MARCO ISLAND, Fla. - Political views and ads are driving an increase interest in firearms. Gun sales and permit requests are up in many places, including here in Southwest Florida.

These days Mike Christoff's Mobile Tactics gun shop and range is busier than normal. "There's a lot of people who never even considered carrying a weapon, but are thinking about just in case, obtaining a carry permit," Christoff says.

Many of his customers worry that if Barack Obama wins the election, their right to bear arms could be reduced or taken away.

"I'm a great believer in the second amendment and I think its my right to try shooting and have gun for protection or whatever reason," Denise McCarthy says.

McCarthy doesn't own a gun, but spent Wednesday night at Mobile Tactics taking her first firearms lesson. She says she wants to learn while she still has the chance. "If Senator Obama wins, he's definitely against the Constitution. From what I've heard he seems to want to turn it on its head," McCarthy says.

While the NRA claims in ads that Obama plans to ban handguns, hunting ammo, and the use of a gun for home defense, he says that's not the case.

In a statement after a June Supreme Court ruling that did away with Washington, D.C.'s handgun ban, Obama said... "As President, I will uphold the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun-owners, hunters, and sportsmen. I know that what works in Chicago may not work in Cheyenne. We can work together to enact common-sense laws, like closing the gun show loophole and improving our background check system, so that guns do not fall into the hands of terrorists or criminals."