Gun sales, training hit record numbers

MORAINE, Ohio (WDTN) - Sim Trainer in Moraine has seen a big boom in business with people seeking training and looking to purchase firearms.

"Sales have been over the top.  Record number of sales pretty much across the board, everything from pistols, shotguns to rifles.  A majority of what we do here is training and education and we've had such a high interest that we've added multiple sessions to all of our classes and they've already filled within a week or so and we're already scheduling into March and April," says owner Jeff Pedro.

Pedro has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years. He also owns this Indoor range and training facility.

He believes this increase in interest is due not only to the recent school shooting massacre in Connecticut, but also fear of the unknown.

This week, President Obama announced 23 executive orders aimed to reduce gun violence.

"It's suspicion of what might happen as far as legislation which may prohibit gun ownership or curtail gun ownership, accessories, magazines,things of that nature.  They're worried as they typically are when they hear the federal government start clamping down," comments Pedro.

Laura Torres-Reyes wanted to learn how to use guns.  She says education is key.

"A lot of women come to me because they're afraid, just like me.  They've never touched one, it just seems like a scary thing.  Once you become knowledgeable about how to properly handle them, how to properly store them, how to properly load and unload, then you can use the firearm as it's intended, in the case of self-defense or, like me, if you want to have competitive shooting," explains Torres-Reyes.

For more information on the programs at Sim Trainer, go here.