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US Firearms Production, 1985-2004 (PDF source). Note the bolded years:

Year
Handguns
Rifles
Shotguns
Total
1985 1,550,071 1,140,669 769,505 3,460,245
1986 1,427,627 970,541 641,482 3,039,650
1987 1,658,832 1,006,100 857,949 3,522,881
1988 1,745,722 1,144,707 928,070 3,818,499
1989 2,031,425 1,407,317 935,541 4,374,283
1990 1,838,895 1,156,213 848,948 3,844,056
1991 1,838,266 883,482 828,426 3,550,174
1992 1,525,218 676,808 805,761 3,007,787
1993 2,655,478 1,171,872 1,148,939 4,976,289
1994 2,581,961 1,324,240 1,254,926 5,161,127
1995 1,722,930 1,440,699 1,176,958 4,340,587
1996 1,484,477 1,424,319 926,732 3,835,528
1997 1,406,505 1,281,162 918,759 3,606,426
1998 1,284,755 1,345,899 1,036,520 3,667,174
1999 1,331,230 1,569,685 1,106,995 4,007,910
2000 1,281,861 1,583,042 898,442 3,763,345
2001 943,213 1,284,554 679,813 2,907,580
2002 1,088,584 1,515,286 741,325 3,345,195
2003 1,121,024 1,430,324 726,078 3,277,426
2004 1,022,610 1,325,138 731,769 3,079,517

Here’s a line chart of the above data, excluding totals, to emphasize the spike in sales:

So why the spike in sales in 1993? What happened in 1993?

The Brady Bill.

So here’s a cold, hard lesson for gun-grabbers. Pass gun control legislation, and we buy more guns.

This entry was posted by rightwingprof on March 5, 2007 at 10:22 am under Guns, 2A, Conservatism. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

4 Comments

  1. joubertconlon says:

    I’m linking to this.

    March 5, 2007, 11:57 am

  2. rory @ parentalcation says:

    Rightwingprof,

    CouldI suspect the spike was caused by an over reaction to the gun control. This is going to be one of those things I disagree with you about.

    If it was up to me, all gun owners would have to take a mandatory safety class and pass a written exam before they could own a firearm.

    March 5, 2007, 8:10 pm

  3. SayUncle » Markets, laws and guns says:

    […] Via Alphie, comes yearly info on gun purchases: […]

    March 6, 2007, 10:01 am

  4. Brent Witte says:

    rory @ parentalcation on March 5, 2007 at 8:10 pm said:

    Rightwingprof,

    CouldI suspect the spike was caused by an over reaction to the gun control. This is going to be one of those things I disagree with you about.

    If it was up to me, all gun owners would have to take a mandatory safety class and pass a written exam before they could own a firearm.

    Thankfully sir, it is not up to you. The ownership of firearms in this country is a right protected by the constitution. When an individual is required to pass a test or a class that right is transformed into a privledge. It is far easier for the state to suspend a privledge than it is a right. I have no desire to live in a country where I am required to gain permission to exercise a constitutionally protected right. Just something you might want to keep in mind.

    March 6, 2007, 4:11 pm