Today's Hot Investment: Guns

Guns sales are booming as buyers, fearing an Obama administration crackdown on the sale of assault weapons, are looking to safeguard their homes—and their retirement, reports the Wall Street Journal. Some gun enthusiasts see semiautomatic weapons as a smart investment that’s sure to gain value if new restrictions are put in place, and prices are already climbing: The average cost of a European-made AK-47s has doubled since the fall.

Investing in ammo “beats the hell out of money markets and CDs,” says a supplier. “You can double your investment in ammunition in a year.” During the 1994-2004 assault-weapons ban, values of popular guns skyrocketed. But there’s little to suggest another ban is on its way: The administration says it’s not planning an “imminent” move, the Journal notes, and Congressional leaders remain cool to the idea.
(More gun control stories.)