LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Supporters of gun rights are already taking issue with many elements of the president's plan. The owner of one Las Vegas gun store says restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines could have a crippling effect on his business.
"I think he's using this situation to further his agenda," said Manuel Padilla, who is a customer at the Gun Store. "I really don't think he's concerned about what happened."
Padilla claims President Barack Obama's gun control proposals will strip him of his Second Amendment rights. He rushed into the gun store to buy two high capacity magazines thinking they may not be available in the future.
"Guns don't kill people," said Padilla. "People kill people with guns."
Gun Store owner Bob Irwin said if Congress pulls the trigger on a ban it will not just affect his store. He said it will have a trickle-down effect on the production and manufacturing of guns.
"I'm not concerned that we will be out of business," said Irwin. "We will reduce our footprint if it becomes more difficult to buy a gun, more difficult paperwork and a longer time period to get approved. It will certainly slow down the number of guns bought legally."
Irwin said assault weapon sales make up 30 percent of his business. He said losing that money will force him to cut 30 percent of his workforce. Greg Sanchez, who is an employee at the Gun Store, said he's concerned.
"Of course we all have to pay our bills," said Sanchez. "We have to eat. We have to support our families. It's very difficult in today's times and in today's economy. People are just barely holding on."
While the workers at the Gun Store don't want an assault weapons ban, they do support the president's stance on better background checks. They'd also like to see more attention put on the mental health industry.
Copyright 2013 KVVU (KVVU Broadcasting Corporation). All rights reserved.
