The gun industry is projected to generate approximately $19.6 billion in revenue by 2025, but measuring its true economic impact proves challenging due to a lack of transparency. Greg Lickenbrock, a firearms expert, estimates that civilian gun sales alone accounted for about $9 billion in 2021, yet acknowledges the limitations of this estimate due to many manufacturers operating privately and withholding financial data.
Publicly traded giants like Smith & Wesson and Ruger indicate broader trends in the industry, which is further complicated by market dynamics and competitive secrecy. With nearly 15 million firearms produced for the U.S. market in 2023, understanding the economic footprint of this sector is crucial as gun law debates intensify, but the opacity of financial reporting leaves many questions unanswered.
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