South Carolina Is One Of The States Most Dependent On Gun Industry
While gun sales are lower in 2022 they are still well higher than in pre-pandemic times. And while guns are a hotly debated topic with strong feelings on both sides…
POMPANO BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 23: A customer compares handguns before buying one as a Christmas present at the National Armory gun store on December 23, 2015 in Pompano Beach, Florida. F.B.I. stats indicate that gun sales have increased dramatically this year, as reports indicate that firearms are a popular choice for a holiday present.
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)While gun sales are lower in 2022 they are still well higher than in pre-pandemic times. And while guns are a hotly debated topic with strong feelings on both sides of the issue, guns are an important part of some states' economies. A continued decline in sales could strain certain states. And South Carolina is one state that relies on the gun industry.
Gun control is always a high-profile political issue, but maybe, even more, this year. So far there are well over 200 mass shootings that have taken place in the US. The world watched in horror as a gunman entered a Texas elementary school. After such issues, calls are being made for stricter gun control. I won't pretend to know what will fix this issue we clearly have in this country. I do believe it's more complex than just passing laws and that the issue runs deeper in society. But enough about politics- you don't care about my political opinion nor should you.
The recent events and calls for reform led WalletHub to determine the states most reliant on the firearm industry. WalletHub compared the economic impact of guns on each of the 50 states across three key dimensions: 1) Firearms Industry, 2) Gun Prevalence, and 3) Gun Politics.
Read the full study here or keep reading to see where North and South Carolina rank as far as being dependent on the gun industry.
1. Idaho
Total Score: 85.11
Firearms Industry: 1
Gun Prevalence: 8
Gun Politics: 5
2. Wyoming
Total Score: 81.09
Firearms Industry: 4
Gun Prevalence: 9
Gun Politics: 1
3. Kentucky
Total Score: 75.67
Firearms Industry: 20
Gun Prevalence: 1
Gun Politics: 6
4. South Dakota
Total Score: 75.19
Firearms Industry: 6
Gun Prevalence: 12
Gun Politics: 1
5. Montana
Total Score: 74.27
Firearms Industry: 5
Gun Prevalence: 2
Gun Politics: 21
6. Arkansas
Total Score: 72.61
Firearms Industry: 3
Gun Prevalence: 19
Gun Politics: 11
7. Alaska
Total Score: 65.62
Firearms Industry: 14
Gun Prevalence: 24
Gun Politics: 8
8. North Dakota
Total Score: 64.57
Firearms Industry: 19
Gun Prevalence: 25
Gun Politics: 1
9. Missouri
Total Score: 64.36
Firearms Industry: 15
Gun Prevalence: 11
Gun Politics: 12
10. Oklahoma
Total Score: 64.10
Firearms Industry: 30
Gun Prevalence: 7
Gun Politics: 9
11. Tennessee
Total Score: 63.52
Firearms Industry: 22
Gun Prevalence: 3
Gun Politics: 18
12. Alabama
Total Score: 62.4
Firearms Industry: 27
Gun Prevalence: 5
Gun Politics: 14
13. South Carolina
Total Score: 61.71
Firearms Industry: 18
Gun Prevalence: 15
Gun Politics: 10
14. Utah
Total Score: 60.47
Firearms Industry: 7
Gun Prevalence: 31
Gun Politics: 17
15. Nebraska
Total Score: 59.53
Firearms Industry: 16
Gun Prevalence: 41
Gun Politics: 1
