The outsize influence of the gun lobby

GUN violence killed 34,000 people in America in 2014, the most recent year for which data is available. That is about the same number of people who died in traffic accidents. But firearms are considerably less regulated than vehicles, thanks largely to a powerful political machine that in recent years has rolled back some of the few limits to gun ownership. It is surprising, therefore, that while the industry may have political might, the economics point to a diminutive industry dealing predominantly with a niche consumer group. 

While domestic production has increased from 4.2m firearms in 2008 to 8.9m in 2015, the firearms industry remains relatively small. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, an industry group, produces an economic impact report that claims arms and ammunition production and sales support 141,500 jobs. That is less than 0.1% of total employment in America, fewer than the number of people who work in wholesale bakeries and tortilla manufacturing, and about the same as the number employed in gift, novelty...Continue reading

Source: United States http://ift.tt/2zxfzpv

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