Posted on 04/26/2014 4:17:11 AM PDT by rellimpank
Guns continue to do a booming business, with the industry making, selling and importing firearms at the highest level in at least a quarter-century, according to a new federal report.
The report also reveals the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives inspected fewer than 10% of the roughly 140,000 federal gun dealers in the nation — a seven-year low — as the agency struggles to fulfill its goal of inspecting all dealers every five years.
ATF's Firearms Commerce in the United States report, released this week, shows 8.6 million guns were manufactured in the U.S. in 2012, the most recent year available. That was a 31% increase in just one year. U.S. gun production nearly doubled since 2008 and nearly tripled since 1986, the report says.
Beyond domestic production, the U.S. imported 4.8 million guns in 2012. Last year, 5.5 million firearms were imported.
All categories of gun manufacturing grew, but handgun production jumped the most, the report showed.
Experts differ on the reason for the spike, suggesting it is due to safety concerns, fear over possible federal restrictions of firearms or simply increased interest in shooting and hunting.
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
—ping—
How about because of puke leftie reporters like John Diedrich?
Increased production and sales beyond the capacity of the ATF to inspect, regulate, etc. is a good thing in my mind.
However, I think the strong increases in production have taken their toll on what used to be finely crafted, high quality functioning weapons from some manufacturers.
I’ve noticed things that shouldn’t have left shops like Smith & Wesson on more than one revolver (bad turn rings, missing parts), and from Colt on their semi-autos(no tension extractors, roughed up slide surfaces).
All of this on guns that were ranging from $800+ to over $1000. It’s made me now do more than a quick check on the weapon when actually buying it.
There has been a perception that this administration wants to take guns away, and I don't think that has been true," Pierce said. "All they see is President Barack Obama as someone who wants to take your guns away, no matter what he says."
Well, Duuuhhh! It IS CLEAR that Obama does not believe in private gun ownership. There is proof he said that. But the Complicit Lying Press refuses to admit fact. Forget anything he says, He LIES! Watch his actions, they scream his intent.
A Pastor in Maine did a sermon on how nothing will change till the powers in govt fear their ultimate meeting with Christ more than they love money, power, and sex with little 7 to 11 year old boys and girls.
Yet with all these guns being bought, no govt powers fear anything.
Would seem to me that the billions being spent causing ammo prices to spike and making gun manufactures enough money so that they too become elites, could be better used.
Every time I’m in a gun shop or a gun counter in a big store, I see first time buyers, a good portion of them women of all ages.
These are not “gun nuts” hoarding out of fear of the government. These are people who fear for their safety with the rise of violent crime in previously safe neighborhoods.
It’s ‘ cause guns are like crack, I tell ya.
You get one just to see what it’s like, and it’s so pretty and so much fun that you gotta get another. And then another.
Pretty soon, you got a whole safe full of ‘em.
I’m surprised the FDA doesn’t regulate them like e-cigs or cigars!
Well if anything, the American people are sending a message to uncle sugar....loud and clear, “in this new federal report”. lol
Love’n it. Freedom loving folks are not just going to sit back and allow freedom to disappear. At least those of us that grew up in an age when America was still somewhat free. This new generation for the most part have been brain warshed into handing over their liberty. Not knowing at all what they've done.
It's kinda like that ol bird dog gettin in the chicken pen and tasting blood for the first time...he will always yearn for that second taste. Folks will fight like rabid coyotes.
I've tasted freedom, it is on my lips! I yearn for the day when folks can live free in this country once again.
Kinda weird how the ammo shelves are still empty. I mean, the demand is there and has been for years. Why can’t I walk in and buy 22 longs?
--they are concentrating on the big sellers ( .223,.308,9 m/m,.45 ACP)--.22 rimfire is low margin and more difficult to manufacture---
“all of the ammo manufacturers have been running at full speed for over a year”
Not sure I believe it..If there was a long term shortage of any other product, an ipod for example, Someone would be cranking them out and they would be everywhere.. 22 longs and other ammos have been scarce since 2008.
If you have a WALMART or Academy near you, find out what day they get their shipments. Get there early, and you can likely buy three bricks every delivery day.
At the 3 local Walmarts, there are 5 people or more waiting when the deliveries are set out. Mostly old guys who are hoarding or reselling for profit. They seem to have inside info as I have have never beaten them there.
—I was under the impression that nobody manufactured .22 “longs” anymore —I am 73 and haven’t seen anything but “shorts” and “long rifles” most of my life-—
My take on the ammo shortage is it’s a combination of hoarding by the general public, government agency contracts for millions of rounds designed to effectively remove ammo from the shelves so the masses cannot use their newly acquired weapons, and a complicit ammo industry which will never cross the federal government and has been hamstrung with the task of fulfilling huge contracts from all the fed agencies that take years of production runs to fulfill. Even the postal service has been ordering millions of rounds. These contracts take precedence over production runs designed for retail sales to the general public. Like the high price of gasoline due to the falling value of the dollar, the price for ammo will never return to pre-market manipulation levels. One box of .38 special runs $35 for 50. Who can afford to go to the gun range now?
4Runner, as good a take as any I’ve seen. End result is a bunch of people with guns and no ammo...Who know Pat Paulson was so ahead of his day.. When he ran for president (spoof) he said “Guns aren’t the problem, it is the ammo!
Think of the thrills of sneaking up on a grizzly with an unloaded gun!”
Pierce noted a Pew Center survey from last year showing that nearly half the gun owners said they had a firearm for personal protection, up from 26% in 1999. Pierce noted this trend comes as crime generally fell during that period.
Duh. Prof Pierce, isn't it just possible that crime has dropped significantly since 1999 precisely because so many more people are buying and using guns for personal protection, which is one of the two main purposes of the Second Amendment???
I understand the affliction. It’s called, “being driven out of your house by the Gun of the Month Club.” Of course, neither I nor many other FReepers have that problem any more due to the horrible curse of Tragic Boating
Accidents that have inexplicably befallen so many of us.
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