Americans stock up on weapons after California shooting

Atlanta

AT A gun range in Atlanta on Sunday, four days after the deadliest Islamic State-inspired attack on American soil, Brandon Langley practised firing his AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle. "If people were armed, it would have changed the outcome totally," Mr Langley said of Wednesday's assault by a heavily armed husband and wife that killed 14 people and wounded 21 in San Bernardino, California. "Instead of 14 victims, there would have been zero, except for those two (attackers)."

Many Americans agree and are stocking up on weapons after the country's worst mass shooting in three years. Gun retailers are reporting surging sales, with customers saying they want to keep handguns and rifles at hand for self-defence in the event of another attack. "Everyone is reporting up, every store, every salesman, every distributor," said Ray Peters, manager of Range, Guns & Safes, which sells firearms and safes in Atlanta with an indoor firing range. "People are more aware of the need to protect themselves." Mr Peters usually carries a pistol with him. But since last week's shooting, he says he's added a Ruger semiautomatic rifle.