An unidentified concealed carrier thwarted an attempted robbery when he unloaded on the armed suspect in Detroit.

Surveillance video shows the robber, Sanchez Quinn, 29, approach while pointing a gun at the confirmed concealed pistol license holder and his cousin outside a market on Sunday.

The CPL holder told Fox 2 Detroit his first thought was to grab his gun. Video shows him shove Quinn’s pistol away before drawing his own gun and opening fire. Quinn returned fire and the CPL holder’s cousin was caught in the crossfire. It’s unclear whose shots struck the cousin.

Quinn was also struck, but both he and the cousin were taken to the hospital and are expected to survive. No charges have been filed against the CPL holder at this time, who appeared to have acted in self-defense. Quinn, as well as a second suspect, are in police custody.

“It makes me mad because you have people out here that work every day. They are innocent; you want to take from them,” the CPL holder told reporters. “These guys, I definitely feel don’t need to be back out on the street because someone else might get hurt and it might happen in a different way.”

The attempted robbery and subsequent shooting was captured on video thanks to Project Green Light — a crime-fighting initiative launched by a partnership between local businesses, the city and community groups — which was launched last January.

Under the initiative, businesses, known as Green Light locations, have installed real-time cameras with videos that can be viewed directly from the police department. Additionally, the Green Light locations have flashing green lights, which authorities say, help to deter crime. So far, more than 120 local businesses have opted to participate in the initiative.

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The Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot is famous for the barrage of machine guns filling the air with smoke and thunder and the world famous night shoot. But it’s also very popular for the dozens of vendors offering a wide array of products for sale in the enormous pole barn adjacent to the firing line. Buyers travel from every corner of the US to do some serious shopping.

Machine guns for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Trump Roosters and machine guns for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Trump 2020 t-shirts for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Slide Fire stocks for sale. Prices based on ‘how much do you want to pay’. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Tank parts for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Tank rounds for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Barrels for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Nazi memorabilia for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Nazi memorabilia for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

1932 Colt 1921A for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

I love my AR-15 t-shirt worn by a vendor. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

MAC-11’s for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Various machine guns for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

Vickers machine guns for sale. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

NFA-TAC members posing with their Colt Camp Perry Model .22 single shot revolver. (Photo: Ben Philippi/Guns.com)

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A man robbing a store at gunpoint in Kalamazoo on Tuesday night was caught off guard when the clerk snatched away his gun, sending the unarmed robber fleeing with piles of cash left behind.

The crime was caught on the Campus Party Store’s surveillance video, which shows the suspect enter the business with his face covered shortly after 11 p.m., aim a gun at the clerk, and presumably demand cash.

The video also shows a customer enter the store in the midst of the robbery, but quickly turned and left when he realized what was going down. That customer, however, went back to his car and called 911.

Meanwhile, the clerk scrambled together cash for the suspect and, once a pile was on the counter, the suspect put down his gun to gather up the money. The clerk seized the moment and swiped the gun, catching the suspect off guard. The suspect tried to run out of the store with some cash in hand, but dropped a large amount as he headed out the door.

The suspect remains at large.

[ Fox 17 ]

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Thieves stole 70 guns from two Denver-area Cabela’s in August, including the one pictured here. (Photo: CBS Denver)

Federal authorities in Colorado announced two more arrests this week as the state struggles with an increase in gun store thefts.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday agents arrested two Denver men last month for stealing guns from a Cabela’s in Lone Tree, Colorado. Another four suspects were taken into custody for lifting multiple handguns, shot guns and rifles from Dragon Arms in El Paso County, Colorado, in August.

“These are no property crimes. These are life and death crimes. Stolen guns go straight into the hands of criminals, not hunters and target shooters,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Bob Troyer in a statement Tuesday. “The people who bring this violence into our communities will be introduced to federal justice, up close and personal, for a long time.”

Authorities charged 23-year-old Darnell Hudgins, 21-year-old Giavanni Edward Miles and 23-year-old Kendall Crockett for conspiring to steal firearms from a Cabela’s in Douglas County on Aug. 10, the ATF said. Less than two weeks later, the three suspects stole 50 guns from a Cabela’s in Thornton, Colorado. All three have been charged with possessing stolen firearms, conspiracy to steal firearms from a federal licensee and disposal of the weapons.

