Gun Sales Rise As Crime and Accident Rates Fall

New statistics show that firearm and ammunition sales are on the rise, coinciding with steady downward trends in gun crime, suicide and accident rates, in the U. S. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the trade association for the shooting, hunting, and outdoor industry, has released U. S. Dept. of the Treasury figures indicating that retail sales of firearms and ammunition rose 2.6 percent in 2005 to a combined total of $2.1 billion.

For the year, approximately 4.7 million new guns were sold, bringing the estimated number of citizen-owned firearms in the U. S. to more than 290 million. The number of American households with at least one firearm is now estimated at nearly 110 million. Of the various firearm types, the sharpest gains were seen in retail sales of handguns. Handgun sales rose 3 percent, while long-gun sales rose 1.8 percent. Ammunition sales rose 3.5 percent.

Combined 2005 sales of firearms and ammunition generated $224.3 million in excise taxes earmarked for wildlife and habitat conservation projects through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act. Since inception, the act has raised more than $5 billion for conservation. As NSSF-member companies and conservationists laud the latest sales numbers, their applause coincides with more good news about American society in general.

According to figures from government and independent sources, firearm crimes, suicides, and accidental fatalities are all trending downward. "Reductions in gun crimes and accidental fatalities have been documented for many years, even as gun sales and ownership in our country continue to rise," said Doug Painter, president of NSSF. "However, today’s anti-gun organizations rake in lots of cash by perpetuating the myth that more guns equals more bad news.

Clearly, there is no relationship between gun ownership and firearm misuse. Painter credited many different organizations and programs working together to ensure that gun owners are safe, active, responsible, and aware of their 2nd Amendment rights.

NSSF’s highlight programs include: "Project Child Safe," which has provided more than 30 million free firearm safety kits, including gun locks, since 2003; "Don’t Lie for the Other Guy," an educational program to help firearm dealers curb illegal gun purchases; as well as a variety of safety education and recruitment programs designed to reach out to new hunters and shooters. Formed in 1961, NSSF is celebrating its 45th birthday.

The organization recently reached important new milestones, topping 3,000 members and hosting the largest annual trade show (SHOT Show) in the history of the firearms industry. Editor Keith Lawrence Technical