Yesterday the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), the firearms industry’s trade group, went to Capitol Hill and released a study detailing the positive impact the firearms and ammunition industry has on the U.S. economy — and its environment.

NSSF President Steve Sanetti said, “During difficult economic times and high unemployment rates nationally, our industry actually grew and created 16,800 new, well-paying jobs. Our industry is proud to be one of the bright spots in this economy.”

According to the NSSF’s numbers, in 2008 the gun industry employed 166,200 people; in 2009, it was up to 183,424 employees. The gun industry’s economic impact in 2008 was $19,199,634,700, whereas in 2009 it was $27,846,304,300. This resulted in the gun industry collectively paying $2,035,154,440 in federal taxes in 2009. Because of excise taxes that go to conservation, in 2009 the gun industry raised $450,177,780 for fish and wildlife-associated conservation, including endangered-species protection. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will redistribute this revenue to the states for conservation and education programs, as it does every year.

So every time you hear a gun go bang, think of it as a cash register ringing for conservation. (By the way, the green movement once again won’t add a nickel to these conservation programs.)

– Frank Miniter is the author of The Ultimate Man’s Survival Guide and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Hunting.