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BUSINESS Monday 20 January 2020
A25

Gun industry gathers

amid slumping

sales, rising tensions

By LISA MARIE PANE ahead.
Associated Press Sagging gun sales have af-
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Gun flicted almost every corner
companies are gathering of the industry, most nota-
for their annual conference bly iconic gun manufactur-
and trade show this week in ers such as Ruger, Reming-
Las Vegas at a pivotal mo- ton and Colt.
ment for the industry amid Colt, one of the most storied
slumping sales, a public firearms companies in the
increasingly agitating for U.S., decided to suspend
restrictions on access to production of its AR-15 long
firearms and escalating guns. Sturm, Ruger and Co.
tensions over gun control Inc. saw sales slump about
efforts. 20% last year and has re-
The event, held by the Na- duced its workforce and
tional Shooting Sports Foun- production. Remington
dation, the gun industry's emerged from bankruptcy
lobbying group, will take in 2018, but remains under
place in Las Vegas — about scrutiny after being sued
3 miles (4.8 kilometers) from by families of victims of the
the deadliest mass shoot- Sandy Hook school shoot-
ing modern U.S. history. An ing in which the perpetra-
estimated 60,000 people tor used an AR-15 made by
are expected to attend, the company.
navigating a vast expanse Ruger CEO Christopher J.
of aisles filled with not just Killoy has said the compa- In this Jan. 19, 2016, file photo, handguns are displayed at the Smith & Wesson booth at the Shoot-
firearms but all sorts of ac- ny decided to forego steep ing, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show in Las Vegas.
cessories and industry-relat- discounts in its prices, a tac- Associated Press
ed apparel. tic some other manufac-
Gun sales normally taper off turers have used, to focus money for veterans and a "We've been busy just try- run business that uses only
during Republican adminis- instead on scaling back "day at the range" where ing to keep our head American built parts.
trations because gun own- production to weather the participants can check out above water in this tough Bryan Haaker, who co-
ers are not as compelled storm. and fire all sorts of guns. In- market. It's been difficult," founded a gun parts and
to stockpile weapons out The pushback from the terior Secretary David Bern- he said. He added later: accessories company in
of fear that lawmakers will public, lawmakers and the hardt is among the keynote "Our Second Amendment New Hampshire in 2012,
impose restrictions on fire- retail sector has been most speakers. rights have never been un- has weathered the recent
arms. But the past three intense against AR-style Gary Ramey, the owner der more scrutiny or attack turmoil by finding growth in
years under President Don- guns that have been used of a small handgun com- than they are now." smaller caliber firearms and
ald Trump have been par- in several recent mass kill- pany based in Gainesville, Ramey has been going to the competitive shooting
ticularly volatile, fueled ings, including Las Vegas, Georgia, said his company the event for 20 years, well arena. He will be at the Las
in part by the Las Vegas the Orlando nightclub mas- has seen drops in sales in before he founded Honor Vegas convention as well.
shooting and other high- sacre and the school shoot- the past year, and the Las Defense, a company that "We've seen nothing but
profile mass killings that ing in Parkland, Florida. That Vegas gathering will be es- specializes on handguns the market grow," Haaker
have driven efforts to either has placed gun manufac- pecially critical to see new that can be purchased said.q
restrict access to guns or to turers in a difficult position products and meet suppli- with custom colors and de-
ban certain firearms and because the popularity of ers. signs. His is primarily a family
products. those weapons has fueled
With Congress stymied by their profits in recent years.
gridlock, the most notable It's not just gunmakers that
action on guns has oc- have booths at the Las Ve-
curred at the state level gas show.
in places such as Virginia, It's a wide array — from
where Democrats took companies that make hol-
control of the statehouse sters, scopes, ammunition
in last year's elections. They and safes to apparel and
are vowing to pass a slate even coffee brewers. It
of gun control measures, caters to the spectrum of
prompting thousands of gun owners — from hunters
pro-Second Amendment to those in the military and
activists to plan a rally Mon- law enforcement. Firearms
day at the Capitol. on display at the event are
Virginia is being closely inoperable and none are
watched by the industry, actually sold at it.
looking to see how it will There is a panel discussion
play out and what it might on how to use social media
portend for the future of influencers to boost sales,
gun politics in the year a golf tournament to raise