I decided to take a look at the weapons manufacturing statistics for the U.S. A couple of stats jumped off the pages as I checked “Hoovers.com” (D&B), the “firingline.com”, “gunpolicy.org”, and “gunsinternational.com”. This seemed to give the most centrist and accurate report of our Nation’s production of firearms. With only a few exceptions, all the weapons made here are available to the General Public through distributors, or on-line. And, the last set of numbers I looked at were the prices of some of the more popular items (see below). Looks like just about anyone can afford ownership. These are just the numbers. Draw your own conclusions about their meaning and what might be the appropriate course of action.
Gun & Ammunition Manufacturing Industry Overview
Excerpt from Gun & Ammunition Manufacturing Report
The US gun and ammunition manufacturing industry includes about 300 companies with combined annual revenue of about $6 billion. Major gun and ammunition manufacturers include Browning Arms; Freedom Group (which includes Remington Arms, Marlin Firearms, and Bushmaster Firearms); Olin; Alliant Techsystems; Sturm, Ruger & Company; and Smith & Wesson. The industry is highly concentrated.
Competitive Landscape
Demand is driven partly by hunters, gun enthusiasts, and weapon upgrades by police departments. The profitability of individual companies is closely linked to marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by producing premium-priced high-quality or decorative guns. Although automation has increased, the industry is still labor-intensive: average annual revenue per worker is about $140,000.
Products, Operations & Technology
Major product categories include firearms and ammunition, each of which accounts for about half of industry revenues. The industry produces more than 4 million guns per year: about 30 percent are pistols and revolvers; about 40 percent are rifles, and about 30 percent are shotguns and other firearms. Within a category, a company may make guns of different caliber and style. The most popular pistol calibers are 9 millimeter, .45, and .22. The most popular revolver calibers are .357, .45, and .38.
http://www.hoovers.com/industry-facts.gun-ammunitionmanufacturing.1200.html
Major Manufacturers and distributors
General Online Sales: 8 companies
Firearms manufacturers and sole U.S. distributors: 111 manufacturers
Firearms Distributors/Sellers: 6 companies
Barrels: 2 manufacturers
Silencers: 1 manufacturer
Ammunition Suppliers: 3 manufacturers
Firearms Training: 17 companies
Body Armor: 14 manufacturers
http://thefiringline.com/library/companies.html#firearmsm
United States — Gun Facts, Figures and the Law:
Federal firearm legislation is limited US states and municipalities regulate firearm use with their own gun laws
Stockpiles/Gun Numbers
Number of Privately Owned Firearms:
The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in the United States is 270,000,0001
Rate of Civilian Firearm Possession per 100 Population:
The rate of private gun ownership in the United States is 88.82 firearms per 100 people
Number of Privately Owned Firearms – World Ranking:
In a comparison of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, the United States ranked at No. 11
Rate of Privately Owned Firearms per 100 Population – World Ranking:
In a comparison of the rate of private gun ownership in 179 countries, the United States ranked at No. 12
Government Guns:
Number of Military Firearms:
The defense forces of the United States are reported to have 3,054,5533 firearms
Number of Law Enforcement Firearms
Police in the United States are reported to have 897,4004 firearms
Defence & law Enforcement = 3,951,953
Civilians = 270,000,000
Firearm Manufacture
In the United States, the manufacture of small arms, ammunition and/or their components is permitted only if the maker holds a valid licence22
Small Arms Manufacture - World Ranking
In a classification of the world's small, medium and major firearm manufacturers, the United States is ranked \'major\'23 24
Last Updated on 23 July 2012
Short References
1.Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q4)
2.Karp, Aaron.2007.‘Completing the Count: Civilian firearms.’ Small Arms Survey 2007: Guns and the City.Cambridge:Cambridge University Press,27 August. (Q5)
23.Small Arms Survey.2001.‘Ranking of World's Small Arms Producers (By Sales).’ Small Arms Survey 2001: Profiling the Problem.Oxford:Oxford University Press,1 July. (Q103)Full Citation
24.Cook, Philip J, Wendy Cukier and Keith Krause.2009.‘Firearms and Firearm Regulation in North America: United States.’ The Illicit Firearms Trade in North America.London:Criminology & Criminal Justice,1 August. (Q1980)
http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/united-states
And, these were the middle of the road in price:
BUSHMASTER, 223 / 5.56 NATO BUSHMASTER FIREARMS 90140 A1 XM-15 E2S Series SA 223 30 ROUND MAG. FACTORY NEW IN BOX (( NOT USED )) INTER XM-15. GI#: 100303681
Seller: AA GUNS & AMMO—BKLYNBOY Area Code: 770 $ 979.99
AK- 47 ASSAULT RIFLE, IZHMASH SAGIA, RUSSIA MADE FACTORY NEW IN BOX (( NOT USED )) AK- 47 ASSAULT RIFLE IZHMASH SAGIA RUSSIA MADE CAL. 7.6 GI#: 100303228
Seller: AA GUNS & AMMO—BKLYNBOY Area Code: 770 $ 789.99
http://www.gunsinternational.com/Assault-Rifles.cfm?cat_id=256