by David Safier
Maybe the reason is, people gunned up after Obama's election, so they didn't need more guns in 2010. But it looks like gun sales were down in 2010. Freedom Group, which calls itself the "largest manufacturer of commercial firearms and ammunition," saw a $121.5 million sales drop in 2010 compared to 2009.
According to Freedom Group's 2010 annual report:
Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2010 were $386.6 million, a decrease of $121.5 million, or 23.9%, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2009. Centerfire rifle sales decreased by $108.1 million, or 30.9%, as compared to the prior-year period, primarily due to reduced sales demand for modern sporting products as the 2009 surge ended and sales returned to more historical levels. Shotgun sales decreased by $6.7 million, or 5.7%, as compared to the prior-year period. Rimfire rifle sales decreased by $5.9 million, or 18.2%, as compared to the prior-year period.
In fact, the company canceled its IPO (Initial Public Offering).
The extreme right wants us to think the country is behind them a thousand percent and we're more gun crazy than ever. But it's possible, even probable, the spittle-flecked rhetoric coming from the NRA and its political mouthpieces doesn't reflect the mood of most of the country, which accepts gun ownership as a right but isn't part of the crazed "cold dead hands" crowd.