# Why are gun sales down question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 2, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890 "2018-03-02T15:51:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/1 "2018-03-02T15:51:25Z")
Mods: please change the title to “Why are gun sales down?” There should be a factual answer to this. Let’s try to keep it out of GD territory. If there’s a previous thread on this I can’t seem to find it. According to [this](http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/01/news/companies/american-outdoor-brands-smith-wesson-sales-plunge/index.html?sr=fbCNN030118companies0726PMStory&CNNPolitics=fb) CNN article gun sales for most major US gun makers are down, and down significantly. I don’t get it. With the call for greater gun control, and perhaps even a ban on military-style rifles, you’d think that gun enthusiasts would be out in droves stockpiling as many of these weapons with high capacity clips as possible. Is it because they got all of the guns they could afford during the previous administration? What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/2 "2018-03-02T16:00:03Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@dolphinboy](#): > > Mods: please change the title to “Why are gun sales down?” Typo fixed. This is also a reminder to all to keep this as factual as possible, per the OP. This is a hot button topic to many, so let’s try our best to keep all responses appropriate to GQ. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/3 "2018-03-02T16:00:27Z")
The sales were way up during Obama’s time in office because he was thought to be a “gun grabber” . They could go back up again soon. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/4 "2018-03-02T16:19:20Z")
“With the call for greater gun control” that’s exactly what we’ve seen: [Reuters: Smith & Wesson maker says increased gun sales reported after Florida attack](https://www.reuters.com/article/us-american-outdoor-results-retail/smith-wesson-maker-says-increased-gun-sales-reported-after-florida-attack-idUSKCN1GD6NB) [The Hill: Top gun maker: We’ve seen ‘increased sales’ since Florida shooting](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/376402-top-gun-maker-weve-seen-increased-sales-since-florida-shooting) [Newsweek: Florida Gun Show Sees Record Attendance 10 Days After Mass Shooting At Parkland School](http://www.newsweek.com/florida-gun-show-record-attendance-819832) > [@](#): > > The Florida Gun Show event in Tampa has seen record attendence despite the ongoing gun law debates surrounding the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. > > Florida news station WTSP reported that the weekend’s event was more popular than ever, even though it came so soon after the mass shooting that killed 17 people on February 14. Given that gun sales generally increase in the aftermath of mass shootings, it should perhaps come as no surprise that gun show attendance remains stubbornly high. > > … > > Around 7,000 people attended the Tampa event on Saturday (February 24), and organizers were expecting even more on Sunday. The show manager, George Fernandez, told WTSP that he had never seen such numbers. [https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/business/gun-show-tampa-parkland.html](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/business/gun-show-tampa-parkland.html) > [@](#): > > The lines stretched out the door this weekend at a gun show in Tampa, Fla., as thousands of potential buyers and the merely curious waited for their turn to browse booths stocked with the latest firearms, ammunition, customizable holsters and patriotic paraphernalia. > > … > > Several sellers said they were on track to double their normal sales for a weekend. “It’s sad to say, but whenever there’s a shooting, business only goes up because people are afraid of losing their right to own a certain weapon,” said Quaidman Woody, who was running a booth with his father, a sales representative for CrossHeirs. “So even if they don’t need another AR, they’ll buy another AR or pieces of it.” > > … > > A man counts his money as he completes a gun purchase. “Whenever there’s a shooting, business only goes up because people are afraid of losing their right to own a certain weapon,” one seller said. “We’ve lost our perspective on what’s really happening,” said Scott Rollf, who owns a company called 22mods4all. He said customer concerns about potential legal limits on guns had perked up sales after a decline in demand in recent months led him to reduce prices. > > … > > “I’m wiped out of everything,” he said. “There are parents in here who’ve never seen the inside of a gun show.” > > … > > Mr. Woody estimated that only 10 percent of gun show shoppers were firearms aficionados. The rest, he said, are either newcomers or dabblers. Many buyers have never purchased an AR-15 before, he said. > > … > > Thriving demand for firearms after the Sandy Hook attack in 2012 and during President Barack Obama’s administration caused new gun companies to swarm the market. But many of those businesses have since scaled back or folded as enthusiasts became less nervous about potential gun legislation and less anxious to stock up. > > Remington, one of the oldest gun makers in the country, said it was preparing to declare bankruptcy. American Outdoor Brands, whose Smith & Wesson brand was well represented at the show, has complained about “challenging market conditions.” That is, IMHO, one of the most consistent and tangible results of calls for more gun control: more guns get purchased ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/5 "2018-03-02T16:40:26Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > Mods: please