Fear and Loading: Top 10 FFL and NFA States

by
posted on September 11, 2019
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gun-manufacturers-1.jpg

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE) recently released its “Firearms Commerce in the United States, Annual Statistical Update 2019.” The abbreviated report doesn’t include total information or manufacturer-specific numbers for 2018, but it does provide somewhat timely information on Federal Firearms Licenses (FFLs) and National Firearms Act (NFA) tax stamp numbers. FFLs nationwide declined from 136,081 (2017) to 134,191 (2018). The total number of NFA items registered, as of May 2019, was 6,058,390.

Here’s a look at the states with the top-10 numbers of FFLs and NFA-registered items from the report.

Top 10 States in FFL numbers (2018)
4,032—Michigan
4,109—Massachusetts
4,588—Missouri
4,589—North Carolina
4,646—Ohio
5,326—Illinois
6,250—Pennsylvania
7,170—Florida
7,925—California
10,733—Texas

Top 10 States with NFA-Registered Items (May 2019)
175,819—Ohio
175,819—New York
181,209—North Carolina
204,817—Arizona
225,993—Georgia
271,427—Pennsylvania
356,963—Virginia
376,666—California
432,581—Florida
725,368—Texas

On a more serious note, the BATFE figures indicate the volume of firearms manufactured in the United States during 2017 dropped by more than three million when compared to 2016. The numbers were 8,327,792 versus 11,497,441. Pistols made in 2017 totaled 3,691,010; rifles came in at 2,504,092; shotguns 653,139 and revolvers 720,917.

 

 

 

Latest

Bergara B14 Stoke Rifle
Bergara B14 Stoke Rifle

Review: Bergara B14 Stoke Rifle

Fit, comfort and precision for those that seek top-shelf performance—but need a step-stool to get there…

NFA Sales Up 121 Percent In January

Following the implementation of $0 tax stamps as of January 1, NFA sales skyrocketed in January, leading many to dub 2026 as the "Year of the Suppressor."

Rifleman Review: Smith & Wesson CSX E-Series

Smith & Wesson's pocket 9 mm gets some upgrades.

The Hush-Points: Hi-Point Introduces Centerfire Pistol & Rimfire Suppressors

Long-known for making affordable guns, Hi-Point Firearms has branched out this year to make affordable suppressors.

Review: Assembling an AR-15 Lower Receiver

Building a high-quality AR-15 starts with selecting appropriate components.

Suppressors Deregulated in South Dakota

In a move anticipating a further reduction of restrictions, South Dakota has removed the law requiring the Federal stamp.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.