Media Contact: Georgia Seltzer, (202) 822-8200 x104, gseltzer@vpc.org
In this industry update, one NSSF “Real Solutions” partner attacks another, a Maryland appeals court upholds the state’s ban on assault rifles, including the Barrett 50 caliber sniper rifle, and preliminary data from ATF show gun production dropping by 30 percent.
Gun Industry Pitchman Maj Toure Attacks Fellow NSSF “Real Solutions” Law Enforcement Partner ATF
Since its 2015 diversity-themed Industry Summit, gun industry trade association the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) has followed a trail blazed by the tobacco industry – targeting Black, Latino, and Asian Americans as potential gun buyers in the wake of the saturation of the primary market of white males.
For years, Maj Toure of Black Guns Matter has been part of this effort. Speaking at the 2018 NSSF-sponsored SHOT Show, the annual closed-to-the-public trade show for the firearms industry, Toure told his gun-industry audience, “My job is to give you all the information to increase revenue as well as make a cultural shift.”
More recently, Toure’s been featured in an NSSF YouTube video promoting the trade association’s “Real Solutions” public relations program (not surprisingly, none of NSSF’s “solutions” involve placing limits on any of the increasingly lethal weapons manufactured and sold by its gun industry members). In the NSSF video, Toure says he’s “proud to be working with the firearms industry for Real Solutions.” Among the “Real Solutions” partners NSSF proudly points to is the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the federal agency charged with enforcing our nation’s gun laws. According to NSSF, “ATF and the firearm industry collaborate to keep firearm retail stores secure, prosecute individuals who burglarize firearm retailers, and to inform the public that it’s illegal to purchase a firearm for someone who cannot pass a background check.”
Toure, however, has a far more succinct view of his “Real Solutions” law enforcement partner as revealed by mugs sold on his website: “Fuck the ATF.” Accompanying text reads, “Make a bold statement with our ‘Fuck the ATF’ mug, expressing aversion and defiance against government overreach. Crafted with high-quality ceramic for durability, this mug is perfect for those tired of oppressive regulations infringing on their rights. Whether you’re a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment or simply fed up with bureaucratic interference, this mug lets you drink your dissent proudly…Get your ‘Fuck the ATF’ mug today.”
Apparently, Maj Toure and NSSF should talk more often.
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Maryland Ban on Assault Weapons, 50 Caliber Anti-Armor Sniper Rifles
On August 6, 2024, a federal appeals court upheld Maryland’s assault weapons ban which includes a ban on the Barrett .50 anti-armor sniper rifle. The Violence Policy Center was the first gun violence prevention organization to raise alarm about the specific threat posed by the widespread availability of .50 sniper rifles in our 2001 study Voting from the Rooftops.
In its opinion, the appeals court noted, “Appellants made no effort to present evidence that this sniper rifle is ‘in common use today for self-defense’ and not a ‘dangerous and unusual’ weapon outside of the Second Amendment’s ambit. How could they? Common sense dictates that restricting the possession of this type of weapon is consistent with the original meaning of the Second Amendment as elucidated in Heller and Bruen. With its very limited ability to serve the defensive needs of the average citizen yet its extraordinary capability to advance the offensive purposes of criminals, terrorists, and soldiers, the Barrett .50 caliber sniper rifle is exactly the type of firearm that is ‘most useful in military service’ and ‘may be banned’ consistent with the Second Amendment.”
Gun Production Declines by 30 Percent in 2023 According to Interim Data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
According to 2023 Interim Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Report (AFMER) data obtained by the Violence Policy Center from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), overall firearm production in the United States was down 30 percent in 2023 compared to 2022. According to ATF, there were 9,491,014 firearms manufactured in 2023, down from 13,520,427 in 2022, a decrease of 4,029,413. All firearm types declined from 2022 to 2023, led by a 40 percent decline in pistol production – from 6,183,507 in 2022 to 3,731,456 in 2023, a drop of 2,452,051.
| Firearm Type | 2022 Production | 2023 Production | Number Change | Percent Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistol | 6.183,507 | 3,731,456 | -2,452,051 | -40% |
| Revolver | 843,347 | 735,395 | -107,952 | -13% |
| Rifle | 3,658,523 | 3,116,322 | -542,201 | -15% |
| Shotgun | 662,510 | 602,631 | -59,879 | -9% |
| Misc Firearm | 2,172,540 | 1,305,210 | -867,330 | -40% |
| Total | 13,520,427 | 9,491,014 | –4,029,413 | -30% |