The firearm trade commerce affiliation is asking so-called “mainstream” media onto the carpet for hiding the variety of widespread semi-automatic rifles owned by lawful Americans to be able to assist bolster legislative proposals to ban such firearms.
In a information story revealed on its web site, the Nationwide Taking pictures Sports activities Federation (NSSF) targeted on the present proposed ban within the Virginia legislature, highlighting protection by WHSV 3 Information, which reported: “If handed, the proposal would prohibit the manufacture, sale, import, buy and switch of many semi-automatic rifles, pistols and shotguns that meet its newly expanded definition of ‘assault firearms.’ This definition relies on options resembling pistol grips, threaded barrels, adjustable shares and removable magazines.”
“Virginia’s not alone,” Larry Keane, NSSF senior vp and common counsel, wrote within the report. “Different anti-gun state legislatures are proposing bans on so-called ‘assault weapons’ too, however as media continues to cowl these payments, are they purposefully low-balling simply how extraordinarily fashionable, and generally owned, they’ve change into? Easy web searches appear to point out the reply is ‘sure.’”
As Keane defined, almost all media shops are counting on previous figures for reporting AR-style rifles, which NSSF calls trendy sporting rifles (MSRs). Of late, the Washington Examiner put the quantity at 24.4 million, the Washington Submit reported 20 million and NBC Information reported 24.4 million. Even Google AI places the quantity at 16 to 24.6 million.
Whereas these numbers would possibly sound fairly excessive—in spite of everything, 24 million is plenty of MSR homeowners—it’s a gross underestimate, in response to Keane. Keane wrote that the NSSF lately launched its “2025 Firearm Manufacturing in america” report, which incorporates firearm import and export information, as properly. The report contains the newest figures gathered from trade producers that’s up-to-date as of 2023 manufacturing.
The truth is, the report compiles essentially the most present and correct info out there based mostly on information sourced from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ (ATF’s) Annual Firearms Manufacturing and Export Studies (AFMER).
“All instructed, trade information reveals that 32,091.000 trendy sporting rifles (MSRs) are in circulation since 1990,” Keane wrote. “Whereas MSR manufacturing slowed down barely between 2022 and 2023, coming off scorching scorching gross sales throughout COVID and the early Biden administration, the estimated complete quantity of MSRs produced since 1990 elevated by 4.5 %, bringing the overall to 32 million from 30.7 million.”
Keane mentioned that for media shops to make use of previous numbers off by 33% or extra is disingenuous and both sloppy reporting or hiding the reality.
“Media shops overlaying firearm-related legislative proposals in Virginia, New Mexico and elsewhere want to incorporate essentially the most present figures to present readers a clearer understanding that these lawful rifles are generally owned and fashionable to be used for a wide range of lawful causes, together with leisure goal taking pictures, searching, varmint management and residential protection,” he mentioned.
In the end, Keane believes the 32 million quantity is large enough that if the media have been to report it precisely, it may change the result of a few of the gun-ban proposals.
“32 million is a giant, large quantity,” he concluded. “Journalists reporting on gun management proposals within the states or in Washington, D.C., ought to acknowledge simply how generally owned these firearms are and that precedent demonstrates complete lessons of generally owned firearms can’t be banned.
“Honestly reporting to readers and audiences simply how fashionable they’re is essential to make sure Second Modification rights should not infringed by gun management activists utilizing scare techniques and lies.”
