(Photo: WBOC)SALISBURY, Md.- Last week's tragic shooting in Colorado has once again ignited the national gun debate. Almost 2,000 miles away, gun shops on Delmarva say business is booming. Changes to gun laws mean the trend is likely to continue in Maryland.
In less than two weeks, it will be a whole lot easier to conceal and carry guns in the state. This comes after a federal district judge changed an initial ruling, making it so applicants will no longer need to show a "good and substantial reason" to get a concealed carry permit.
"They should have to find a substantial reason that you can't have one," said Jamie Wink of Wink's Sporting Goods in Princess Anne.
Like Wink, Bob Arthur of Shooter Supply in Berlin thinks the state is moving in the right direction.
"In other states that have concealed carry permits, crime does go down," he said.
According to Arthur, sales are up and the recent shooting in Colorado may have something to do with it.
"It's a dangerous world we live in. This country's not getting any safer and people are afraid," he told WBOC.
But not everyone thinks easing gun regulations is the way to go.
"I think loose regulations are what perpetuates the possibility of violence," said Edward Miller of Baltimore. "We need to do what we can to step away. We're a nation that's drowning in violence and it's happening with the password of freedom."
Yet others point to the constitution.
"It's part of our amendment and our right to bear arms and have a concealed weapon or have weapons in the house for protection. That's what we're based on," noted Brian Madden.
The Maryland State's Attorney General's office has filed an appeal and enforcement of these changes could be delayed if a stay is granted. Otherwise, the changes are set to go into effect Aug. 7.
