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Gun sales increase in Colorado

Armed officers stand watch after twelve movie goers were shot and killed with up to fifty nine more people injured at the Century 16 movie theaters at the Aurora Mall in Aurora, Colorado on July 20, 2012. The victims were attending a midnight premiere of the new Batman movie. The suspect, James Holmes, allegedly threw a smoke bomb and opened fire on the moviegoers. He surrendered to police and is currently in custody. UPI/Gary C. Caskey

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Published: July 24, 2012 at 1:45 PM

DENVER, July 24 (UPI) -- The Colorado Bureau of Investigation said the number of people looking to purchase firearms has increased by 43 percent during the weekend.

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation reported approval of 2,887 background checks of people who want to buy guns from Friday to Sunday, a 43 percent increase from the Friday to Sunday period the week before, The Denver Post reported.

Some believe the increase in gun sales is connected to the shooting at an Aurora, Colo., movie theater leading to 12 deaths and 58 casualties.

"A lot of it is people saying, 'I didn't think I needed a gun, but now I do,'" said Jake Meyers, an employee at Rocky Mountain Guns and Ammo in Parker, Colo. "When it happens in your backyard, people start reassessing -- 'Hey, I go to the movies.'"

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