Many Americans are cutting back on purchases these days, but federal data shows an increase in people buying firearms and ammunition. Some think campaign 2008 is influencing those numbers.

Owners at JT's Gun & Pawn say gun and ammo sales have tripled in the weeks leading up to the presidential election and they say they don't think it's a coincidence.

Bryan Wilson is a gun collector, but fears democratic talks of gun controls will make buying firearms more difficult after the upcoming election.

“People are buying them because they are afraid they won't be able to get any and, you know, I guess they're scared like I am,” gun owner Bryan Wilson said.

They are fears some gun shop owners say have sparked a jump in sales numbers.

“Ammo sales have tripled. The gun sales, we're ordering every day, two and three orders at a time just trying to keep up with the demand,” JT’s Gun & Pawn owner Jaime Campbell said.

Campbell says politics are the recent topic of conversation when customers come in to make purchases.

“People don't know the outcome of the election and what that's going to bring,” Campbell said.

She says customers are buying more of the weapons they think may be restricted under the possible legislation, like the Colt AR-15, a semiautomatic rifle.

“Everyone is coming in trying to stock up now,” Campbell said.

Customers we talked to say it all comes back to the Second Amendment.

“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” gun owner Jack Collins said.

There was a similar increase in sales back in 1994 when President Bill Clinton pushed for a ban on military-style semiautomatic rifles.

Retailers here say any kind of gun ban or tax increase could negatively affect eastern Kentucky’s economy.

Democratic nominee for president Barack Obama says he believes in an individual right to bear arms, but that he also supports "common-sense safety measures." Republican John McCain says gun control fails at fighting crime, but supports some legislation over requirements for manufacturers.