People Eager to Buy Weapons Turned Away

Jittery Southern California residents aiming to protect themselves from the spreading outbreak of looting in Los Angeles flocked to buy guns Thursday only to be turned away unarmed and unhappy, many dealers said.

They were prevented from buying a gun and taking it home with them by a state law that requires a 15-day waiting period for the purchase of handguns, rifles and shotguns.

And those shopping in Los Angeles and several other cities were even prohibited by a temporary emergency order from purchasing ammunition and picking up previously purchased handguns.

Los Angeles officials issued the edict in hopes of keeping people from shooting each other or police during the rioting.

Gun stores in nearby cities where sales were unrestricted reported an unprecedented run on ammunition.

“I’ve had people five-deep, four-across at the counter all day long,” said George Merson, manager of King’s Gun Works in Glendale. “These are people who are genuinely frightened.”

Merson said some shoppers were stunned to learn that the 17-month-old state law prohibits the same-day sale of rifles and shotguns. A 15-day waiting period is required before buyers can take possession of long-barreled weapons, as well as pistols and revolvers.

In Anaheim, where there’s no prohibition on the sale of ammunition, lines started forming about noon Thursday as television news reports showed looting spreading beyond South Los Angeles communities.

“We are so packed, we have a line of customers to the back of the store,” said Steve Schaff, a salesman at Turner’s Outdoorsman.

Turner’s Reseda outlet ended its ammunition sales early Thursday after checking with Los Angeles Police.

“We’ve gotten about 300 inquiries so far today from people wanting to know where they can get it,” said cashier Holly Huntley.

But B & B Sales in North Hollywood wasn’t notified by police about the ban until about 4:15 p.m. Thursday, said a manager named Barry who declined to give his last name.

“We’re telling them at the door that they can’t buy any ammunition,” he said.

Bullet sales were brisk at EukroArms Enterprises in Alhambra. Shoppers were disappointed that guns weren’t also being sold on a cash-and-carry basis.

“People are nervous. They want to buy a gun right now,” said owner Ashley Ho. “When we tell them about the 15-day waiting period, they turn around and leave.”

As many as 3,000 customers crowded into Beach Cities Armoury in Hermosa Beach on Thursday until police there ordered the shop closed about 3 p.m., manager Steve Mitchell said.

“People were upset about the waiting period. They would ask, ‘What am I going to do to protect my family if they come over here?’ ” Mitchell said.

His shop’s complete inventory of antique rifles and pistols was snapped up early in the day, Mitchell said. Guns made before 1941 are considered “curios and relics” and are exempt from the waiting period, he said.

Several Hermosa Beach police were parked outside his shop to make certain it stayed closed, Mitchell said.

Some stores outside the area decided on their own to stop selling ammunition as the Los Angeles violence spread. Paul (Doc) Kilgore, owner of the Hock It to Doc pawn shop in Anaheim, said he posted a sign out front to dissuade would-be bullet buyers.

“We had people trying to buy ammunition starting yesterday afternoon, and we stopped sales immediately,” he said.

In Simi Valley, where a jury on Wednesday handed down the series of not-guilty verdicts in the Rodney G. King beating case that triggered the outbreak of violence, some residents seemed to be bracing for the worst.

Cynthia Nagy, sales manager at Hilldale Discount Gun Sales, the largest of the city’s two gun shops, said her store took orders for 20 firearms on Thursday. The store usually averages about four sales a day, she said.

“We have about 50 people in the store right now,” Nagy said. “It’s paranoia.”

Gun shop customers in San Diego County were also tense.

“There is no reason for ammunition sales to increase like this. Sales have been at least double,” said Harley Davis, a clerk at Woody’s Gun World in La Mesa.