EsThe atrocity in Las Vegas, in which 58 have died according to CNN, shines a light again on the weapons industry in the U.S. An extension of gun control rules seems unlikely at this stage, the BBC reports. It’s worth noting that in a Gallup poll from October 2016 61% of respondents were against laws restricting the ownership of assault-type rifles, which followed the June 2016 Pulse nightclub tragedy.
A typical reaction to such events is actually an increase in sales of handheld weapons – the stock price of American Outdoors Brands have increased by 6% since September 29. That would follow an apparent downturn in interest and sales of handheld weapons and ammunition. FBI background checks fell 6.7% on a year earlier in the third quarter on a year earlier, though that is comparing to the pre-election period.
Imports of weapons and parts have similarly been in decline, with imports in the three months to August 31 dropping 9.1% on a year earlier, including preliminary seaborne shipment data. Shipments of ammunition have fallen at a faster rate, at 28.9% over the same period. However, that compares to a period of stockpiling that saw imports peak at a record $85.6 million in November 2016.
Source: Panjiva
