Firearms and Ammunition industry
Economic Impact Report
2012
National Shooting
Sports Foundation®
www.nssf.org
Who is the National Shooting Sports Foundation?
T
he National Shooting Sports
and enjoyment of the outdoors.
sible use of their products, and pro-
Foundation (NSSF) is the
NSSF has led the way in promoting
moting a political climate supportive
trade association for the firearms
responsible ownership of firearms.
of America’s traditional firearms
industry. Its mission is to promote,
rights.
NSSF concentrates its efforts on
protect and preserve hunting and
the shooting sports. Formed in
relations program responds to the
1961, NSSF has a membership
ever-changing political environment
of more than 7,000 manufactur-
that threatens the future of hunting,
ers, distributors, firearms retail-
recreational shooting, our firearms
ers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s
freedoms, and our industry’s well-
organizations and publishers.
being. NSSF works on both state and
For more than 200 years,
NSSF’s expanding government
measurably advancing participation
federal level issues, along with work-
America’s firearms and ammunition
in and understanding of hunting
ing with many regulatory agencies,
industry has made products that
and the shooting sports; reaffirming
to protect the firearms industry and
have been part of our country’s
and strengthening our members’
make sure their business interests
tradition of freedom, self-reliance
commitment to the safe and respon-
are appropriately represented.
The Firearms and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report
T
his report details the sig-
years has been nothing short of
firearm and ammunition.
nificant economic impact the
remarkable. Over the past couple
firearms and ammunition industry
of years, the industry’s growth has
turers and sportsmen around the
has on the nation’s and each state’s
been driven by an unprecedented
nation, takes great pride in support-
economy. The economic growth
number of Americans choosing to
ing wildlife conservation efforts.
America’s firearms and ammunition
exercise their fundamental right to
Noted in the economic impact re-
industry has experienced over the
keep and bear arms and purchase a
port is the significant taxes paid by
NSSF, representing manufac-
member companies to federal and
state governments and the PittmanRobertson excise tax the industry
pays on the products it sells – this
tax is the major source of wildlife
conservation funding in America.
During difficult economic
times and high unemployment
rates nationally, our industry has
grown and created over 37,130
new, well-paying jobs over the past
two years. Our industry is proud
to be one of the bright spots in this
economy.
Take a look for yourself and see
the impact we have nationally and on
your home state. (See center spread.)
National Shooting
Sports Foundation®
The Firearms Industry
Creates Jobs in America
United States companies that manufacture, distribute and sell sporting firearms,
ammunition and supplies are an important part of the country’s economy.
Manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and supplies, along with the companies
that sell and distribute these products, provide well paying jobs in America and pay
significant amounts in tax to the state and Federal governments.
Economic Impact of The Sporting Arms and Ammunition Industry in
The United States
Jobs (FTE)
Wages
Direct
Supplier
Induced
Total
99,820
43,960
76,350
220,130
$4,079,055,568 $2,737,404,039 $3,591,450,572 $10,407,910,179
Economic
$13,893,194,666 $8,442,046,440 $11,027,626,584 $33,362,867,690
Impact
The Firearms & Ammunition Industry is an Important Part of America’s Economy
Companies in the United States that manufacture, distribute and sell firearms,
ammunition and hunting equipment employ as many as 99,820 people in the country
and generate an additional 120,310 jobs in supplier and ancillary industries. These
include jobs in companies supplying goods and services to manufacturers, distributors
and retailers, as well as those that depend on sales to workers in the firearms and
ammunition industry. [1]
These are good jobs, paying an average of $47,280 in wages and benefits. And today,
every job is important. In fact, in the United States the unemployment rate has
reached 8.2 percent. This means that there are already 12,271,000 people trying to
find jobs in the state and collecting unemployment benefits.[2]
The Economic Benefit of The Industry Spreads Throughout the Country
Not only does the manufacture and sale of firearms and hunting supplies create good jobs in the United States but
the industry also contributes to the economy as a whole. In fact, in 2012 the firearms and ammunition industry was
responsible for as much as $33.36 billion in total economic activity in the country.