change the title to “Why are gun sales down?” > > There should be a factual answer to this. Let’s try to keep it out of GD territory. If there’s a previous thread on this I can’t seem to find it. According to [this](http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/01/news/companies/american-outdoor-brands-smith-wesson-sales-plunge/index.html?sr=fbCNN030118companies0726PMStory&CNNPolitics=fb) CNN article gun sales for most major US gun makers are down, and down significantly. This news is about their reported **quarterly net sales**. Which would be the 4th quarter of 2017. The increased call for gun control only happened after the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The reason gun sales declined in 2017 is because there was less fear of new gun control laws. That’s why Remington is now in Chapter 11. From [this article](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-16/remington-s-bankruptcy-may-be-the-tip-of-the-iceberg): > [@](#): > > …Now that Donald Trump is in the Oval Office, fear of new gun laws has receded, industry executives have said. And so have sales, hurting both retailers and manufacturers such as Remington. > > In December, James Debney, chief executive officer of American Outdoor, said “fear-based” buying of firearms had stopped. According to data collected by the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a barometer for firearms sales, January 2018 was the slowest in gun purchases since 2012. Even on Thursday, after gunmaker stocks rose in premarket trading, shares headed back down by afternoon. (The assault rifle used in the Parkland high school attack was a Smith & Wesson AR-15, police said.)… That “Thursday” would be the day after the school shooting. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/6 "2018-03-02T16:46:21Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > The sales were way up during Obama’s time in office because he was thought to be a “gun grabber” . They could go back up again soon. There was also an increase in manufacturing when it looked like Hillary was going to win the election, since she promised tighter gun control laws during her campaign. Retailers stocked up on weapons, expecting a spike in sales after the election. When Trump won, the spike didn’t happen, leaving retailers with excess stock. The retailers have been slow to order new weapons while they work through this excess, leading to a slump in manufacturing that the industry has apparently been calling the “Trump slump”. There is still a bit of excess inventory at the retail level, which is probably dampening the sales spike that usually results from calls for greater gun control. Cite for the Hillary surge and excess inventory: [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-15/gun-sales-are-down-so-why-did-gun-stocks-just-go-up](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-15/gun-sales-are-down-so-why-did-gun-stocks-just-go-up) Cite for the “Trump slump” in general: Why Donald Trump Is Bad for Gun Sales > **[Why Donald Trump Is Bad for Gun Sales](https://fortune.com/2017/09/11/trump-gun-sales-decline/)** > > The irony of having an ardently pro-gun President. The fact that we have a Republican Congress, which gun enthusiasts tend to think is less likely to pass restrictive gun laws, also probably factors into things quite a bit. Cites: Congressional Republicans reject calls for tighter gun restrictions in wake of Florida shooting > **[Congressional Republicans reject calls for tighter gun restrictions in wake...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/27/speaker-paul-ryan-says-gop-look-system-failures-not-gun-control-wake-florida-shooting/376481002/)** > > Republican congressional leaders say they won't consider new gun control measures in the wake of the Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead. What will Congress realistically do on guns after the Florida shooting? > **[Analysis | What will Congress realistically do on guns after the Florida...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/02/26/what-will-congress-realistically-do-on-guns-after-the-florida-shooting/)** > > Short answer: not much. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/7 "2018-03-02T17:43:55Z")
That all makes sense. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/8 "2018-03-02T18:55:50Z")
I don’t agree with the premise of the linked article in the first post. If you look at sales over the past several years, they are anything but down. Go to this link and look at the year-to-year numbers: [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjYuMuFps7ZAhUCvVMKHXa4D\_4QFggpMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.atf.gov%2Fresource-center%2Fdocs%2Fundefined%2Ffirearms-commerce-united-states-annual-statistical-update-2017%2Fdownload&usg=AOvVaw2BJm\_vnUiujZPXxRJaunH1](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjYuMuFps7ZAhUCvVMKHXa4D_4QFggpMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.atf.gov%2Fresource-center%2Fdocs%2Fundefined%2Ffirearms-commerce-united-states-annual-statistical-update-2017%2Fdownload&usg=AOvVaw2BJm_vnUiujZPXxRJaunH1) It only goes through 2015, but I suspect that sales continued upward in 2016, and probably flattened out or declined a bit in 2017. [2017-is-second-biggest-year-for-gun-sales-ever-might-top-2016/article/2627883](http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/2017-is-second-biggest-year-for-gun-sales-ever-might-top-2016/article/2627883) You have to look at short-term ups and downs, and also long-term patterns. In the short term, politics plays a roll in gun sales, as mentioned above. In the long term, gun sales have been on an upward trend for many years, and any