Newly released data concerning firearm import numbersNote this information was up to 2011-2012 a standard inclusion within the customs annual PUBLIC report.... but has since then been omitted, they refuse to say why but I suspect the exponential growth (ok not quite exponential!) in firearm import numbers is no longer as palatable to certain 'groups' and individuals.... but here it is after much deliberation some data was eventually released, so thanks to the corporatised public service for apparently forgetting that this info should be on the public record and the requiring of the almost pulling of finger nails to access....
The numbersImports troughed at 98-99 after a spike of imports for the steal back (I suspect there was significant imports for the buyback, lots of money was made back then by a few..) with 5,540 rifles and 2,372 shotguns imported.
These numbers steadily climbed to set record import numbers for the 13-14 year at 61,698 rifles! And 23,334 shotguns (neglecting the 96-97 import to buyback flurry of 37,601 shotties).
Then the next year 2014-15, another rifle record of 78,465!!!
Shotgun number up to July last year dropped dramatically to 14,055. With the last 7years of shotgun numbers looking like this 9815,13371,12055,18739,19432, 23334,14055
Why the sudden drop in Shotgun imports? Could it have been the 'Adler effect', where you guys passed up the purchase of that new shotty in anticipation of the 7 shot “almost semiauto game changer”??? Did the Adler severely dent shotgun sales?
The great news is that the ever increasing import numbers reveal the sad reality to some; sport shooting and hunting is ever increasing in popularity!
AND
We have, since the buyback, well and truly replaced the 'handed back' firearms, so many old single shot 22s and beat up hammer guns – with (counted up to eight months ago)
1,206,490 new firearms!
(includes all firearms, all longarms, handguns, air guns, private, commercial, govt and of recent paintball markers).
Is it a coincidence that the increase in anti-gun and anti-shooting, anti-hunting rhetoric,the barrage we've suffered over the last 2 or 3 plus years accompanies this increase in firearm sales?
Are the GCA threesome driving gun sales??
and increased participation
their own worst enemy? maybe Our number 1 gun importer is secretly financing these hoplotards!
In summary; Remember, when you buy your next firearm, take a hit for the nation and buy an extra....and sign up your friends and family for a licence.
I'll get some graphs going, I know most of you guys are visual types...no pie charts though, they just make me hungry.