Mercury News
Texas is leading the nation in the number of people seeking federal permission to buy guns.
Federal statistics reviewed Friday by the Houston Chronicle ( http://bit.ly/17FYwPP) show 1.2 million people in Texas through the end of September filled out applications for background checks. At that rate, last year's record 1.4 million requests will be surpassed by the end of 2013. "The gun business is doing well," Rob Elder, head of the Houston division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said. He said number of requests could increase his agency's workload, but he said most purchasers are law-abiding citizens seeking firearms for legitimate purposes. The figures don't equate to the number of purchases but represent people who have asked to buy from a federally licensed dealer. One Houston gun store owner, Jim Pruett, told the newspaper President Barack Obama motivates gun buyers. "Any time he talks about gun control, it drives people crazy and they go and buy guns," he said.
