Top gun maker: We’ve seen ‘increased sales’ since Florida shooting

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American Outdoor Brands Cooperative, the company behind Smith & Wesson guns, says its seen higher foot traffic and increased sales following last month’s Florida school shooting.

The company’s CEO, James Debney, told investors on a conference call Thursday that he has received reports of “increased foot traffic … leading to some increased sales” since the attack, according to Reuters.

Company officials also addressed the shooting during the call, saying they “share the nation’s grief” but also remain supportive of gun ownership rights.

{mosads}During the call, Debney addressed the company’s gun sales since President Trump took office. The company said demand has fallen to “new, lower levels” over the past year. According to Bloomberg, Debney noted that consumers were no longer purchasing guns out of fear like in recent years, and said the company would have to adjust to meet the changing demand.

“We will operate our business under the assumption that the next 12 to 18 months could deliver flattish revenues,”  Debney said.

American Outdoor stocks fell by 10 percent in after-hours trading following the conference call.

The news comes amid heightened calls for gun control in response to the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., last month that left 17 people dead and more than a dozen others injured.

Students who survived the shooting have demanded lawmakers take new action on gun control, and companies with ties to the National Rifle Association are facing intense scrutiny.

The gun sales industry has also seen changes in the past week as multiple major retailers have raised the minimum age for gun purchases in their stores.

The nation’s largest retailer, Walmart, will now bar anyone under the age of 21 from purchasing guns or ammunition, and Dick’s Sporting Goods announced it would no longer sell assault-style weapons.

Tags Donald Trump Florida shooting Gun control Guns Smith & Wesson

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