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Concerns that President Elect Barack Obama will push for stricter gun laws are prompting gun enthusiasts to stock up.  

Experts say his election has triggered a surge in gun sales across the country. The FBI reports it has received more than 374,000 background check requests from November 3 through 9, a 49 percent increase over the same period last year. Here in the Midlands, gun shop owners are seeing the same trend.

At Lake Murray Hardware and Outdoor gun business is booming.

Owner Peter Ullsperger says, "The reason for the increased interest is people are worried about stricter legislation passed."

Some customers are stocking up on ammunition after the National Rifle Association ran anti-Obama ads during the campaign. The NRA says Obama would support a "huge new tax on guns and ammo,"  though he has not introduced or promoted such a proposal.

Lexington County Senator Jake Knotts is a member of the NRA. "We will fight back to any attempt in Washington to restrict those rights," says Knotts.

Gun owners are still fearful they'll be a target of tougher legislation based on Obama's support for the Clinton administration's 1994 ban on military style semi-automatic rifles and some high-capacity magazines.

Knotts says, "It's not the guns that created the problem. It's the people behind the guns." 

Ullsperger agrees saying, "We have a right to bear arms in this country and I think we need to preserve that right."