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Guns & Ammo Suggest Industry Uncertainty

From tree stands to scent lures, firearms to feed, the deer and wildlife industry feeds and grows on sportsmen’s insatiable demand for bigger trophies and better hunting experiences. Those that produce big deer and those that produce the gear to hunt them are uniquely tied together and irrevocably share the same fate during good times and bad.

But are we facing good times or bad?  One industry indicator — gun sales — is blasting all industry sales forecasts and inventory on many gun models are non-existent. According to the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the number of firearm purchaser background checks for the month of December 2008 (1,523,426) increased 24 percent increase over the number of checks December 2007 (1,230,525). The sharp increase follows a 42 percent rise in NICS checks for the preceding month, the highest number of checks in NICS history.

Many industry analysts suggest that, despite a weak economy, gun sales are booming largely due to public fear that new lawmakers will enact a gun ban on law-abiding Americans. A recent survey of hunters and target shooters conducted by Southwick Associates Inc., supports that theory. The poll showed that 80 percent of respondents expect that purchasing firearms will become more difficult under the new administration and congress.

“Sales of firearms, in particular handguns and semi-automatic hunting and target rifles, are fast outpacing inventory,” said Stephen L. Sanetti president and CEO of the National Shoot Sports Foundation. “It's clear that many people are concerned about possible gun bans under the incoming Congress and are reacting accordingly.”

More concerns have been expressed over the growing push toward increased state and federal regulations on ammunition manufacturing. The Washington, D.C. office of Safari Club International reports that many of its members have voiced anxiety about legislation that has been introduced that would require either ammunition or bullet serialization.

Here is some currently pending legislation, as reported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, which could significantly increase ammunition cost and the expense in firearm production:

Georgia
Bill #GA SB 12 — A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 4 of Chapter 11 of Title 16 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to dangerous instrumentalities and practices, so as to prohibit the manufacture, sale, and possession in this state of handgun ammunition that does not contain a unique code; to provide for definitions; to provide for the creation of an ammunition coding system data base to be established by the Department of Public Safety.

Hawaii
Bill #HI HB 88 — Requires all ammunition of a specified caliber manufactured or sold in Hawaii that is capable of use in handguns, including assault pistols, to be coded to assist law enforcement in identifying and prosecuting gun crime offenders. Requires Attorney General to establish a statewide database to track coded ammunition. Effective 7/1/2009.

Illinois    
Bill # IL HB 4258 and Bill #IL HB 4259 — Creates the Ammunition Accountability Act. Provides that all firearm ammunition manufactured or sold in the State of Illinois on or after January 1, 2010 shall be coded by the manufacturer. Provides that effective January 1, 2010, all firearm ammunition used within the State of Illinois shall be coded by the manufacturer. Provides that on or after January 1, 2010, a person in possession of non-coded ammunition that was manufactured prior to January 1, 2010, may transfer the same only to an heir,

Bill #IL HB 4269 and Bill #IL HB 4349 — Creates the Regulated Firearms Encoded Ammunition Act and amends the State Finance Act. Provides that a manufacturer of ammunition for handguns and certain specified assault weapons sold in this State after January 1, 2009 must encode the ammunition in such a manner that the Director of State Police establishes. Provides that ammunition contained in one ammunition box may not be labeled with the same serial number as the ammunition contained in any other ammunition box from the same

New Jersey
Bill #NJ A 2490 — Requires handgun ammunition to be encoded with serial number.
Bill #NJ S 1678 — Requires handgun ammunition to be encoded with serial number.

New York
Bill #NY AB 3200 -— Establishes a statewide database to maintain and track coded ammunition and establishing penalties for individuals who violate such provisions.