Gun thefts in Colorado doubled last year, according to the ATF, marking a 10-year high for the state. The agency said criminals stole 273 firearms from federally-licensed dealers in 2016, up from just 56 in 2014. More than 400 guns have been stolen in Colorado this year alone, the agency said Tuesday.

“Investigating these thefts is ATF’s top priority in Colorado,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston. “We will be relentless. If someone is involved, we will find them. A potential ten-year prison sentence is a significant punishment for two minutes of crime.”

So far, the partnership between the federal, state and local authorities brought 16 suspects into custody for half a dozen gun store thefts dating back to January.

Gun thefts remain on the rise nationwide, the ATF said, peaking at 7,858 stolen firearms in 2016.

“We are very concerned about the rise in gun thefts. These guns will not be used for hunting or sport; they are destined for future crimes and are a threat to public and officer safety,” ATF Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge Debora Livingston said in a March press release.

“ATF is working closely with all the affected police departments in the Denver Metro Area to identify and arrest suspects, recover guns and prevent future thefts. We are also frequently communicating with gun dealers in the Metro Area to inform them of the rise in break-ins and help them better protect their store and inventory,” she continued.

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A We The People petition asking the White House to protect Second Amendment rights while urging a rebuff of a House gun control measure is being backed by popular gun culture figures.

The petition, started Wednesday, urges HR. 3999 be rejected and “subsequently give law-abiding firearm owners their constitutional rights back, including a repeal of the NFA.”

The petition goes on to urge the White House, “Protect the second amendment and prevent it from being infringed upon as our founding fathers clearly stated,” and “Punish those who violate any part of the constitution with the full extent of the law, including political figures.”

The legislation at the subject of the petition was introduced by a mixed group of Republicans and Democrats in the House this week and currently has 25 co-sponsors.

The bill, though only three pages, is sweeping in its language, barring the production or possession of any gun part or parts that increase the rate of fire of a semi-automatic rifle without converting it to the legal definition of a machine gun. This would potentially include not only the now-vilified stocks but also various binary or modified triggers and cranks which are currently legal.

Urging support of the petition and/or rejection of HR. 3999 are popular YouTube gun channel personalities Hickok45, the Military Arms Channel and Sootch00. NRA commentator and pew-pew life advocate Colion Noir posted a similar call to action on his social media.

As of Friday morning, the petition has just over 10,000 signatures and needs 100,000 by Nov. 10 in order to qualify for a response from the White House.

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"Bump stocks and trigger cranks effectively change the nature of a semi-automatic weapon to make it into a machine gun," state Senate President Stanley Rosenberg (D-Amherst) said in a statement Thursday.

The post Violators of Massachusetts Bump Stock Ban Could Receive Life in Prison appeared first on GunsAmerica Digest.

Large majorities of Americans support several specific policies intended to limit access to guns, including expanded background checks and restrictions on sales to the mentally ill. But relatively few Americans actually contact public officials to express their views, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in the spring.

Are younger Americans more progressive? One would be hard pressed to disagree. The under-30 crowd has led a fight on transgender rights and new forms of racism. In the culture wars, conservatives have met defeat at the hands of much younger activists for gay marriage, drug legalization and Barack Obama—a politician whose rock-star nimbus was then, improbably, taken up by a senescent Vermonter and card-carrying socialist. According to surveys last year, 43 percent of 18-29-year-olds now hold a favorable view of socialism. These are the millennials. Alex P. Keaton they are not. But gun politics is where the easy caricature of America’s radicalized youth marching toward socialism ends.

Almost immediately after the Las Vegas shooting came the calls for "common sense" gun control. The quest almost always begins with a reassurance that "no one wants to take away your guns." Not everyone read the memo.

The rifle has silver and gold engraved etchings of the USS Texas as she appeared in 1914 with her lattice mast profile, and of the upgraded USS Texas as she appeared in 1927 with tripod mast, above, along with The State of Texas seal. (Photos: Battleship Texas)

Fighting against the combined forces of time and Mother Nature, the oldest U.S. battleship still afloat is in need of desperate repair, and sales of a limited edition rifle could help.

