It’s no surprise that guns have been flying off the shelves at record paces recently. That’s to be expected when political leaders and lawmakers are continually threatening to ban or confiscate them.
But perhaps what you didn’t know was that this increased demand for firearms has also resulted in more gun manufacturers. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reported that the number of gun makers increased more than 25 percent in just two years—from 318 in 2012 to 400 in 2014. Only companies who produce 50+ guns per year were considered in this data.
“With the steady and dramatic rise in the number of Americans purchasing firearms for target shooting, self-defense and hunting over the last decade, both established companies and startups have clearly seen the business opportunities presented them,” noted Chris Dolnack, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for the National Shooting Sports Foundation.
