2020 was a year of unprecedented change. The ripples of the Corona Virus, civil unrest, and the 2020 US Presidential Election were felt in many industries, with the firearm industry being no exception.
Top States by Gun Sales
36 out of the 50 states recorded firearm sales at least 50% greater in 2020 than the previous year. Michigan (180% increase), Washington D.C. (140%), and Rhode Island (111%) led the way by more than doubling their 2019 total. Meanwhile, Texas, Florida, California, Pennsylvania, and Virginia sold the most total firearms with their combined total accounting for 31% of the over 21 million guns sold in 2020.
Ammunition
It’s no secret that 2020 has led to one of the most severe ammo shortages in recent memory. Reasons for the shortage include panic buying surrounding the Covid-19 lockdowns and civil unrest of the summer, high number of new gun owners needing ammunition for the first time, growth of the hunting industry, and raw material shortages due to supply chain limitations and Covid-19 restrictions. Top ammunition companies Hornady and Federal released videos explaining what they are doing to try to meet the recent surge of demand. Hornady claimed they produced 33% more ammo this year than 2019 and Federal revealed they produced more ammunition in 2020 than any other year in their 99 years of existence. This surge comes after 3 years of much lower demand for guns and ammo due to the predominant economic and political stability. Ammoland estimates that over 9 billion rounds of ammunition were produced for the U.S. market in 2020 with that number likely to increase in 2021 due to the continued shortage and fear over the new presidential administration’s gun control policies.
Jobs and American Manufacturing
Well let’s move on to some good news that 2020 brought us shall we? The NSSF cites that the firearm industry provides over 332,208 jobs for American workers. Unlike most other industries that import cheap products from overseas, the firearm industry has been one of the bright spots for American-made products for decades. We here at Bear Creek Arsenal have been able to increase our workforce to over 600 employees, making us one of the top employers in the Sanford, NC area. We’re thankful for the opportunity to serve you, even in these difficult times, and look to the future with hope for continued freedoms, available ammunition, and continued growth for the firearm industry in 2021 and beyond.
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