Firearms Manufacturers NAICS 332994

Jul 7, 2026 - Court Leaves Gun Liability Law Intact

• The Supreme Court's decision to let New York's firearms liability law remain in effect could increase legal and regulatory risks for the US firearms manufacturing industry, according to an NBC report. By declining to hear the challenge, the Court left intact a 2021 law allowing firearm manufacturers to be sued under state law when their business practices are alleged to contribute to gun violence, despite the liability protections generally provided by the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Although the ruling applies only to New York and does not invalidate the federal liability shield, it could encourage other states to pursue similar laws and prompt additional litigation against manufacturers. As a result, gun makers may face higher legal costs, increased compliance and risk-management efforts, and greater uncertainty surrounding product marketing and distribution. The case could also shape future legal challenges testing the limits of federal liability protections for the firearms industry.
• The fabricated metal products industry remained in expansion in June 2026, outperforming many manufacturing segments as overall manufacturing activity continued to grow. According to ISM, the Manufacturing PMI registered 53.3, marking a sixth consecutive month of expansion. Fabricated metal products was among the 14 industries reporting overall growth and also reported increases in new orders, production, inventories, backlogs, new export orders, and imports, indicating broad-based demand and a healthy pipeline of work. However, the industry also experienced a decline in employment, suggesting manufacturers remained cautious about hiring. Fabricated metal producers also reported higher raw material prices, particularly for steel and aluminum, reflecting ongoing tariff impacts and geopolitical pressures. Despite persistent cost inflation and labor challenges, the combination of expanding orders and production points to solid operating conditions for the industry.

• ATF’s sweeping 2026 reform package could significantly lower compliance costs and operational friction for US firearms manufacturers and Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) operations, according to a recent JD Supra report. Key proposals expand electronic recordkeeping, modernize Form 4473, reduce record-retention burdens, simplify interstate transport of NFA firearms, ease certain machine-gun transfers between licensees, and broaden operations in Foreign Trade Zones and bonded warehouses. The package also repeals the stabilizing-brace rule and narrows parts of the “engaged in the business” dealer regulations, reducing regulatory uncertainty. Import-related changes may improve access to dual-use components and streamline permanent imports. Overall, the reforms aim to align ATF rules with current technology and business practices while maintaining statutory safeguards, potentially improving efficiency, reducing administrative overhead, and supporting manufacturing, distribution, and trade activity across the US firearms industry.
• The US firearms manufacturing industry experienced a production slowdown in 2023 but continues to show strong long-term demand, according to the most recent data released by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). Domestic firearm production totaled 8,466,729 units in 2023, a 15.4% decrease from 2022, reflecting easing demand after the elevated sales period beginning in 2020. Despite the decline, the US market remained sizable, with 13,574,653 firearms available, including 8,176,535 handguns, 3,899,907 rifles, and 1,498,211 shotguns. Long-term ownership trends remain robust, with an estimated 506.1 million firearms in civilian possession from 1990–2023. Modern Sporting Rifles (MSRs) remain a key segment, with 32.1 million in circulation, though MSR production fell 46.2% from 2022 to 2023. Overall, the data suggests manufacturers are adjusting production following peak demand, while underlying consumer interest in firearms and shooting sports remains strong.