recent decline probably indicates that most people already own about as many guns as they want. I believe there are only two publicly traded gun manufacturers in the US, Ruger and Smith & Wesson (now called American Outdoor Brands). Both show significant increases in sales from 2012 through 2016. Women have become a more important market segment (still small compared to men, but growing). > **[RGR | Sturm Ruger & Co. Annual Income Statement | MarketWatch](https://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/rgr/financials)** > > Sturm Ruger & Co. Annual stock financials by MarketWatch. View the latest RGR financial statements, income statements and financial ratios. > **[Search - MarketWatch](https://www.marketwatch.com/search?q=aobc)** > > Search MarketWatch for the latest financial news and market data. Other than Ruger and S&W, the other companies are either mid-size or small private companies. Like any industry, it looks like the recent growth cannot be sustained, as the market hits a natural saturation and maximum sales level. Companies seem to scale up when things are good and overbuild and take on too much debt, not believing that numbers will eventually return to normal levels. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/9 "2018-03-02T18:59:37Z")
I’d like to think that it’s because sensible people have finally figured out that sane restrictions and tracking are not synonymous with confiscation. I tend to be unrealistically idealistic, however. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/10 "2018-03-02T19:13:31Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > I’d like to think that it’s because sensible people have finally figured out that sane restrictions and tracking are not synonymous with confiscation. I tend to be unrealistically idealistic, however. **Moderator Note** **Jasmine** , let’s leave political commentary out of GQ. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2018, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/11 "2018-03-02T23:55:40Z")
There is also an amount of _market saturation_. There’s only so many gun owners in the country, and since they all have guns, they are mostly buying another gun, or replacing an old gun with hte fancy new model. That’s not really an expanding market. After all, 2/3rds of the US population doesn’t own any gun at all. Of the 1/3 that does, about half that is people who own a hunting rifle or shotgun. Some of the remaining are guns used by groups (police, sheriffs, bank guards, etc. that are used in their profession. So it’s really only a small percentage of the population that actually own a handgun. Marketing to this niche can be profitable, but is not a long-term growth market. ---
**Author:** ![Joanie\_Loves\_Trotsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d78d45/32.png) [@Joanie\_Loves\_Trotsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joanie_Loves_Trotsky)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2018, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/12 "2018-03-03T18:29:51Z")
Any time there is a perceived threat of gun control, sales spike. Almost always after a shooting, or if a politician threatens gun control, or oddly enough, when Trump discussed taking guns away from people and then justifying it later (most people ignored it, since half of what Trump says is pure bluster). If you ask any gun dealer, they will always say the best salesman they ever had was Barack Obama. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/13 "2018-03-04T17:09:03Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > There is also an amount of _market saturation_. > > There’s only so many gun owners in the country, and since they all have guns, they are mostly buying another gun, or replacing an old gun with hte fancy new model. That’s not really an expanding market. > > After all, 2/3rds of the US population doesn’t own any gun at all. Of the 1/3 that does, about half that is people who own a hunting rifle or shotgun. Some of the remaining are guns used by groups (police, sheriffs, bank guards, etc. that are used in their profession. So it’s really only a small percentage of the population that actually own a handgun. Marketing to this niche can be profitable, but is not a long-term growth market. I agree. In addition to that, a gun will last a person not only his or her entire life, but the great-grandchildren can still use it effectively. It amazes me that there are enough new gun sales at all to keep the manufacturers in business. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/14 "2018-03-04T17:17:33Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I agree. In addition to that, a gun will last a person not only his or her entire life, but the great-grandchildren can still use it effectively. It amazes me that there are enough new gun sales at all to keep the manufacturers in business. Guns keep getting stolen and “stolen” and winding up in the hands of criminals, so new guns need to be purchased to replace those and to be stolen or “stolen” again. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/15 "2018-03-04T17:19:44Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > There is also an amount of _market saturation_. Yes, it’s a function of perceived likelihood of more gun control, but overlaid on a market with eventual limits on cumulative demand. IOW at a certain point it requires _more and more_ perception that you have to ‘buy them while you can’ to keep demand the same amount above the normal trend. There would presumably eventually have been a drop off in gun sales from the very elevated Obama era levels even if the perception of the risk of more federal gun control had just remained constant rather than falling, as it’s reasonable to assume it has since the 2016 election, although that could change now at least for some categories of gun. Or if you see a big rebound in sales it will be a sign it’s changed. