Gun Sales Rise as Crime and Accident Rates Fall, NSSF Analysis Shows

[cuchulainn]

Link: http://www.nssf.org/news/PR_idx.cfm?PRloc=common/PR/&PR=060506.cfm

Gun Sales Rise as Crime and Accident Rates Fall, National Shooting Sports Foundation Analysis Shows

NEWTOWN, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 5, 2006--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 2005 retail sales of firearms and ammunition rose 2.6 percent for a total volume 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 (pistols and revolvers). Handgun sales rose 3 percent while long-gun (rifle and shotgun) 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, including accidents among youth, 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 ChildSafe. Has provided more than 30 million free firearm safety kits, including gunlocks, since 2003.

-- Don't Lie for the Other Guy. Educational program to help firearm dealers curb illegal gun purchases, and warns potential violators of the penalties for making a "straw purchase."

-- Safety Education. A variety of materials in print, video and electronic formats help deliver safety messages to America's gun owners and students.

-- Recruitment Programs. NSSF responsibly reaches out to new hunters and shooters through initiatives such as Scholastic Clay Target Program, Scholastic Rifle Program, Families Afield, First Shots, STEP OUTSIDE, and others.

Formed in 1961, NSSF is celebrating its 45th birthday in 2006. 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.

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readable chart at: http://www.nssf.org/news/PR_idx.cfm?PRloc=common/PR/&PR=060506.cfm
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[Autolycus]

Just think somewhere....

an anti is banging their head on a desk.

 

[boofus]

an anti is banging their head on a desk

How'd they get their rear end so high up?

 

[CAnnoneer]

The last thing that would change a true anti's mind is statistics; actually, nothing would. By contrast, antis-by-ignorance might still be susceptible.

 

[Drizzt]

Spending on guns rises to more than $2b during 2005
ROB VARNON [email protected]

Americans spent more than $2 billion on guns and ammunition in 2005, showing the nation's fascination with firearms is not fading despite concerns raised by gun-control advocates.

The Newtown-based National Shooting Sports Foundation on Monday touted a U.S. Department of Treasury report that said sales of firearms and ammunition increased by 2.6 percent in 2005, while other federal agencies are finding fewer gun-related deaths and crimes. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Centers for Disease Control have not made statistics on gunshot deaths and firearms-related crimes available for 2005, so the NSSF had to rely on data from 2004 and earlier.

In 2005, Americans purchased 4.7 million new guns, the NSSF said, bringing the estimated total of citizen-owned guns to 290 million. These are legal sales; the number of guns sold illegally is not known.

The U.S. Census Bureau said Monday there are approximately 298 million Americans.

NSSF said handgun purchases showed the biggest gain, rising 3 percent in 2005. Connecticut firearms sales increased by 2.5 percent during the same period, according to State Trooper William Tate.

Tate said there were 54,654 registered firearms sales in 2004, compared to 56,022 in 2005. However, these figures do not include all rifle sales, he said, because Connecticut law does not require the registration of all those sales.

As for crimes committed with guns, Tate said it would be difficult to find that data, because federal reporting guidelines do not ask for details on weapons used to commit robberies or murders.

Wagner said the nation saw a decrease in suicides and violent crimes committed with guns in 2004, another year for strong gun sales.

But Lisa Labella, co-executive director of Connecticut Against Gun Violence, said the state hasn't been so lucky.

According to the State Medical Examiners Office, of the 1,250 autopsies performed in 2005, firearms killed 188 people. That's the highest figure in four years, according to the medical examiner, and represents almost a 7.4 percent increase from 2004, when firearms were blamed in 175 deaths.

Labella said the NSSF report worries her because, "all guns start out as legal gun sales."

She said the vast majority of gun owners are law-abiding citizens, but there are "straw purchasers," who buy guns for people who can't legally possess them.

Connecticut Against Gun Violence supported a bill in the last legislative session that would have required gun owners report lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours of missing the weapons, Labella said, but the measure was defeated in the state House of Representatives. She said the goal was to prevent straw purchasers from claiming the guns they sold to criminals were stolen or lost.

Lawrence Keane, senior vice president and general council for NSSF, said the bill was bad because it would make criminals of victims and wouldn't stop straw purchases. He said the NSSF and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms have courses designed to help dealers identify straw purchasers.

Despite the debate gun sales stirs up, many Connecticut businesses are prospering from the trade.

Connecticut is home to several gun makers, including Fairfield-based Sturm Ruger & Co. Inc., Marlin Firearms Co. of North Haven and Colt Manufacturing Co. of West Hartford.

There are also many gun dealers and shooting ranges in the state. Wagner, of the NSSF, said target shooting and home defense are two of the leading reasons for increased gun sales.

"We've seen a fair increase in licensed target shooting," agreed Al Warmflash, owner of Fairfield Indoor Range Inc. in Monroe. The range has been open for 25 years and offers lessons on how to shoot safely.

Warmflash said gun schools like his are one of the reasons accidental injuries from firearms are lower now than they were in the late 1960s.

Rob Varnon, who covers business, can be reached at 330-6216.

http://www.connpost.com/business/ci_3904257

 

[AlaskaErik]

Well, I've been doing my part. I've bought a new gun in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

 

[MechAg94]

Only one new gun per year? Man, talk about poverty.

 

[dev_null]

> Gun Sales Rise as Crime and Accident Rates Fall

Heaven forbid they should tell the truth by reversing this phrasing.

 

[AJAX22]

"all guns start off as legal sales" what kind of Horse puckey is that?

what about the guys who buy war surpluss and bring it into the country by the boatload?

what about the guys who knock over police armouries (remember seven years or so ago when all those MP5's with Government property stenceled on them were circulating on the black market)

what about the guys who just build there own?

what about the guys who 'borrow' them from the military?

why do undeducated people get to be activists?

:banghead:

 

[Standing Wolf]

In spite of the fact that more criminals are being sent to prison, crime is falling.

Amazing!