Gun Sales On The Rise In Upstate, Stores Say Homeowners Want To Defend Themselves

Upstate stores tell us gun sales are on the rise. The trend follows several recent cases where homeowners have pulled a gun or fired a weapon to scare off would-be burglars.

The latest incident happened Friday night in Anderson County at a home on Middleton Road. Homeowner William McKellar says he was about to go to bed when he heard someone kick in the door on the enclosed porch in front of his home. McKellar says he got his handgun and greeted the intruder at the door. McKellar says the man ran away, and McKellar fired two shots at the intruder. It is unclear whether or not the man was hit. Deputies have not made an arrest in the case.

McKellar says, “We was getting ready to go to bed, and I heard somebody kick the front door in, so I went and grabbed my pistol.” 

McKellar says he opened the door, and a man was standing on his enclosed porch. McKellar says they must have scared each other because the man ran away. He says he wanted to make sure the intruder stayed away. McKellar says, “I come out behind him, and that's when I fired two shots at him.” 

Deputies in Anderson and Greenville Counties combined say there have been several cases in the last two months where homeowners have used a weapon to scare off burglars. 

7 On Your Side’s Robin Kanady asked McKellar, “Why did you fire at him?” McKellar responded, “Cuz he was in my house, and if it weren't for my grandbaby in there, I would have probably chased him down.” 

McKellar isn't the only homeowner putting the defense of his home in his own hands. Grady’s Great Outdoors in Anderson says handgun sales are up 20 percent. Allen Arms in Greenville also reports gun sales are up 10-20 percent compared with the same time last year. 

At Grady’s, the number of first time gun buyers is even higher. Manager Donnie Barksdale says, “We're noticing now 20-30 percent of the people that come in are first time gun buyers, and it's mainly women that want to protect themselves, some men, but I'd say more than half are women.” 

To buy a gun, the store has to do a criminal background check on an applicant. Barksdale recommends more...especially for first time gun buyers. He says, “It's real important to learn how to use it (the gun) safely. Every new gun has a list of guidelines.” 

Barksdale believes there are more homeowners packing heat because they've heard about cases like McKellar's.  

McKellar says, “I'm just tired of people breaking in, and I am going to start doing what I have to do to protect my stuff. If it means shooting somebody, then that's what's going to happen.” 

In South Carolina, deputies say you do not have to have a concealed weapons permit to protect your home or act in self-defense. Spartanburg County deputies say since last July, they've had 840 home break-ins. That's about 100 more than the same time period in 2010. Greenville County deputies say home break-ins there went down by about 30 during that time period.