PORTLAND, Ore. -- Crowds of people packed the Portland Expo Center for this year’s Gun and Knife Show on Friday, and local gun sellers said it’s all because of the recent election.

Gun sales are skyrocketing nationwide, and the Pacific Northwest is no exception.

Gun owners said they fear President-elect Barack Obama will put tighter restrictions on firearms, making guns one of the hottest tickets in town.

Friday night, there was an explosion of people at the Portland Expo Center.

“There was a line extending the length of this building and the next building. We were out there maybe 20 or 30 minutes just to get in,” gun collector James Caro said.

Inside, tables of handguns, black rifles and even a pink .22 were all hot commodities.

“People are scrambling just to grab everything they can,” Caro said.

The anticipated crackdown on gun rights that arose when Obama won the election has triggered a booming business.

“Ever since the elections it has taken off. It has been insane,” gun seller Dannielle Waisanen said. “Sales have just skyrocketed.”

Gun owners said they’re afraid they’ll lose their Second Amendment rights and said tough new gun laws and increased taxes aren’t the best ways to cut down on crime.

“I don’t have a problem with legal citizens owning firearms. The problem with firearms is criminal misuse,” gun owner Pat Green said.

“All gun owners are worried about what's going to happen. We can see what’s coming down the line. Everyone is trying to get everything they can before the law passes,” Caro said.

Sellers are just as worried. Sales are good now, but it’s the future they fear.

“I thought that one day I would take over my dad’s business, but it’s kinda looking like, is that even going to be something I’ll be able to do?” Waisanen said.

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