Lafayette gun shop sees more traffic after shooting tragedy

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Customers and workers at Four Guns in Lafayette said the store's gunsmith Steve Snyder has been selling guns longer than a lot of them have been shooting guns. Snyder has been in the business for 45 years, and has seen the state's gun laws change.

"Paperwork has gotten more extensive," Snyder said. "You have to go through the background check nowadays."

At first Snyder wasn't so sure about the FBI background checks mandated by the state.

"Now having watched it happen and gone through it for several years [I see] it works out well," Snyder said.

The law has changed a lot over the years. But one thing Snyder said doesn't change is the attention gun shops get after national tragedies like Friday's shooting at Sandy Hook.

Traffic has increased at Four Guns since Friday. Snyder said the same people buy guns after every tragedy. They're the people already in the market for a gun.

"[They're] people who are saving up to get something, [but] now they're putting everything on the back burner, and they're going to get [the gun]." Snyder said.

Snyder said it doesn't take long for those new buyers to get the gun.

"You can come in and buy your gun and walk out within a period of 10 or 15 minutes," Snyder said.

Snyder said a buyer must show their driver's license. Then their name is called into the FBI. It is possible people can get denied or delayed in buying a gun.

"They average person doesn't get delayed," Snyder said. "It's about 25 to 20 percent who get delayed."

As the country continues its gun control debate, workers at Four Guns believe lawmakers can't legislate gun out of the hands of criminals.

"You can't legislate evil," Snyder said.

Lawmakers said there will be a lot of discussion about gun control. But only when the General Assembly starts back up in January will it be known if the law will be fully reviewed.