Dubbed “The Last Dreadnought,” Texas was commissioned in 1914 as the world was on the verge of the Great War and went on to serve for over 30 years, during both World Wars — one of only a handful of ships still in existence with such a lineage. Since 1948, she has continued to serve in her namesake state as a museum ship at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site in Texas.

However, time has not been kind to the century-old relic and, as reported by the Houston Chronicle, continuous repairs are needed just to keep her afloat and funds are scarce.

“We pump about 300,000 gallons of water a day out of the Battleship Texas,”  Bruce Bramlett, executive director of the non-profit Battleship Texas Foundation, told the Chronicle. “There are places on the ship where the hull is so thin you can poke your finger through it. So, we’re constantly pumping water out and patching holes, and the water is constantly seeping back in.”

One solution to help raise funds is a project with Henry Arms and Barron Engraving for a special commemorative rifle.

Priced at $999, $400 from each will go to the Foundation to help repair and restore the Texas and, since the organization has 501c status, it’s tax deductible.

The rifle has silver and gold engraved etchings of the USS Texas as she appeared in 1914 with her lattice mast profile, above, and of the upgraded USS Texas as she appeared in 1927 with tripod mast, along with The State of Texas seal. (Photos: Battleship Texas)

Special edition firearms have proved successful in the past for the group, with Colt 1911 and Browning Citori 12 & 20 gauge over & under commemoratives quickly selling out.

Speaking of which, orders for the Battleship Texas Henry must be received by the end of the year.

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A 300-pound black bear was shot and killed after it wandered into a post office in Anchorage on Sunday night.

Authorities say the bear entered the facility through an open door around 11:30 p.m. The post office was closed to the public at the time, although about 75 employees were inside the facility.

At the sight of the animal, the employees made their way to safety as the bear climbed on a conveyer belt and eventually made its way to the building’s garbage room. Meanwhile, Airport Police and Fire were called, and numerous officers promptly responded to the call.

Responding officers tried to corral the animal out of the building, but were unsuccessful. Once the bear became a safety concern, officers shot and killed it.

The facility was briefly shut down during the incident, but the bear caused no damage and no one was injured.

[ KTVA ]

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Iesha Stanciel. (Photo: Federal complaint)

A suburban Chicago mother of seven has been accused of encouraging Facebook followers to murder an FBI informant involved in a sting that landed one of her associates in prison for trying to sell semi-automatic rifles stolen from a Chicago freight train.

Iesha Stanciel, 38, now faces federal cyberstalking charges as a result of the threats, according to a federal complaint. She has also been hit with a gun charge after being arrested with an AR 15-type assault rifle stolen from the freight train last September.

Stanciel’s associate, Brian Stafford, allegedly told the FBI informant he had the rifles in his possession just two days after the train heist in which thieves stole six brand new Smith & Wesson M&P assault rifles and 27 pistols from a south side rail yard.

Stafford was then arrested in October 2016, prompting Stanciel to post threatening messages on Facebook regarding the FBI informant. Some of the threats included the informant’s name, according to court documents.

“Snitches get stitches and found in ditches,” Stanciel said in one post, which she followed up with 11 handgun emojis.

Another post included a picture of the informant and urged followers to shoot “his head back.”

Stanciel claimed in a July letter to a federal judge that the posts had been “fantasies” and asked to be released from jail while awaiting trial. The judge denied her request.

It remains unclear if Stanciel and Stafford were directly involved in the actual train heist. Stafford has been hit with illegal gun possession charges, and both have pleaded not guilty.

The 2016 train heist enraged Chicagoans living near the south side rail yard, as it occurred just a year after another crew of thieves stole 111 Ruger pistols from a train parked overnight on the same Norfolk Southern property.

One of the main suspects in the 2015 heist, Andrew Shelton, was sentenced last week to 10 years in federal prison for his involvement. Ten other defendants have been convicted as a result of the investigation into the theft and subsequent sale of the firearms.

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Mason and Kathy Dubord, owners of the Dresden Take Out. (Photo: The Lincoln County News)

The Dresden Take Out in Dresden, Maine, as of Saturday, added guns and ammo, along with other hunting, fishing, and camping essentials to their menu.

“We figured this is a hunting and fishing community, so we should offer that here,” said Mason Dubord, who owns the business with his wife, Kathy.

