NSSF: Firearms Industry Booming Since 2008

by
posted on April 12, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
nssf_logo_new_f.jpg

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has released its 2016 industry economic impact report, and the numbers are staggering: The total economic impact of the firearms and ammunition industry in the United States increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $49.3 billion in 2015, a 158 percent increase. Meanwhile, the total number of full-time jobs in the industry rose from approximately 166,000 to almost 288,000, a 73 percent spike.

The full report, titled "The Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report: 2016," can be accessed here.

More recently, the industry's economic impact rose from $43 billion in 2014 to $49.3 billion in 2015, a nearly 15 percent increase.

"Our industry is proud to be one of the truly bright spots in our economy as an unprecedented number of Americans have chosen to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms and to safely enjoy the shooting sports," said Stephen L. Sanetti, NSSF president and chief executive officer. "In response to that dynamic, we have increased our direct workforce by about 21,000 in the last two years alone, adding jobs that pay an average of more than $50,000 in wages and benefits. In addition, since 2008 we increased federal tax payments by 144 percent, Pittman-Robertson excise taxes that support wildlife conservation by 92 percent and state business taxes by 96 percent."

For more information, go to NSSF.org.

Latest

Example Of Blending In With Your Surroundings Camo
Example Of Blending In With Your Surroundings Camo

Understanding the Predator-Prey Dynamic and Its Influence on Hunting Strategies

Looking for a new lens through which to view your chosen hunting strategy for a specific scenario? Why not consider the natural predator/prey dynamics at work in the mind of your quarry. Read on, as Barb Melloni explores the why behind some popular hunting practices.

New for 2026: Birchwood Casey Biodegradable Firearm Cleaning Solutions

Birchwood Casey has announced the expansion of its product lineup with the introduction of several new gun cleaners, all 100-percent biodegradable. Synvex Copper Cutter, Synvex Carbon Cutter, Synvex CLP-X Oil and Synvex Bore Wash, deliver modern formulations to remove fouling with the same efficiency as traditional petroleum-based solvents.

#SundayGunday: EAA Balikli Blue Label O/U

On this week's #SundayGunday, we’re taking a look at a working-class over/under shotgun from EAA; it’s called the Balikli Blue Label, and don’t let its price tag fool you—this gun is a shooter than any hunter should be happy to own. Learn more about it in this exclusive video.

Hawaii Attempted to Use Old Hunting Statutes to Ban Concealed Carry

In a 6-3 rebuke of Hawaii’s attempt to circumvent the U.S. Supreme Court’s NRA-backed Bruen (2022) decision, the Court ruled in Wolford v. Lopez that “Hawaii’s law prohibiting licensed concealed-carry permit holders from carrying handguns on private property open to the public without the property owner’s express authorization violates the Second and Fourteenth Amendments.” 

Buy a Select Beretta or TIKKA Rifle and Receive a Free Trailcam

Beretta USA is giving hunters and shooting enthusiasts even more reason to add a BRX1 rifle to their collection this month.

Wild Game Recipe: Wild Bird Yakitori

There’s nothing quite like standing around a tailgate after a successful hunt, birds laid out and admired, beers being passed around. That kind of casual, fire-driven cooking isn’t all that different from a Japanese grilling method called yakitori. Read on for a great twist on a classic by Game Girl Gourmet's Chef Holly Hearn.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.