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/16 "2018-03-04T17:55:33Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I agree. In addition to that, a gun will last a person not only his or her entire life, but the great-grandchildren can still use it effectively. It amazes me that there are enough new gun sales at all to keep the manufacturers in business. Do you think most of the guns being sold are Winchester Model 70s, Remington Model 870s or clones of other guns made 50 years ago ? Manufacturers have brought out lots of innovative, interesting and affordable products in recent years. New designs that are lighter, smaller, more accurate, less expensive or otherwise interesting are brought out every month. That is an important reason for increasing numbers of sales. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/17 "2018-03-04T18:26:46Z")
The OP as written, like some earlier posters have mentioned, does not take into account that reported statistics will lag behind whatever is the buzz of the moment. > [@UltraVires](#): > > In addition to that, a gun will last a person not only his or her entire life, but the great-grandchildren can still use it effectively. It amazes me that there are enough new gun sales at all to keep the manufacturers in business. True, this is not like a car, which even if you are a conservative consumer and not concerned about the latest geegaw you will likely replace it anyway past the 10 year point just because of maintenance cost/reliability/safety/fuel economy issues. These are \*very \*durable goods. I suppose there is a limited parallel WRT to other purchases in that people may buy “entry level” firearms, in the same way as upon entering the workforce someone may buy a used economy car, wear a $29.95 watch and an outlet-store suit, and live in a small “starter home”, and then later upgrade as they become more solvent and sophisticated. But that alone would not account for that much product moving – one must imagine many of the repeat buyers are enthusiasts who just gotta have the latest and greatest NOW (a-la smartphone addicts) or want to collect every variation on a favorite theme. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/18 "2018-03-04T18:49:29Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > The OP as written, like some earlier posters have mentioned, does not take into account that reported statistics will lag behind whatever is the buzz of the moment. > > True, this is not like a car, which even if you are a conservative consumer and not concerned about the latest geegaw you will likely replace it anyway past the 10 year point just because of maintenance cost/reliability/safety/fuel economy issues. These are \*very \*durable goods. > > I suppose there is a limited parallel WRT to other purchases in that people may buy “entry level” firearms, in the same way as upon entering the workforce someone may buy a used economy car, wear a $29.95 watch and an outlet-store suit, and live in a small “starter home”, and then later upgrade as they become more solvent and sophisticated. But that alone would not account for that much product moving – one must imagine many of the repeat buyers are enthusiasts who just gotta have the latest and greatest NOW (a-la smartphone addicts) or want to collect every variation on a favorite theme. And keep in mind the number that get diverted into criminal activity. Gun sales need to stay up, or the guns available to criminals would start to decrease. ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/19 "2018-03-04T18:55:01Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > And keep in mind the number that get diverted into criminal activity. Gun sales need to stay up, or the guns available to criminals would start to decrease. Since you mentioned this twice as an apparently significant demand factor, what are the numbers you are referring to? How many guns are stolen and replaced each year? ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-gun-sales-down-question/809890/20 "2018-03-04T19:40:41Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > Since you mentioned this twice as an apparently significant demand factor, what are the numbers you are referring to? How many guns are stolen and replaced each year? Hard numbers to pin down, and depends on what you mean by stolen. Here’s an [estimate on guns that are actually stolen](https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/guns-crime/reports/2017/07/25/436533/stolen-guns-america/). > [@](#): > > However, estimates from a number of survey studies indicate that roughly 200,000 to 400,000 guns are stolen from individuals each year.17 The most recent study by researchers at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Northeastern University Department of Health Sciences found that approximately 380,000 firearms are stolen from gun owners each year, two-thirds of which are stolen in the southern region of the United States.1 Now, according to the [NRA](https://www.nrablog.com/articles/2016/7/buying-and-selling-firearms-part-6-straw-purchases/): > [@](#): > > nearly half of illegally trafficked firearms originate with straw purchasers, all of whom pass background checks. the number of guns being diverted to criminal use is double that of what is actually stolen. Straw purchases are what I refer to as “stolen”, as if the weapon is used in a crime, and the buyer is tracked down and asked what happened, they will claim it was stolen.