ICYMI: Headlines From
March 28–April 1, 2022
Firearms Industry Impact Rises 269% Since 2008
According to NSSF’s Firearms and Ammunition Industry 2022 Economic Impact Report, the total economic impact of the firearm and ammunition industry in the U.S. increased from $19.1 billion in 2008 to $70.52 billion in 2021, a 269% increase, while the total number of full-time equivalent jobs rose from approximately 166,000 to over 375,819, a 126% increase in that period.
On a year-over-year basis, the industry’s economic impact rose from $63.5 billion in 2020, to $70.52 billion. Total jobs increased by over 33,000 in the same period, from 342,330 to 375,819. The firearm industry has broader impacts throughout the economy. It supports and generates business for firms seemingly unrelated to firearms, at a time when every job in America counts. These are real people, with real jobs, working in industries as varied as banking, retail, accounting, metal working and printing among others.
The firearm and ammunition industry paid over $7.85 billion in business taxes, including property, income and sales-based levies. An additional $1.1 billion was paid in federal excise taxes, which directly contributes to wildlife conservation.
“The economic contributions of our industry are indisputably contributing to every state and every community. This is the hallmark of the hard-working men and women who prove that the American firearm and ammunition industry is strong,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF President and CEO. “The growth of firearm and ammunition manufacturing year-after-year shows that this industry continues to meet the American demand for lawful firearm ownership. This industry produces the highest quality firearms and ammunition, and has been proud to welcome over 5.4 million first-time gun buyers in 2021 alone. These new gun owners are increasingly representative of Americans from all walks of life, including more women and more minority communities that have decided to exercise their right to keep and bear arms and to safely enjoy the recreational shooting sports. This growth equals more jobs that add to our local economies, averaging $56,900 in wages and benefits. Since 2008, federal tax payments increased by 206 percent, Pittman-Robertson excise taxes that support wildlife conservation by 214 percent and state business taxes by 151 percent.”
The annual Firearm and Ammunition Industry Economic Impact Report provides a state-by-state breakdown of job numbers, wages and output covering direct, supplier and induced employment, as well as federal excise taxes paid.
The full report is available here: nssf.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-Firearm-Ammunition-Industry-Economic-Impact.pdf
MidwayUSA Foundation Grants Over $4.1 Million To Youth Shooting Teams
MidwayUSA Foundation announces hundreds of youth shooting teams across the nation have received their annual cash grants to cover critical expenses. A payout of over $4.1 million has been distributed to 832 youth shooting teams. This is the largest cash grant payout MidwayUSA Foundation has paid and these funds will assist approximately 37,000 youth shooting athletes. Expenses covered are ammunition, targets, travel, entry fees, team gear, and more.
“We use the Foundation in everything that we do, whether it’s travel, training, competitions, ammo, gear and equipment. Our team knows the money will be there annually to help us with the various expenses associated with having a shooting team,”
said Michael Elam, head coach of shotgun sports at Lindenwood University.
Lindenwood University received a $39,000+ cash grant in this most recent MidwayUSA Foundation cycle. This large payout proves Lindenwood’s active fundraising efforts, as well as proves the potential for other young shooting sports programs. MidwayUSA Foundation paid an average grant of $4,953, per endowment, in this grant cycle.
In addition to cash grants, teams are eligible to receive product grants to conduct fundraisers. Teams choose the product and host a fundraiser in their community.
Proceeds from the fundraiser are split, half stays with the team for immediate expenses, and the other half is contributed to their MidwayUSA Foundation Team Endowment where it will be matched. See all the available product grants at midwayusafoundation.org/fundraisingproducts.
AlphaTech Supports Walk The Talk America
Walk The Talk America (WTTA), a non-profit organization designed to bridge the gap between the firearms industry and owners and the mental health industry, welcomes AlphaTech as its newest supporter.
“AlphaTech is a contract manufacturer producing firearm components for some well-known names within the industry. As such, we’re committed to the promotion of responsible gun ownership. We’re excited to lock arms with Walk the Talk America, as we value the work Mike, and his team are doing,” said Joe Worley, AlphaTech president.
“I am thrilled to have Joe and his team at AlphaTech join us in our efforts to inform and educate both sides of the suicide and gun violence issues,” Michael Sodini, WTTA founder, added. “Our partnerships are not specific to one kind of company and having a manufacturer within the firearms industry step up to the plate means a great deal to our ongoing efforts.”
Through educational programs, podcasts, and training programs, WTTA is paving the way of educating mental health professionals about the gun culture and breaking down the negative stigmas around mental health for gun owners. Through their various programs and offerings, such as instructional flyers and slides for firearms instructors, classes in Cultural Competence, and the Introductory Courses in The Intersection of Guns and Mental Health, WTTA is leading the conversation and opening doors throughout the firearms industry and mental health industry.
AlphaTech provides contract services from prototyping to custom machine builds and design for a variety of industries including instrumentation, automotive, gas analytics, electrical, and firearms. AlphaTech produces products for some of the most well-known brands in the shooting sports industry and is capable of working with start-ups through large volume production runs.
For more info: walkthetalkamerica.org, atimfg.com.
