(GunReports.com) — Nearly 60,000 industry professionals will attend the highly anticipated 35th anniversary of the Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) at the Las Vegas Sands Expo and Convention Center January 15-18.
The $4.1 billion industry is coming off a strong year and is cautiously optimistic about the year ahead. More background checks, which are an indicator of firearm sales, were conducted in 2012 than ever before, and statistics show that more people are hunting and target shooting. Another driver of sales is the purchase of firearms for personal and home protection. Even as Americans purchase more firearms, the industry points out that violent crime continues to decline, demonstrating that more guns do not lead to more crime, as anti-gun groups often claim. Also, the industry’s success during the economic downturn helped maintain jobs from the manufacturer through retail levels. SHOT Show, the industry’s premiere trade show, will take place during a time of heightened national attention about firearms ownership and potential legislation. “Ours is a responsible industry that manufactures and sells lawful products to law-abiding citizens, who in turn exercise their Constitutional right to own, use and enjoy firearms safely and responsibly for lawful purposes,” said NSSF President and CEO Steve Sanetti. “A prerequisite to any dialog involving our industry and its products is an honest recognition of the legitimacy of what we do and the important part of the national culture which we represent,” said Sanetti. “Hunting and the recreational shooting sports are here to stay. And so are we.” The 35th annual SHOT Show will take place for the fourth year in a row at the Sands Expo and Convention Center. On the exhibit floor, which covers 630,000 net square feet and has 12.5 miles of aisles, manufacturers and distributors display a wide range of products, including firearms, ammunition, gun safes, locks and cases, optics, shooting range equipment, targets, training and safety equipment, hunting accessories, law enforcement equipment, hearing and eye protection, tree stands, scents and lures, cutlery, GPS systems, holsters, apparel, leather goods, game calls and decoys. “Firearms ownership is popular and mainstream,” said Sanetti. “Industry is developing new products for women and competition shooters, hunters, people who are interested in concealed carry, and law enforcement, all as a result of consumer demand.”
