万花筒 2008-11-02&11-03 美国枪支销量大增（在线收听）

Gun sales are on the rise right now at Albuquerque Pawn Shop in downtown.

 You know, just the way the state of the economy is, you know, desperate people do desperate measures. Therefore, you know people want to protect themselves.

 Owner Jay Johnston says the sour economy is fueling fears of crime and civil disorder. So people are arming themselves.

 Johnston says it's not just his shop, but gun dealers across the country are getting backed up.

 I could order them, you know, six months ago, and they would just say, "How many",you know, "We will ship them out tomorrow. " And now I've got a bunch of guns on backorder.

 Albuquerque Police say the number of armed robberies are up right now, partly because of troubling economic times, throe in the holiday shopping season and things just get worse.

 Finance is being tight. It affects that criminal element as well, and they wanna go out and get a fast buck.

 And for those turning to guns to protect themselves during these tough times, police want you to ask yourself two things: Are you ready to pull the trigger? And are you ready to take the risk?

 Understand that your gun is available to that criminal should they overpower you.