It’s not unusual to see a large group of people hanging around Cheyenne’s Corner, a hunting and fishing supply store in Waynesville.

But during the past month, the store has been particularly busy.

Storeowner Cheyenne Keener said business has kept him on his toes this holiday season, especially in the days following the tragedy in Connecticut, when gunman Adam Lanza killed 20 elementary school children and seven adults, including his mother. Nancy Lanza was his first victim, and his last act was ending his own life. The tragedy sparked a nationwide discussion on guns.

At Cheyenne’s Corner, the back wall typically lined with guns was beginning to dwindle less than a week before Christmas. Although business always picks up significantly during the holidays, Keener said he has been inundated ...