The couple, who completed extensive renovations to accommodate the changes, said they relied on their patrons for insight into what items they should offer in their store. Now, those items include handguns, shotguns, and rifles, all within a wide price range.

“We hope anyone who comes in looking for something can leave feeling good that they were able to purchase a high-quality gun within their budget,” Kathy said, while noting the one-stop shop will still require background checks for gun purchases.

The couple said the inventory will change, as the seasons do, and eventually they hope to offer live bait as well.

“We want people to be able to come in and find exactly what they need,” Kathy Dubord said. “If we don’t have it, we’ll start carrying it.”

The couple said they’ve received nothing but positive feedback since adding guns and ammo to their inventory.

[ The Lincoln County News ]

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House Democrats have introduced a number of new gun control measures in the wake of a deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Among the proposals are HR.3962 to ban online ammunition sales, H.R. 4025 requiring gun dealers to report the sale of two or more rifles to the same person in a five-day period, and HR. 4052, which would ban magazines able to hold greater than 10 rounds.

“Several of my colleagues and I have introduced commonsense legislation that, if enacted, would reduce gun violence and the tragic impact it has on our communities,” said U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, the New Jersey Democrat sponsoring the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act.

Coleman’s proposal is much like a state law approved last year by voters in California in the respect that it would require federally licensed ammo dealers to directly confirm the identity of those buying ammo over the Internet by verifying a photo I.D. in-person. Also, the measure would require the vendor to report any individual sales of more than 1,000 rounds in a five-day period to the U.S. Attorney General. Garnering 29 co-sponsors, all Democrat, the measure has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Gun reporting

The Multiple Firearm Sales Reporting Modernization Act, sponsored by U.S. Rep. Norma Torres, D-Calf., would require FFLs to report the sale of two or more long guns to the same buyer within a five-day period to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Currently, dealers must report multiple handgun sales while a 2011 rule that requires only dealers in Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas report multiple rifle sales. Under the new proposal, it would be the law of the land.

“This bill is a long-overdue update,” said Torres. “Our law enforcement agencies need to know if anyone is stocking up on AR-15s and AK-47s.”

The measure, referred to the Judiciary Committee, has three co-sponsors including Nevada Democrat Dina Titus, whose district includes Las Vegas.

Magazine restrictions

Billed as the Keep Americans Safe Act, Connecticut’s Elizabeth Etsy would ban detachable magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds. Backed by several gun control groups including the Brady Campaign and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Esty contends it is needed for public safety.

“There is simply no good reason why sportsmen and women need more than 10 rounds in a magazine,” said Esty in a statement. “No sportsman or woman needs 30 rounds to kill a deer. It’s shameful that we protect our deer better than we protect our people.”

Referred to the Judiciary committee, Esty’s bill has 85 partisan supporters including virtually Nevada’s entire delegation to the House apart from U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei, a Republican whose district hails from the more conservative Northern part of the state including Reno and Carson City.

The bills join measures to ban bump stocks and other devices that can accelerate a gun’s rate of fire, mandates for smart gun use, expanded background check proposals and efforts to increase federal funding for gun crime research, all introduced in the past two weeks.

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What?

Imgur user ricraynor posted some images of his post-apocalyptic style custom rifle builds that look more at home in a Mad Max film than a gun rack.

The two rifles, an AR flattop build constructed with a split wooden stock around the buffer tube and what used to be an Ottoman Turkish Mauser, seem like they are a step away from being shiny and chrome. But before you reach for the blood pressure meds about hacking up the vintage bolt-gun, the creator cautions the Mauser was on its last legs and was no longer collectible.

“It was in such bad shape when we started that restoring it would have cost way more than it’s worth,” says ricraynor. “The stock was mostly rotten and cracked and the barrel needed to be counter-bored and re-crowned.”

The AR is still a Title I gun and they both reportedly still work.

“All of the apocalypse builds work and we shoot them occasionally,” says ricraynor. “They look like hell but are actually maintained and safe to shoot.”

The post When life hands you a rough rifle, some look to make it rougher appeared first on Guns.com.

Xavier Houston, 24, was killed after he broke into a Jacksonville, Florida, home this week. (Photo: Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office)

A 24-year-old Florida man was shot and killed after he broke into a Jacksonville home Wednesday morning, while his accomplice remains at large.

