The New Hanover County Sheriff's Department issued about 1450 handgun purchase permits last year and they're almost at that number already this month.

Ricci Wright is manager of Shooter's Choice, a gun store in Wilmington. He says sales have doubled from last year.

One reason he says is customers worry guns and ammunition could become harder to get with a Democratic administration in power.

"My experience with the American public--as soon as you tell them they may not be able to get something, even if it's something they never wanted, never had before, they suddenly have to have that, whatever it is. And that's what I think we're seeing. I saw it during the Clinton administration, the same thing, but not to this extent."

In Brunswick County, more than 400 handgun purchase permits have been issued so far this year. That's more than double the number of permits issued by this time last year.

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