CHESTER, W.Va. –

In the two weeks since the shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, local gun dealers in the Ohio Valley are reporting an increase in the sale of assault rifles.

"I normally have some in stock, but not after the shooting up in Connecticut," said the owner of The Gun Room, Curt Parkins. "Immediately there was talk about banning guns. People panic and they want to get them while they can. Right now, there's just not much available anywhere in the country."

Parkins said he's also out of many types of ammunition. Normally, Parkins tries to keep the shelves full. After the shooting, he can't keep the boxes on the shelf when new shipments arrive.

"Ammunition is drying up," said Parkins. "There is no (.223 ammo). That's what sporting rifles handle. Nine-mm handgun ammo is in very short supply right now. I have not been able to get any of it. It's just panic buying.