The day after the deadly break-in, local media learned the deceased suspect, Xavier Houston, was the son of an officer with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

“Sometimes, people think that you’re the son or daughter of a police officer and you’re walking the straight and narrow all the time — or a judge, or a teacher,” crime analyst Gil Smith told reporters. “That’s not the case. They’re regular folks, just like anyone else.”

Authorities say Houston and another person broke into the home shortly before noon. The homeowner, whose identity has not been made public, was alerted to the break-in by an alarm company, while law enforcement was simultaneously called to the home. The homeowner, however, arrived before the police and confronted Houston and the second suspect inside his home.

During the confrontation, the homeowner opened fire, striking Houston, who then stumbled outside to his parked car in an apparent attempt to leave the scene. However, Houston died inside the car, which was still parked in the homeowner’s driveway when police arrived. Authorities say the license plate on the car had been removed before the suspects’ arrival.

Houston’s accomplice, who was described as a black male in his 20s, wearing a hoodie and dark clothing, fled from the scene and remains at large.

According to local reports, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, at this point, has deemed the shooting justifiable. It’s unclear if the suspects were armed during the break-in.

Within a two-mile radius of where Wednesday’s break-in occurred, there have been nearly two dozen break-ins in less than two weeks. Police did not say whether they believed Houston or his accomplice may be responsible for any of those break-ins but are investigating all possibilities.

Houston, whose grandmother said was a “good boy” and grew up in a nice home, apparently had a lengthy criminal record that included prior charges for burglary, aggravated battery, stalking, and domestic battery. But despite his criminal record, one friend, who did not wish to be identified, said Houston was trying to turn his life around. The friend questioned whether he had been influenced by others to do things he knew he shouldn’t do.

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KWWL - Eastern Iowa Breaking News, Weather, Closings

A day out for one family at an apple orchard in Nashua, Iowa, on Sunday afternoon left an 8-year-old boy hospitalized after catching a stray bullet.

Authorities believe the bullet, which hit the boy’s side and nicked his leg, came from one of the shooting ranges at the Nashua Fish and Game Club, which is located about a mile from the orchard. Darin Enderton, owner of Apples on the Avenue Orchard, said they have never experienced anything like this in the more than 40 years he’s been there.

“This is a very freak accident,” said Enderton. “We’re so sorry that this happened. We’re praying for the family right now.”

The boy was rushed to the hospital and listed in stable condition earlier this week, although his current status is not known. Meanwhile, the Nashua Fish and Game club remains closed until further notice as the investigation continues.

[ KWWL ]

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The LCRx now comes in three additional calibers to suit more shooters’ needs. (Photo: Ruger)

Ruger’s LCRx revolver series continues to grow, with the company introducing new models chambered in .327 Fed. Mag, .22 WMR and 9mm Luger.

The LCRx series already boasts a bevy of options, but the new models aim to bring even more to revolver fans. The new models tout the same high-strength stainless steel cylinder which is extensively fluted, reducing weight.

In addition, the cylinder features a PVD finish increasing durability. The LCRx series offers a patented friction reducing cam that provides a smooth, non-stacking trigger pull while the polymer fire control housing holds all fire control components. This design reduces weight as well as felt recoil.

The series provides grip pegs to allow for a variety of grip styles to be installed on the wheel guns and a the front sight is replaceable to accommodate shooters with specific sight preferences. The revolvers also feature an external hammer for single action use.

New models on the series include a 3-inch and 1.87-inch barrel .22 WMR priced at $579 in addition to 1.87-inch barreled 9mm and 327 Fed Mag variants carrying a price tag of $669.

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The Massachusetts Senate Chamber of the State House at swearing-in earlier this year. The body passed a prohibition on bump stocks and trigger cranks unanimously on Thursday. (Photo: Mass Sen. Mike Barrett)

The day after being sent a proposed ban on certain gun accessories by the Massachusetts House, lawmakers in the Senate gave the measure a quick thumbs up after some tweaks.

The Senate amendment passed 38-0 Thursday after being reported as a part of H3951. The move aims to prohibit bump stocks and trigger cranks while toning down more sweeping language in the House measure, which intended to ban any device able to increase the rate of fire on semi-automatic guns in the Commonwealth.

