One area business owner has seen his firearm and ammunition sales increase over the past several months.

Both sides of the gun control argument have used recent events in Newtown, Connecticut and Aurora, Colorado as platforms to make their cases. Jake Romano owns Blue Ridge Backwoods in Monticello, he says, he doesn't know what the answer is, but he feels something needs to be done.

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From state to federal lawmakers, the issue of gun control has taken center stage over the past six months and Romano says no matter what is done, there will be consequences for any action. He believes un-arming responsible, law-abiding citizens only empowers those who intend to use guns illegally.

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Romano says group of statistics he says may tell the story is areas of the country with major gun control laws show their rates of gun crimes are increased greatly over areas of the country that are not heavily regulated.

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Sporting goods stores all over the area have seen jumps in the sales of their firearms and ammunition. The State of Illinois was recently ordered by a Federal Court to pass a concealed carry law in the next six months, ruling the ban on concealed carry was unconstitutional.

Blue Ridge Backwoods in Monticello is located at 410 North Market Street.