Columbia, SC (WLTX) - Black Friday is only a part of why hundreds of folks lined up outside Midlands sporting goods stores. The other reason was to take advantage of a two day tax break on the purchase of firearms.
Chris Hales says he hates shopping, but Friday at Sportsman's Warehouse in Columbia was an opportunity he could not afford to miss.
"I come up here to buy a hand gun for my oldest son,"says Hales. Hales did manage to avoid the early rush where at 6 a.m. hundreds of folks were already standing in line.
"The majority of which came directly to the gun counter as soon as the doors were opened," says manager Randy Hodge. He says Black Friday is only part of the reason for the big crowds.
"A large amount we could contribute to the tax-free weekend,"says Hodge. It's the state's second amendment sales tax holiday on the purchase of handguns, shotguns and rifles. Hodge says he's seen all kinds of folks buying for all kinds of reasons.
"Maybe an 18-year-old who's buying his first shotgun to go hunting with, all the way up to, we sold a .22 pistol a while ago to a little elderly lady that was probably almost 85 years-old,"says Hodge. While firearms are plentiful, bullets are not. "We do have guns here that we're already sold out of ammunition on it. Ammunition is in short supply,"says Hodge.
Some suggest it's due to the economic downturn, crime and even high demand by the military. "For the Christmas presents they definitely want a box of ammunition to put in the stocking to go with the gun,"says Hodge. Hodge says ammunition suppliers are working overtime just to keep up with the demand. Sportsman's Warehouse expects a new shipment of ammunition Monday.
Meanwhile, Hales says this is his kind of Black Friday. "No sales tax weekend. I wouldn't be here today,"says Hales. The tax break ends Saturday at midnight. Keep in mind, the tax exemption does not apply to items like ammunition, black powder and holsters or antique and collectible handguns that do not fire a fixed cartridge.
Check the S.C. Department of Revenue website for a full list of exempt and non-exempt items at www.sctax.org .
11/28/2009 9:24:01 AM
