeing people stock up on ammo, but feels they won't be happy once the law kicks in, potentially leaving sales flat.

"We're seeing a lot of folks come in and buy a lot of ammunition; somebody who might buy 3 or 6 months supply is now buying a 5 or 10 year supply; they're just worried about the way ammunition is going to be in the future."

But Dubois explains that those who are buying ammo understand that gun safety and responsibility are extremely important, because guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens isn't a bad thing.

The law goes into effect February 1st, 2011.

Border Tactical will be offering "First Shots," a free public firearm safety course on Saturday, October 17th at 9am. You must be 14 years old or older to attend. Border Tactical will be providing a free firearm rental. If you have never fired a gun, or haven't fired one in a while, you're invited to attend. The event is sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation.