robberies in this area, and he just thought he needed it for protection. >> today ordinary citizens who would not otherwise dream of having a gun are buying one because they are scared out of their wits. >> william rubiak is a ukrainian immigrant who owns a store outside washington, d.c. he's been robbed at gunpoint four times in the past two years. now william rubiak has bought a gun, and he says next time he will use it. >> i will shoot, and i will shoot to kill. >> fear is the biggest seller of guns. studies have shown each urban crime wave has touched off a new round of gun buying. >> we have german lugars, derringers, small revolvers, magnums. some of these saturday night specials are small. they can be palmed in your hand. >> it was shortly after 10:00 california time when the president left his hotel. not seen by the following cameras but spotted by secret service agent larry buendorf was a hand with a gun in it coming through the crowd.