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August 8, 2024
Governors Celebrate National Shooting Sports Month
National Shooting Sports Month® is here and governors across the country are taking notice. Sixteen governors and lieutenant governors, from both sides of the aisle, signed proclamations celebrating National Shooting Sports Month, the contributions of the firearm industry, the economic boon that hunting and recreational shooting brings to their states and conservation achievements made possible by federal excise taxes paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers.
More are expected to follow the lead of these governors.
Among those governors celebrating National Shooting Sports Month are Arkansas’ Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Colorado’s Gov. Jared Polis, Florida’s Gov. Ron DeSantis, Georgia’s Gov. Brian Kemp, Idaho’s Gov. Brad Little, Kentucky’s Gov. Andy Beshear, Mississippi’s Gov. Tate Reeves, Missouri’s Gov. Michael Parson, North Carolina’s Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Nebraska’s Gov. Jim Pillen, Oklahoma’s Gov. Kevin Stitt, South Carolina’s Gov. Henry McMaster, Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox, Virginia’s Gov. Glenn Youngkin, West Virginia’s Gov. Jim Justice and Wyoming’s Gov. Mark Gordon. All signed proclamations promoting National Shooting Sports Month.
If some of those names sound familiar, it’s not by accident. Several of those same governors are regular attendees of NSSF’s SHOT Show®. Last year, Gov. Huckabee Sanders, Gov. Kemp, Gov. Little, Gov. Pillen and Gov. Gordon were among those participating in the Governors Forum. They spoke to industry leaders about the vital importance of firearm and ammunition manufacturing to their states, their concerns about gun control being driven by the Biden-Harris administration and their own efforts to attract new firearm-related business to their states.
Gov Huckabee Sanders proudly promoted the economic impact the firearm and ammunition industry brings to her state. After all, Arkansas is home to Remington Ammunition, SIG Sauer Ammunition, Fiocchi USA and handgun makers Wilson Combat and Nighthawk. The firearm industry there is contributing $2.25 billion to the Arkansas economy and supports 8,305 jobs.
Colorado’s Gov. Polis recognized the importance of the hunting and shooting sports heritage to his state, noting his proclamation that it brings $1.3 billion to Colorado’s economy and resulted in $32.3 million for funding in wildlife and habitat conservation and hunter education.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has been on the leading edge of protecting the firearm industry from “woke” financial discrimination and recognized the $1.25 billion in land conservation for nearly 260,000 acres and the importance of hunter education and the state’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) mission to manage 11 public shooting ranges across the state. He reminded his fellow Floridians that he signed legislation in 2023 to make Florida a Constitutional carry state.
Georgia’s Gov. Kemp recognized the powerhouse his state is when it comes to firearm and ammunition manufacturing. After all, it’s home to GLOCK, Remington Arms, Hecker & Koch, Daniel Defense, BPI Outdoors, Taurus Inc. and Norma Precision. These and dozens of other manufacturers contributed $2.9 billion to Georgia’s economy, supporting nearly 11,000 jobs. The state benefited from $19.2 million in wildlife conservation funding paid by these manufacturers.
Gov. Brad Little recognized the strong hunting and shooting sports traditions of Idahoans. He also noted the importance of the firearm industry to his state’s economy, contributing $2.45 billion. The governor also noted that between the excise taxes paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers and sportsmen and women purchasing licenses, tags and stamps, almost $23 million in wildlife conservation funding was generated last year.
Kentucky’s Gov. Beshear recognized that his state his home to millions of Kentuckians, young and old, who participate in hunting and the shooting sports. Firearm and ammunition businesses contributed $964 million to the state’s economy, supporting 5,000 jobs. Kentucky received over $16.8 million in wildlife conservation funding, paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers through federal excise taxes.
Gov. Tate Reeves celebrated the $1.3 billion economic contribution firearm and ammunition business make to Mississippi’s economy, supporting nearly 5,000 jobs. Firearm and ammunition manufacturers were largely responsible for the $6.5 million in wildlife conservation funding to the state.
Missouri’s Gov. Michael Parson celebrated the $1,83 billion economic contribution by firearm and ammunition businesses to Missouri in his proclamation. That supports 9,039 jobs in the state. Gov. Parson also noted that firearm and ammunition manufactures were largely responsible for the $21.6 million in conservation funding the state received, paid by firearm and ammunition makers through federal excise taxes.
North Carolina’s Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson is an outspoken Second Amendment supporter and recognized the importance of the firearm and ammunition industry to The Tarheel State. After all, it’s home to manufacturing for some of Sturm, Ruger and Co. Lt. Gov. Robinson noted that National Shooting Sports Month is an opportunity to celebrate responsible firearm ownership and “promote a culture of safety and responsibility.” He also recognized the $27.6 million in wildlife conservation funding the state received, paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers.
Gov. Jim Pillen is no stranger to the importance of the firearm and ammunition industry. He’s spoke of it at the SHOT Show Governors Forum and is proud that Hornady Ammunition calls Grand Island its home. In his proclamation, Gov. Pillen wrote that the firearm and ammunition industry contributed over $1 billion to the state’s economy and is responsible for almost $19 million for funding wildlife and habitat conservation and hunter education.
Oklahoma’s Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a proclamation that recognized that the firearm and ammunition industry contributed $609.9 million to the state’s economy and supported 2,980 jobs. Additionally firearm and ammunition manufacturers saw $9.4 million delivered to the state for wildlife and habitat conservation, all raised through federal excise taxes paid by those manufacturers.
South Carolina’s Henry McMaster signed Constitutional carry in his state this year and celebrated National Shooting Sports Month, recognizing in his proclamation that the industry contributed $1.2 billion to state’s economy, supporting nearly 5,800 jobs. At the same time, the state received $14.8 million in funding for wildlife conservation efforts, paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers.
Gov. Spencer Cox recognized that hunting and the shooting sports are part of the history, tradition and culture of Utah, in his proclamation. He noted that over $22.7 million in wildlife and habitat conservation for the state comes from excise taxes paid by firearm and ammunition makers.
Virginia’s Gov. Glenn Younkin celebrated National Shooting Sports Month in the commonwealth and encouraged his fellow Virginians to “enjoy time at the range to experience the excitement, education and tradition of the shooting sports.” Virginia benefited from $20 million in wildlife conservation funds generated by excise taxes paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers.
West Virginia’s Gov. Jim Justice noted in his proclamation that the firearm and ammunition industry contributed $262 million to the state’s economy and supported 1,500 jobs. West Virginia also received $5 million in wildlife and habitat conservation funding paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers through federal excise taxes.
Finally, Gov. Mark Gordon celebrated National Shooting Sports Month by noting that firearm and ammunition makers contributed over $409 million to the state’s economy and generated $21 million for wildlife conservation through federal excise taxes and licenses, tags and stamps purchased by hunters. Gov. Gordon is a regular at NSSF’s SHOT Show Governors Forum and hosts the Governors Match annually to invite shooting sports competition.
NSSF is grateful for these governors recognizing the integral role the firearm and ammunition industry fulfills in their states, adding jobs, contributing to the economy and funding wildlife conservation. The partnership between these governors and NSSF to celebrate National Shooting Sports Month means more Americans can find more opportunity to participate in responsible firearm ownership and pass along the importance of firearm safety and the hunting and shooting sports heritage to others.
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