More Signs of Economic Revival

More Signs of Economic Revival

In one sector. From the Sturm, Ruger first quarter report:

The first quarter of 2009 was a significant improvement over the first quarter of last year and continues the progress made in 2008:
• The level of demand for our products during the first quarter of 2009 has been unusually high, with more than 500,000 units ordered.
• Our firearms sales grew 55.5% from the first quarter of 2008 and 8.7% from the fourth quarter of 2008.
• Our firearms unit production grew 69.3% from the first quarter of 2008 and 25.6% from the fourth quarter of 2008.
• Our backlog grew to 458,900 units and $136.3 million at the end of the first quarter of 2009, from 175,900 units and $47.8 million at the end of 2008.

A backlog of almost half a million guns for one maker? And just in case there's any question who is the greatest gun salesman of all time:

The level of demand for our products started to rise in October 2008 and has been extremely strong through the first quarter of 2009. Demand has substantially exceeded our production capacity and our backlog has grown dramatically.

Some New Agers imagine Obamas as "a Lightworker." See this June 6, 2008 San Francisco Chronicle column:

Here's where it gets gooey. Many spiritually advanced people I know (not coweringly religious, mind you, but deeply spiritual) identify Obama as a Lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who has the ability to lead us not merely to new foreign policies or health care plans or whatnot, but who can actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet, of relating and connecting and engaging with this bizarre earthly experiment. These kinds of people actually help us evolve. They are philosophers and peacemakers of a very high order, and they speak not just to reason or emotion, but to the soul.

Oh yeah, I'm sure that the "gooey... spiritually advanced people" were expecting this! The Lightworker is not just selling guns to existing gun owners:

There is an additional beneficial note from this high level of demand – we hear anecdotally from retailers that a significant portion of their customers are new and often buying their very first firearm. We are hopeful that those new firearms owners will return to buy more Ruger products in the future.

If even 5% of those new gun owners fill in the card that comes with Ruger guns, Obama may be on the way to creating a five million member NRA.

Thanks to Arms and the Law for bringing this to my attention. Some of the comments over there (one by a first time gun owner) are quite interesting.