SEQUIM — After having a long relationship with Fred’s Hobbies and Guns, Seth and Rebecca Larson have purchased, renamed and moved the business that Fred Minker and Linda Phillips operated for 43 years.
In a nod to Fred’s and the name of their new business — Firearms Rescue Emergency Disaster Supplies — the store continues as Freds at 261340 U.S. Highway 101, Sequim.
The Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce plans a ribbon-cutting at noon Thursday.
“Prior to the purchase, we had an emergency supplies company and we thought how great it would be to join the two companies,” Seth Larson said. “It’s an honor to continue their legacy.”
Freds, which opened in July, sells emergency supplies such as solar-powered chargers and lights, Community Emergency Response Team equipment that can be set up in the event of a widespread disaster, water filters, freeze-dried food, meals ready to eat, emergency medical supplies for civilians and tactical emergency medical supplies for law enforcement and public utilities.
The largest part of the business consists of gun and ammunition sales.
“We sell all aspects of guns from pistols to rifles,” Larson said. “The most popular is the Ruger LC9s — a lot of women purchase it because it’s small and concealable and the Ruger is very reliable.”
Larson said coming into fall, sales of hunting rifles and shotguns are picking up and since opening, sales of guns as concealed weapons have skyrocketed.
“We’ve sold over 300 with concealed permits since we opened. Every day we sell 10 to 12 a day and people are buying larger amounts of [emergency] supplies. Cascadia has a lot of people worrying,” Larson said.
To obtain a concealed carry permit, apply at the Clallam County Sheriff’s Office or your local police department. Fingerprinting and a background check are required.
“The screening also goes through me. I have the final say and if I don’t feel you’re mentally stable, I’m not going to sell to you, even if you pass a background check, because safety is the most important thing to me,” Larson said.
Larson plans to offer a safety course for women gun owners and a beginners course in October with hands-on practice and one-on-one instruction.
“You don’t need a permit to buy a gun and without the Second Amendment, you don’t have a First Amendment,” Larson said.
Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. For more information, call 360-683-6812 or see www.FREDSGUNS.com