A wise man (who is currently Then Husband) told Life in the Boomer Lane many years ago that history is determined by economics. Shortly thereafter, on a slow day, LBL reviewed the events of the last 50,000 years, and she couldn’t argue with him. The point is that ultimately, someone benefits economically by making decisions that result in war, plague, pestilence, famine, religious zealotry, drug and alcohol dependence, human slavery, environmental mayhem, and our current Congress.
Whether you believe guns are the spawn of the devil or whether you believe they are some kind of God given right and that each person should have a gun issued with his birth certificate, the fact is that the gun industry itself is big business. In fact, it’s a much bigger business than most people realize, resulting in $32 billion dollars of revenue every year (which interesting enough, is about the same amount made by world commercial and sexual exploitation.) And it’s continuing to grow at a very healthy rate. The National Shooting Sports Foundation is proud that “the firearms industry has stood apart from other industries by thriving in a down economy.”
Michelle Cox is a researcher for onlinemba.com that provides education and industry insights to current and prospective MBA students. Included in their collection of resources, is a series of insightful, business-focused videos that have been featured by respected news outlets like The Huffington Post, Forbes, and Business Week. Michelle has asked me to watch and review one of their videos, “How Much is the Gun Industry Worth?”
Don’t worry about the video taking up too much time out of your busy and important life. It’s only about one minute long. After you watch the video, you might need to pour yourself a stiff drink, thereby contributing to a $65 billion dollar a year industry.
Cheers.
Life in the Boomer Lane 
Hippie Cahier
September 15, 2013
I think the important question here is: does McDonald’s have a growth strategy in the Yemeni market?
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
Funny. But you know, I’m sure they actually do.
Elyse
September 15, 2013
Make it a double. My drink, that is; not my shotgun.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
Agreed.
Betty Londergan
September 15, 2013
Holy crap … and we wonder why we can’t get a sensible gun-regulating bill passed in this country. You live by the bullet, you die by the bullet…. I just hope they all shoot each other.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
Have you ever seen regulation on anything that people are making money on?
theattitudequeen
September 16, 2013
The trouble with people shooting each other is that innocent people either get shot as well, or instead of, those doing the shooting.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
With guns, everyone loses, except the manufacterers.
Snoring Dog Studio
September 16, 2013
“…and continuing to grow at a healthy rate…” That is awfully disturbing.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
It sure is,
Laurie irkin
September 16, 2013
None of this surprises me. I am scared of what’s become of the word and I’m looking into getting a stun gun. Very revealing video.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
Everywhere you turn is bad news, right?
Betty Londergan
September 16, 2013
Reblogged this on What Gives and commented:
In light of today’s shooting at the Navy Yard, I want to share this post from the ever-insightful (and hilarious) author of “Life in the Boomer Lane.” She wrote it yesterday.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
I’m honored, Betty. That was so creepy, that I wrote this the day before the shootings at the Navy Yard. We have a good friend who works in that building but didn’t go to work yesterday.
Kathryn McCullough
September 16, 2013
God, this is disturbing, Renee! Hope you’re doing well, my friend.
Hugs from Ecuador,
Kathy
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
Well, happy in my personal life, outraged in what I see going on here and in the world. Are you shaking things up in Ecuador?
rosabangura
September 17, 2013
Find this really interesting , especially being from England where gun ownership is illegal …. I guess a lot of things come down to a showdown between economic growth and moral obligation
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
We are definitely on the losing end of moral obligation.
Valentine Logar
September 17, 2013
There has never been any doubt in my mind the $$$$ drives the Bullet. It is similar to the reason when you apply for health insurance they don’t say no if you smoke but they do if you are epileptic. One they already got their money for and there remains a gentlemens agreement with, the other yeah that is a pre-existing condition.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
Yes, yes, and yes, although I do have a friend who was turning down by insurance because he smoked. But $$$ driving the bullet says it all.
Taswegian1957
September 17, 2013
Reblogged this on My Other Blog and commented:
This has a very interesting short video attached. I will be honest and say that I hate the gun culture that exists in the USA. I don’t think that there is any need for ordinary citizens to have military style guns. I can feel a big rant about guns coming on. Stay tuned.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 20, 2013
I wish everybody would rant about this.
Marcia
September 17, 2013
Have you ever heard of the book The Arms of Krupp? http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/521648.The_Arms_of_Krupp Oh my! Sometimes I think our country is headed into this same scenario. Scary!
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 20, 2013
This will scare me, I think.
Anonymous
September 17, 2013
If I understand your logic, you are opposed to the the fact that gun manufacturers are making a huge profit? Even though it is a human who has to pull the trigger for that gun to kill – whether the gun is aimed to kill an animal for food, a person about to cause us harm, or an innocent passerby. Would it then be fair to say you’d be opposed to any company making huge amounts of money if it manufactures something that kills? Like cigarette companies. Or swimming pool companies (that kill more children per year than almost any other form of death).
The USA is a capitalist society which means making a profit, even huge ones, is a good thing. Good for the overall economy. Good for the employees who make a more than decent wage. Good for the towns in which the products are manufactured.
Connecticut recently saw the loss of two gun manufacturing companies – they took their business from an unfriendly gun state to where they would be welcome to making the product, and a lot of money.
So while it may be au courant to dislike gun profits, I think it remarkable, in a good sense, that huge profits are still allowed, given the distaste our president has for profit of any kind.
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 17, 2013
I’m not sure you do understand my logic. As you point out, we live in a capitalist society. I am part of that society, and, as such, I am not opposed to any company making a profit. That is how our economy remains healthy. My point is not that companies shouldn’t make profits. Rather, it is that it is impossible to solve problems inherent in certain areas of society (and there are many problems in our current relationship with guns) when huge profits are at stake.
Main Street Musings Blog
September 19, 2013
I did read this morning that Starbucks is allowing doubleshots but only of cappuccino — not shotguns . . .
Life in the Boomer Lane
September 20, 2013
Are there Starbucks in places in the country that are hotbeds of gun ownership? There must be, right?
benzeknees
September 21, 2013
So this is why no one with half a brain can decide guns & people don’t mix! Someone out there is making a heck of a lot of money off people’s idiocy. Sorry – my soapbox is wobbling a bit (or is there some gun enthusiast trying to knock me off?)