Gun Industry Sales Reflect a ‘New Normal’
Last year was an extraordinary one for firearm sales, a year unlike any other in the industry’s history. That’s a fact to be mindful of when comparing estimated sales through the first seven months of 2014 with those of the previous year, notes Steve Sanetti, President and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry.
Remove the extraordinary 2013 from the rear-view mirror and sales of firearms in America still show an almost uninterrupted rise over the past 10 years, according to national background check figures adjusted by NSSF to reflect market activity. For the first seven months of 2014, total firearm sales rank as the highest in the last decade, with the one big exception of 2013 (see chart).
(A background check is mandatory for retail purchases of firearms. NSSF adjusts background check data from the FBI’s National Instant Background Check System to remove non-sales activity such as checks conducted for concealed carry permits. This results in NSSF-adjusted NICS data being a better indicator of market conditions than overall NICS data, though NSSF-adjusted NICS figures do not correlate one to one with firearm sales.)
From January through July 2014, NSSF-adjusted NICS figures total 6.95 million background checks against 6.85 million for 2012 and 5.64 million in 2011. In 2013, the seven-month figure was 8.81 million and the annual total was a record 14.8 million. Multiple factors account for last year’s sales surge, including a fear of additional firearms-ownership restrictions, which came to pass in states such as New York, Connecticut and Maryland, as well as increasing interest in owning firearms by women and former servicemen and women.
“Those who are hostile to firearms ownership are trying to suggest Continue reading
NSSF Video: Gun Crimes Plummet Even as Gun Sales Rise
A majority of Americans say they think gun crime has increased over the past 20 years, even though it has actually fallen dramatically, a recent Pew Research Center survey shows.
Sources: DOJ, ATF AFMER & USITC, Pew Research Center, National Safety Council, Gallup
NSSF Reaches 10,000-Member Milestone
NEWTOWN, Conn. — The membership roll of the National Shooting Sports Foundation® (NSSF®) has topped 10,000 — an all-time high for the trade association of the firearms industry.
The major milestone comes in advance of NSSF’s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) in January, where the association usually adds significantly to its membership totals. NSSF members include manufacturers, distributors, federally licensed firearms retailers, shooting facilities, outdoor media publishers, industry associates and individuals. Special member categories include Voting Members and Supporting Members.
“NSSF membership continues to climb because more industry-connected companies, organizations and individuals are aware of the many ways NSSF works to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports,” said Chris Dolnack, senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “Such growth empowers NSSF to speak with a single, powerful voice on behalf of industry inside the Beltway and in state houses across the country.”
NSSF members benefit from many initiatives in the areas of government relations, communications, firearm safety, increasing participation in the shooting sports, the SHOT Show, and discounts and benefits related to their business. “The more member support we have, the more we can help support and protect their businesses and their customer base,” said Dolnack.
Learn more about why so many industry companies are joining the National Shooting Sports Foundation at this website. Continue reading
Busy Show Season Approaching for Firearms, Shooting and Outdoor Aficionados
Firearms enthusiasts, hunters, outdoorsmen, law enforcement personnel and members of firearms related industries will have ample opportunity to see the latest and greatest new offerings over the course of the next few months. The first half of the 2014 calendar is host to a number of large shows and exhibitions catering to these markets, including the NSSF SHOT Show, NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits and the Great American Outdoor Show. There may have been a few shake-ups in the world of firearms shows over the past year but, as they say, the show must go on…
It’s hard to believe that it’s only a month away, but the year starts off with a bang in January at the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s (NSSF) Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show). The annual industry-only show is held Continue reading
“Where To Shoot” App Puts Shooting Opportunities in the Palm of Your Hand
WhereToShoot.Org bills itself as “North America’s most comprehensive directory of shooting ranges,” allowing site visitors to find shooting ranges near their location whether they’re at home or traveling. The free WhereToShoot app for smartphones and tablets (available for both Android and iOS) makes finding a place to shoot even more convenient.
The app is as simple to use as you might imagine. Tell it where you want to shoot and it gives you a list of shooting ranges within your specified distance. Click on a range and it gives you all of the pertinent details including the range address, telephone number, website address, range type, facility details and more. If you’re more of a visual person and you prefer to see your closest ranges shown on a map rather than in a list, there’s an option for that as well.
Not sure where you are? Not a problem. Enough smartphone and tablet apps these days make use of the device’s location services that it no longer seems like the magical feature that it once might have but it really works great in the Where To Shoot app. The app can figure out where you are and base the shooting range search results on that. The app also seamlessly integrates with the Continue reading
SHOT Show Offers Educational Opportunities
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trades Show (SHOT Show) ins’t just about seeing the latest and greatest guns and gear that is coming down the line. The show offers great opportunities to get the education you need to be successful in your field, wether it’s law enforcement, operating a shooting range or selling firearms and accessories.
SHOT Show University
SHOT Show University, held January 13 (the day before SHOT Show starts), offers four separate course tracks that you can check out based on your educational needs: ATF Compliance, Marketing, Retail Operations and Range Operations. These courses cover everything from Error Proofing your 4473 Forms to using social media, from taking inventory to hiring the right people and everything in between.
Retailer Seminars
Retailer Seminars run from January 14-17 and cover a variety of topics including grassroots political organizing, NFA compliance, background checks, loss prevention and much more.
Law Enforcement Education Program
This program, which also runs the duration of the show, January 14-17, is presented by NSSF and Law Officer Magazine. The LEEP covers topics including advanced sighting systems, illumination systems, recruiting practices, low light training, enhanced weapons systems and more.
Visit the SHOT Show Education page to see the full schedules and register for courses to help you get the most out of your SHOT Show attendance.
