Sales of guns in the US are rising, just as President Barack Obama unveils control measures designed to limit the availability of weapons.Federal gun background checks, which were flat throughout at least the first term of George W. Bush's presidency, have skyrocketed during Obama's two terms:
Shares in gun makers Smith & Wesson and Sturm Ruger jumped on news of strong sales in the final months of last year.
On Monday, Smith & Wesson raised its sales estimate, saying the market was "stronger than originally anticipated".
The number of background checks on potential buyers - a guide to future sales - has also risen.
The National Instant Criminal Background Check System said that checks were up by about 38% last month compared with December 2014.
So I just don't understand why the NRA isn't funneling money to the Hillary Clinton campaign. I don't see why the NRA isn't hoping for a Democratic takeover of the Senate.
There wouldn't actually be any serious gun control even under those circumstances -- Republicans would still hold the House and would still have enough senators to filibuster serious gun control -- but the gunner panic would be ongoing. November 2016 would be a huge month for gun sales.
Why doesn't the NRA back Democrats? Its target market is primed for paranoia. Why not seek to induce attacks of that paranoia?
More people buying guns or people buying more guns, I wonder.
ReplyDeleteThey do back the Democrats. Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Manchin, Joe Donnelly, Jon Tester in the Senate, dozens more in the House.
ReplyDeleteThe NRA is going to miss the hell out President Obama!
ReplyDeleteNothing like having a black guy as POTUS, to help sell your guns.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI still can't grasp how a government that is so incompetent that it can't do a bloody thing right is going to come take all the guns.
ReplyDeleteThe NRA isn't backing Hillary because the NRA isn't an industry lobby group. It's got several million members, the vast majority who would quit if they did.
ReplyDeleteRemember that when Smith & Wesson went along with with the Clinton's ideas for "gun safety" gizmos, the company almost went under, because people stopped buying their guns. If Colt hadn't had such a strong military/LEO sales base, they would have also gone under then.
The whole gun industry is far more "grass roots" driven than those outside of the shooting game suspect.
They do back the Democrats. Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Manchin, Joe Donnelly, Jon Tester in the Senate, dozens more in the House.
ReplyDeleteThey back this small handful of pro-gun Dems. They should be backing their opponents. Their opponents are impotent, yet they inspire a lot of gun sales.
The NRA isn't backing Hillary because the NRA isn't an industry lobby group. It's got several million members, the vast majority who would quit if they did.
These days, there are plenty of ways to back a candidate furtively. John Roberts has seen to that.
As Steve M. said, "there are plenty of ways to back a candidate furtively." How would anyone know if the NRA was running a cutout organization to funnel money to Hillary's campaign?
ReplyDeleteHow would anyone know if the NRA was running ... money to Hillary's campaign?
ReplyDeleteThey all hang out at the same country clubs, went to same schools, meet up every year at Davis and the Bohemian Grove, sit on the Council of Foreign Relations and at the Bilderberg's Round Table. All old school blue-blooded money.
Indeed, how would one know?
Davos. Stupid smart phone.
Delete