Report: NH dependent on firearms industry, but gun ownership low

March 30, 2017

According to a recent report, of all states New Hampshire is the most dependent on the firearms industry.

The report, from WalletHub, ranked states on the impact of the firearms industry, gun prevalence, and political donations related to gun laws.

New Hampshire had the second highest number of firearms industry jobs per capita (after Idaho) and tied first for the highest total firearms output per capita (with Idaho). These factors contributed to New Hampshire’s ranking as the state most dependent on the firearms industry. Hawaii was least dependent on the firearms industry. All of the other states in New England ranked in the bottom half of states for firearm industries.

New Hampshire only scored sixth overall in gun prevalence, which considered gun ownership, gun sales, and gun ads per capita. New Hampshire’s rank in that category was pulled down by low gun ownership; New Hampshire ranked 47th for its gun ownership rate. A high number of gun sales, no doubt related to New Hampshire’s gun manufacturing industry, balanced New Hampshire’s gun ownership rate. Alaska took the top spot in overall gun prevalence, while New Jersey came in last. Besides Vermont and New Hampshire, every state in New England ranked in the bottom half for overall gun prevalence.

These results suggest that while the firearms industry has a large impact on New Hampshire’s economy, Granite Staters are not particularly invested in the gun rights/gun control debate and most Granite Staters are not gun enthusiasts.

How much do you think firearms impact New Hampshire’s economy and politics? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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Comments

Jeffrey

March 31, 2017

A fascinating study ("REPORT: NH DEPENDENT ON FIREARMS INDUSTRY, BUT GUN OWNERSHIP LOW"). I urge people to read the linked report. New Hampshire's strong community institutions -- schools, health care, law enforcement, etc. -- contribute to its generally low level of gun violence compared with other states. Still, in 2015, 121 people died from firearms in NH per the CDC; 107 of those were suicides and 12 homicides (the remaining 2 were unknown). Nationally, about a fourth of firearm suicides are veterans, and the Granite State probably has a similar proportion. New Hampshire's pioneering "Gun Shop Project" to reduce suicides has been duplicated in other states.

There were many more nonfatal injuries and shots-fired incidents, often associated with domestic violence. Every life is precious, and the impact on victims and families of those deaths are preventable tragedies. Here's a state-searchable website of update gunfire incidents: http://www.gunviolencearchive.org (go to "Search Database" and select New Hampshire).

March 31, 2017

Perhaps the documentation makes it seem like we are not that preoccupied with gun ownership but try to put through legislation to take that right away & see what happens.

Arthur

April 1, 2017

Gun safety is important however, what type of guns people are allowed to own and who can own them is more important.

Dana S.

April 4, 2017

To conclude: "Granite Staters are not particularly invested in the gun rights/gun control debate and most Granite Staters are not gun enthusiasts" couldn't be further from the truth and is not supported by what is actually happening in NH.

Here are just a few examples which demonstrate that a high percentage of Granite Staters are very engaged in the gun rights/gun control debate and, in fact, are very much gun enthusiasts:

1) Recent passage of Senate Bill 12, Constitutional Carry law. This bill passed both the Senate and House several times in recent years and finally, with the support of Governor Sununu, was signed into law this year on Feb. 22nd. The passage of this law required a huge grassroots effort of many Granite Staters who support the 2nd Amendment and are very much gun enthusiasts.

) The rise in support for Gun Rights and the shooting sports from a diverse NH population including women.
An example would be the Women's Defense League of NH (http://wdlnh.org/about-us/).

3) The ever increasing demand for firearms use and safety training accross the state from sources such as the Sig Sauer Training Academy in Epping and NRA certified trainers located statewide.

It's clear that NH is very much a pro-Gun, pro-2nd Amendment state that supports the gun industry and the shooting sports in general.

Report: NH dependent on firearms industry, but gun ownership low

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