Interest in guns strong, local retailers say

Interest in guns strong, local retailers say – Local gun sales are going up, retailers say, as data show background checks for pistol permits are up nationwide. Brothers John and Frank Havlick, whose family has run Frank’s Guns and Tackle Shop in Mayfield for 29 years, say business over the past four years has been strong. Since 2009, John Havlick said he’s seen an increase in firearm sales and applications for pistol permits. He said he has almost 100 pistols waiting in the back room of his store for people to pick up once they earn their pistol permit. “We’ve seen a 40 percent increase,” Havlick said, “if not more. You can definitely see the increase.”