State and national gun rights groups urged their members to oppose the original House measure, arguing the proposal is potently vague, leaving open the possibility that it could ban everything from match grade triggers to muzzle brakes.

The modified Senate language adds definitions to state law of “Bump stock” and “Trigger Crank,” regulating each in turn. Further, where those found guilty of possession of such devices would face between three and 20 years in prison under the House proposal, the Senate measure would allow for penalties to run from 18 months to life in prison.

The move in the Senate was backed by Assistant Majority Leader Cynthia S. Creem, a Middlesex Democrat, who described the watered down prohibition with its wider range of sentencing options as “reasonable and balanced” on social media.

Lawmakers now must work out the differences between the two versions passed by the legislature before they can present the ban to Republican Gov. Charlie Baker who has voiced support for outlawing bump stocks.

Similar legislation is underway at the state level in Illinois, Maryland, Ohio, and Washington while at least three federal bills have been filed on Capitol Hill.

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Bump stocks gained notoriety after the Las Vegas shooting. (Photo: Slide Fire Solutions/Facebook)

As major retailers, elected officials and industry leaders continue their quick back step away from bump stocks, one financial analyst said this week the gun modifiers and their chief manufacturer, Slide Fire Solutions, have become the “sacrificial lamb” of the Las Vegas shooting.

“After any horrible event, people need something or someone to blame,” said Maksim Netrebov, founder of New Jersey-based Maks Financial Services and contributor at Seeking Alpha, in an analysis of gun stocks Monday. “It seems that sacrificial lamb has already been found and slaughtered with the blessing of the firearms community and the NRA, Slide Fire Solutions and their bump-fire stocks.”

Bump stocks, a legal gun modification that increases the rate of fire, soared from obscurity into national headlines last week after the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed 12 of the modifiers were found in the Las Vegas gunman’s two-room suite on the 32nd floor of Mandalay Bay and Casino.

Typically retailing for as little $99, major retailers, including Walmart and Cabela’s, pulled the devices from store shelves in the days after the shooting. SlideFire Solutions, a Texas-based bump stock manufacturer, temporarily halted new orders. Requests for comment from all three companies went unanswered last week, though Cabela’s released a statement to the Washington Examiner Oct. 6 confirming their decision to stop selling bump stocks.

Describing bump stocks as a “fad item”comparable to the Snuggie, Netrebov said buying one “would only gain you ridicule” from other gun owners, insisting the public fervor around a ban is misguided.

“Bottom line, the company is a low-hanging fruit, and regulating bump fire stocks under the same rules as suppressors and short barrel rifles will serve as a ‘reasonable gun control’ measure from the gun lobby,” Netrebov said. “Slide Fire will make as much money as it can into the end of this year selling these devices and then likely cash out before the lawsuits come.”

“For the rest of the gun industry, nothing has changed and nothing is likely to change,” he added.

Netrebov argued share prices for major gun makers, including American Outdoor Brands and Sturm, Ruger and Co., will stay low as the industry wraps its mind around a new normal — which, he says, is nothing like 2016, the biggest year ever for gun sales. He doubts the shooting in Vegas and the congressional appetite for a bump stock ban will do anything to change that.

“While the October sales may be spurred temporarily by the Las Vegas shooting, I don’t believe it is sustainable in the long term,” he said.  “We all know that the stock price is based off of revenue and sales projections. 2016 was the firearms industry’s equivalent of 2005 for housing, where analysts did not want to consider housing can go down and made their decisions based on continually increasing prices. Things are going to adjust to the new normal, and unfortunately it is not 2016, at least not until there is another gun control advocate in the White House.”

Estimated gun sales in September fell 13 percent short of 2016, according to federal data. The weak turnout follows a “difficult” summer for gun makers and retailers still standing in last year’s shadow. Since the November election, stocks for Smith & Wesson and Ruger fell 50 percent and 26 percent, respectively. Both companies blame weak demand, with Smith & Wesson’s CEO predicting as much as a 17 percent decline in annual profits through 2018. Ruger’s second quarter net sales dropped 22 percent and its quarterly earnings fell by almost half compared to 2016.

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