Surge In Gun Permits in Newtown After Sandy Hook Shooting

From The Wall Street Journal, "In Newtown, Gun Permits Surge After Shooting: Residents Cite Desire for Protection, a Rush to Buy Before Tighter Rules Kicked In" by Joseph De Avila and Alison Fox:

NEWTOWN, Conn.—The number of people seeking permits to buy guns has surged in this town [Newtown, Ct.] following the December massacre of schoolchildren by a local man, even as the parents of some victims had urged stricter weapons laws nationwide.

Through July 24, more than 200 people in Newtown have received new local pistol permits, according to a review of local records, surpassing the 171 new permits issued for all of last year. ***"I think people realize that you can't call the police all the time and expect them to save you," said Newtown resident Bill Stevens, 48 years old, an avid hunter who owns more than a dozen firearms. "It's sinking in to some folks that 'I need to take responsibility for keeping my family safe.' "