Taxes Generated in the United States
The Country Also Benefits from the Taxes Paid by the Industry
Not only does the firearms and ammunition industry create
jobs, it also generates sizable tax revenues. In the United States
the industry and its employees pay over $2.1 billion in taxes including property, income, and sales based levies. [3]
Tax Impact
Federal Taxes
State Taxes
Total Taxes
Business Taxes
$2,541,304,252
$2,098,669,467
$4,639,973,719
Excise Taxes
$459,536,627
$459,536,627
[1]John Dunham and Associates, New York,, March 2012. Direct impacts include those jobs in firearms and ammunition manufacturers, as well as companies that manufacture
products such as ammunition holders and magazines, cases, decoys, game calls, holsters, hunting equipment, scopes, clay pigeons and targets. Direct impacts also include those
resulting from the wholesale distribution and retailing of firearms and ammunition in sporting goods retailers and variety/mass merchandise stores
[2]The Bureau of Labor Statistics. Available online at: www.bis.gov/lau/home.htm. Data for 6/2012.
[3]This is in addition to over $2.50 billion in Federal business taxes and $488.00 million in Federal excise taxes.
Source: John Dunham and Associates, Inc.
www.nssf.org
New York, New York 2012
Economic Contribution of Arms and Ammunition Indu
All Industries
ustries, 2011
State by State Economic Impact Report
What a growing industry looks like...
100
225
80
180
60
135
40
90
20
45
0
0
5
12
4
8
3
2
4
1
0
0
5
4
3
2
1
0
15
32
24
10
16
5
8
0
0
We Are The Firearms Industry
Acme United Corporation
Action Target
Aimpoint, Inc.
ATK Security and Sporting
Austin Sheridan USA, Inc.
Beretta USA Corporation
Browning Arms Company
Bushnell Corporation
Caesar Guerini/Fabarms
Carlson’s Choke Tubes
Cobra Firearms
Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC
Coonan, Inc.
COR-BON/Glaser LLC
CZ-USA
Diamondback Firearms, LLC
Falcon Industries, Inc.
Fiocchi of America, Inc.
FNH USA, LLC
Franklin Armory
Freedom Arms, Inc.
Freedom Group
Frogg Toggs
Galco Gunleather
Glock, Inc.
Heckler and Koch, Inc.
Heizer Firearms LLC
HIVIZ Shooting Systems by North Pass, Ltd
Hodgdon Powder Company
Hornady Manufacturing Company
K-Var, Corp.
Kel-Tec CNC Industries, Inc.
LaPorte America
GMP 1M Item #9101 7/12
Promote
Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
Lewis Machine & Tool Company
Lyman Products, Corp.
MAGTECH Ammunition Co., Inc.
MKS Supply, Inc.
Nammo Lapua Oy
North American Arms, Inc.
Nosler, Inc.
Numrich Gun Parts Corporation
O. F. Mossberg and Sons, Inc.
OAKDEF
ODI/Stag Outdoor Products
Olin Corporation/Winchester Division
Parmatech Corporation
Pembroke Gun & Range, LLC
Promatic, Inc
Remington Arms Company, LLC
Savage Arms, Inc.
Sellmark Corporation
Sierra Bullets, LLC
SIG SAUER
Sightron, Inc.
Smith & Wesson Firearms
St. Marks Powder, Inc.
Sturm Ruger and Company, Inc.
Taurus International Mfg., Co.
Ten-X Ammunition, Inc.
The Outdoor Connection, Inc.
Trulock Tool
Volquartsen Custom
Vortex Optics
Weatherby, Inc.
ZEV Technologies, Inc.
11 Mile Hill Road
Newtown, CT 06470-2359
T: 203.426.1320
F: 203.426.1087
www.nssf.org
Protect
Preserve