Gun-owners will want to set their sights on Mississippi gun stores this weekend. The state is participating in its first annual Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday - which exempts sales tax on individual sales of firearms, ammunition, archery equipment and certain hunting supplies.
"Any gun, firearm-related ammunition, optics, that kind of thing that they've been looking or had their eye on, they'll get to save a little extra money on," Eric Stubbs, president of Modern Outfitters says. "So we've had a big interest so far."
Local gun stores are preparing for a big turnout.
"It's going to be like Christmastime," Garrett's owner C.W. Garrett says. "I think it's going to be great for the state, and I think it's going to be great for us as individuals in business."
The holiday is set for Friday of each September until midnight on the following Sunday, which could serve as a big financial boost.
"It's good to get people from other states to come to Mississippi and spend their money on guns or ammo or whatever," gun-owner David Steahle says.
Mississippi isn't the first state to implement a second amendment sales tax holiday. But store owners in this area believe the holiday will be a big hit for more than just hunters.
Due to crime and recent gun legislation, Stubbs says Modern Outfitters has seen an increase in the number of people who are coming in, shopping for guns for self-protection rather than hunting.
"I think people are a little are a little more concerned about personal protection, but ever since the open carry law was passed, we've seen a major influx of people coming in with permits," he says. "We've also seen a lot of people buying more handguns and things to carry with them."
"People just want to protect themselves and their homes and their belongings," Garrett explains. "So that's what they do, they usually buy guns and things like that because they're just afraid right now."
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