Historically, the number of federal firearms license holders has roughly corresponded to general political and social trends within the US When there’s a high demand for firearms, the number of FFLs goes up. At certain points in time, politicians have sought to reduce the number of FFLs for this very reason. But if Americans are anything, they’re resourceful. Despite regulatory roadblocks thrown up and the bureaucrat machinations of the ATF, people will demand more firearms, especially when they believe certain models or classes of guns are in danger of being banned . . .

In a comprehensive report, Brandon Maddox of FFL123.com has taken a look at these trends, examining the history of the laws impacting FFL dealers and how changes in the social and political landscapes in the US have impacted the number of FFL holders across the country – both positively or negatively – from 1968 to the present.

Case it point: the precipitous drop in the number of FFLs starting in the early 1990s when the Clinton administration cracked down on dormant licenses and raised application fees. Maybe most interesting is the spike in the numbers of manufacturers that have increased 250% over the past decade.

To read the full report click here.