POCATELLO - Fear among gun owners that a President Barack Obama would reinstate gun bans enacted under President Bill Clinton has resulted in record sales at one local shop.

Sam Laoboonmi, manager of Sam's Gun Shop Inc. on Jefferson Street, said the ban included the Ruger Model 1022, a popular sporting rifle for young shooters, and some shotguns employed for military use.

The Assault Weapons Ban took effect in August 1994 and, for 10 years, it was illegal to own guns defined as assault weapons. That ban had bipartisan support from Clinton, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford and carried with it a 10-year sunset provision, meaning it expired in September 2004. At that time there was not enough support in Washington to extend the ban.

Laoboonmi has been at his current location for six years. He is finding not only an increase in the sale of rifles and sporting weapons, but also more people, including women, who are buying guns for personal protection.

"I can hardly keep stock in," Laoboonmi said. "I have to place orders every day."

Many local residents also are buying weapons to protect their homes.

The most popular and the most effective against intruders, Laoboonmi said, is a shotgun.

"In the dark, with a shotgun you don't have to aim," he said. "And if you have a pump shotgun, it's even better-people recognize that sound."

Doc Blanchard, owner of Doc's Gun Barn at Maple and Jefferson streets, has not seen a huge increase in sales, but finds customers are also concerned about possible firearms bans.

"Obama has already said that he'll reinstate the Clinton ban," Blanchard said.

Current regulations require gun dealers to conduct background checks on individuals who purchase any type of firearm and it can take up to five government business days for the sale to be approved.

Blanchard said unlike sporting guns such as rifles and shotguns, federal regulations restrict the sale of handguns to one weapon every five days. Multiple weapons permits are issued, however local, state and federal authorities are notified of all multiple purchases of handguns.

Availability of concealed weapons permits has led more people to buy handguns for personal protection.

Blanchard recommends revolvers for personal protection because they are easy to operate and lightweight, costing $250 to $700.

Blanchard carries a Utah concealed weapons permit because it's valid in a number of states. To obtain the permit, he took a one-day course, a written test and submitted to a background check and fingerprinting.

Bannock County Sheriff Lorin Nielsen said applications for concealed weapons permits in the county have not increased over the past year.

Idaho requires permit holders to be fingerprinted, a background check is conducted and the permit is either issued or denied in 30 to 90 days. The average fee for a permit in Idaho is about $40.

In Bannock County 870 concealed weapons permits were issued this year, Nielsen said.

By Debbie Bryce

dbryce@journalnet.com