NEW MIAMI — Rick Creech opened New Miami Gun Shop five years ago but said he has never seen sales shoot up as much as they have since Election Day, with scores of customers snapping up on weapons and ammunition.

A glass case once full of handguns is more than half empty. A 12-foot-wide pegboard wall once covered with shotguns, rifles and assault weapons is nearly empty.

The surge in sales mirrors nationwide trends as gun enthusiasts cite fears that the combination of an Obama-Biden administration and a Democrat-controlled Congress will bring tough new gun laws and higher prices.

"The majority of people come in here saying that when Obama takes office the price is going to skyrocket and they want to stock up now," Creech said. "They're worried about tax increases, where they can't afford to buy guns, where they can't afford to buy ammo and the only people who are going to have guns is the crooks."

According to the FBI, which does background checks on purchasers of firearms from licensed dealers, checks for the week of Nov. 3-9 were up 49 percent over the same week last year.

Nearly two months later, the rush has practically dried up supplies of some sought-after weapons.

"I have people call me all the time wanting this gun or that gun and I can't even get them and I've got suppliers from all over the United States I can buy from," Creech said.

Gene Wilson, 57, of Hamilton said Obama's victory spurred him to stock up on ammunition shortly after Obama's victory. "People are concerned that the new administration is going to try to use the judicial system to sidestep the Second Amendment," Wilson said.

Obama has said he respects Americans' Second Amendment right to bear arms, but that he favors "common sense" gun laws.

Long-time gun owner Denny Watkins, 54, of Madison Twp. said he has "every reason to be apprehensive."

"President-elect Obama has a very thorough reputation of being anti-gun and posing a dire threat to Second Amendment rights," Watkins said.

Obama on guns

As a U.S. senator: Voted to leave gun makers and dealers open to lawsuits

As an Illinois state legislator: Supported ban on semiautomatic weapons and tighter restrictions on all firearms.

As a presidential candidate: "I will not take your shotgun away," he said to gun owners during a campaign stop in Ohio. "I will not take your rifle away. I won't take your handgun away."

Source: Associated Press