Gun sales up in 2005

[Fjold]

I saw this interesting little news snippet and wonder if anything we did contributed to this.


Hunting Related Equipment Sales Soar

According to the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA), hunting-related equipment sales saw the highest percentage increase of all athletic and sports equipment in 2005.

NSGA's report "The Sporting Goods Market in 2005" estimates sales of hunting-related equipment totaled $2.8 billion, up 8 percent from the previous year. The next-highest category was tennis-related equipment sales, which rose 5 percent.

Within the hunting-related equipment category, firearms saw a 9.5 percent sales increase to $1.9 billion, Rifle sales ($722 million) showed a 16.5 percent increase, handgun sales ($524 million) increased 10.4 percent, shotgun sales ($534 million) were up 1.9 percent and air gun sales ($120 million) rose 3 percent. Archery increased 4 percent. Particularly strong sales were seen in hunting-related footwear. Sales increased 21 percent, an increase unmatched in any other category of athletic footwear.


What do you think?

[Stanze]

If you're referring to non-listed AR lowers, that's a LOT of lowers to contribute to $722 Million worth of rifle sales in the last months of 2005 since most of them went for $100.-150..

[Rumpled]

Ya think the FED AWB sunset had anything to do with this?

Personally, I bought about a dozen new firearms in the last 18 months or so, probably only bought 2 in the previous 12 years.

I didn't buy any hunting related footwear though, I need some new boots.

[DrjonesUSA]

I'll bet most of that had to do with the various natural disasters in the world, especially Katrina.

[Centurion_D]

I'll bet most of that had to do with the various natural disasters in the world, especially Katrina.

I agree..I think lot's of folks woke up after the Katrina disaster.

[dougfir]

I agree..I think lot's of folks woke up after the Katrina disaster.

I did. I bought my shotgun a month after Katrina.

I'm getting a 9mm next.

[zatoh]

I agree..I think lot's of folks woke up after the Katrina disaster.

....and they will no doubtedly go back to sleep so we can buy their "stuff" on the cheap.

I can just hear it now: "Honey?? - Why do we have this gun in the house? Get rid of it, it scares me...!"

[ldivinag]

so it will be a "french" gun?

never fired, dropped once only???????

[bu-bye]

Rifle sales ($722 million) showed a 16.5 percent increase, handgun sales ($524 million) increased 10.4 percent

So that would mean that the murder rate went up the same % right for 05? Isn't that what the anti-gun folks are saying? Where are the extra 16.5% murdered by rifles and 10.5% by handguns?

Could it be that their logic makes no sense