16. West Virginia
Total Score: 59.52
Firearms Industry: 31
Gun Prevalence: 14
Gun Politics: 13
17. Indiana
Total Score: 59.39
Firearms Industry: 31
Gun Prevalence: 14
Gun Politics: 13
18. Louisiana
Total Score: 58.89
Firearms Industry: 33
Gun Prevalence: 33
Gun Politics: 7
19. Mississippi
Total Score: 58.25
Firearms Industry: 12
Gun Prevalence: 21
Gun Politics: 16
20. Kansas
Total Score: 56.04
Firearms Industry: 13
Gun Prevalence: 17
Gun Politics: 25
21. New Hampshire
Total Score: 54.57
Firearms Industry: 2
Gun Prevalence: 6
Gun Politics: 49
22. Minnesota
Total Score: 52.39
Firearms Industry: 10
Gun Prevalence: 13
Gun Politics: 34
23. Maine
Total Score: 52.33
Firearms Industry: 8
Gun Prevalence: 26
Gun Politics: 33
24. Wisconsin
Total Score: 52.24
Firearms Industry: 38
Gun Prevalence: 16
Gun Politics: 23
25. Oregon
Total Score: 52.22
Firearms Industry: 11
Gun Prevalence: 18
Gun Politics: 28
26. North Carolina
(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)Total Score: 52.16
Firearms Industry: 21
Gun Prevalence: 32
Gun Politics: 22
27. Ohio
Total Score: 52.10
Firearms Industry: 26
Gun Prevalence: 22
Gun Politics: 24
28. Iowa
Total Score: 50.17
Firearms Industry: 28
Gun Prevalence: 38
Gun Politics: 15
29. Texas
Total Score: 50.15
Firearms Industry: 17
Gun Prevalence: 40
Gun Politics: 19
30. Pennsylvania
Total Score: 47.07
Firearms Industry: 25
Gun Prevalence: 30
Gun Politics: 27
31. Vermont
CapitolTotal Score: 46.69
Firearms Industry: 36
Gun Prevalence: 10
Gun Politics: 31
32. Arizona
Total Score: 41.67
Firearms Industry: 9
Gun Prevalence: 28
Gun Politics: 48
33. Washington
Total Score: 40.13
Firearms Industry: 39
Gun Prevalence: 36
Gun Politics: 29
34. Michigan
Total Score: 40.07
Firearms Industry: 34
Gun Prevalence: 39
Gun Politics: 35
35. Florida
Total Score: 38.22
Firearms Industry: 41
Gun Prevalence: 42
Gun Politics: 26
36. Colorado
Total Score: 37.47
Firearms Industry: 24
Gun Prevalence: 27
Gun Politics: 44
37. Nevada
Total Score: 34.92
Firearms Industry: 24
Gun Prevalence: 27
Gun Politics: 44
38. New Mexico
Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesTotal Score: 34.64
Firearms Industry: 42
Gun Prevalence: 20
Gun Politics: 41
39. Illinois
Vince Bucci/Getty ImagesTotal Score: 34.17
Firearms Industry: 46
Gun Prevalence: 23
Gun Politics: 37
40. Delaware
Total Score: 31.93
Firearms Industry: 43
Gun Prevalence: 29
Gun Politics: 40
41. Virginia
Total Score: 31.29
Firearms Industry: 37
Gun Prevalence: 35
Gun Politics: 46
42. Georgia
Total Score: 30.88
Firearms Industry: 35
Gun Prevalence: 37
Gun Politics: 47
43. Connecticut
Total Score: 29.94
Firearms Industry: 29
Gun Prevalence: 43
Gun Politics: 43
44. Massachusetts
Total Score: 27.69
Firearms Industry: 40
Gun Prevalence: 47
Gun Politics: 39
45. Maryland
Total Score: 25.48
Firearms Industry: 44
Gun Prevalence: 45
Gun Politics: 32
46. California
Total Score: 23.78
Firearms Industry: 49
Gun Prevalence: 44
Gun Politics: 38
47. New York
Total Score: 22.16
Firearms Industry: 47
Gun Prevalence: 48
Gun Politics: 36
48. Hawaii
Total Score: 16.23
Firearms Industry: 50
Gun Prevalence: 50
Gun Politics: 30
49. New Jersey
Total Score: 14.86
Firearms Industry: 48
Gun Prevalence: 49
Gun Politics: 42
50. Rhode Island
Total Score: 11.57
Firearms Industry: 45
Gun Prevalence: 46
Gun Politics: 49
