Handgun Production Lowest in 22 Years

Latest Edition of Firearms Production in America Shows Handgun Production in 2000 was Lowest Since 1978

Washington, DC�The Violence Policy Center (VPC) today released the latest edition of Firearms Production in America which details gun production in the United States from 1975 to 2000. The report reveals that in 2000 (the most recent year for which data is available) 1,282,000 handguns were produced in the United States, the fewest since 1978.

The bi-annual 213-page publication lists every domestic manufacturer that produced more than 1,000 firearms in any given year by federal licensee name or most commonly known trade or product name. For handguns, manufacturing information is broken out by type (pistol or revolver) and caliber. For long guns, manufacturing information is broken out by rifle or shotgun. Information contained in the study was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Firearms Production in America is an indispensable tool for anyone seeking information on gun industry production and distribution. It is an essential reference for: the news media; elected officials; public health professionals; firearm researchers; attorneys, victims, and municipalities involved in firearms litigation; and the growing number of public interest organizations and individuals who have become involved in the effort to reduce firearms violence in America.

The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.