Guns & Ammo
{{Short description|Magazine}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Use American English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox magazine
| title =
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| editor = Eric R. Poole (2013–present)
| previous_editor = Jim Bequette (2009–2013), Richard Venola, Scott Rupp, Lee Hoots, Garry James, Kevin Steele (1994–1997), E. G. "Red" Bell (1985–1994), Howard French (1974–1985), George Martin (1967–1974), Mike Kessee (1965–1967), Buzz Fawcett (1964–1965), Tom Siatos (1959–1964), Ken Bayless (1958–1959)
| editor_title2 = Contributors
| editor2 = Mike Anschuetz, Tom Beckstrand, Craig Boddington, Dave Emary, Mark Fingar, Brad Fitzpatrick, Robert W. Hunnicutt, Garry James, Joseph Kurtenbach, Kyle Lamb, Lukas Lamb, Richard Nance, Alfredo Rico, Phil Schreier, Jeremy Stafford, Keith Wood
| frequency = Monthly
| circulation = 420,000 (print)
| category = Firearms, Outdoors, Sports
| company = Kroenke Sports & Entertainment
| publisher = Chris Agnes
| firstdate = {{start date and age|1958}}
| country = United States
| based = Peoria, Illinois
| language = English
| website = {{URL|http://www.gunsandammo.com/}}
| issn = 0017-5684
| oclc = 59807780
}}
Guns & Ammo is a magazine dedicated to firearms, hunting, competitive shooting, reloading, and other shooting-related activities in the United States.
Content and Circulation
The magazine offers reviews on firearms, ammunition, optics and shooting gear. Also included are historical articles, gun collecting, self-defense features and celebrity interviews. In addition to monthly department columns on specific topics, each issue contains several featured articles and profiles of the firearms industry, as well as technical evaluations and new products.{{cite web |last1=LaFrance |first1=Adrienne |title=The Secret to Guns & Ammo's Success |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/02/guns-ammo-media/434013/ |website=The Atlantic |access-date=6 September 2023}}
Guns & Ammo also publishes news and information relating to gun politics. As one journalist has stated: "Politics is implicit in cover-story headlines (“Ready to fight”) and explicit in the “politics” section of the Guns & Ammo website." Its annual assessment of "The Best States for Gun Owners" analyzes each U.S. state's laws, court decisions and positions on "stand your ground" and "castle doctrine" issues.{{cite web |last1=Wood |first1=Keith |title=Best States for Gun Owners: Ranked for 2022 |url=https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/best-states-for-gun-owners-2022/463592 |website=Guns & Ammo |access-date=6 September 2023}}
Guns & Ammo is published on a monthly basis.{{cite book|title=Guns in American Society: A - L|volume= 1|chapter=Gun Magazines|page=249|author=Gregg Lee Carter|publisher=ABC-CLIO|year=2002|ISBN =978-1-57607-268-4}} Its annual circulation is 5.3 million copies. 97% of readers are male; readers' average income is estimated at $102,000.{{cite web |title=Guns & Ammo Magazine |url=https://echo-media.com/medias/details/16850 |website=Echo Media: Print Media Experts |publisher=Echo Media, Smyrna GA |access-date=6 September 2023}}
History
Guns & Ammo was founded by Robert E. Petersen in 1958 and has featured famed gunwriters such as P.O. Ackley, Craig Boddington, Jeff Cooper, Garry James, Bill Jordan, Elmer Keith, Bob Milek, Patrick Sweeney, Col. Townsend Whelen and John Wooters.{{cite news|title=Robert Petersen, Publisher of Auto Buff Magazines, Dies at 80|work=New York Times|author=Dennis Hevesi|date=27 March 2007|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/business/media/27petersen.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108112832/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/business/media/27petersen.html|archive-date=January 8, 2014|url-status=dead}} Charlton Heston, former president of the National Rifle Association of America authored a gun rights column for the magazine titled "From the Capitol" until 2007.
Staff
Currently, Guns & Ammo magazine carries columns written by Eric R. Poole (Editorial), Garry James (Gun Room), Richard Nance (Gun Tech), Jeremy Stafford (Handgunning), Tom Beckstrand (Rifles & Glass), retired SGM Kyle E. Lamb (Lock, Stock & Barrel), Dave Emary (Bullet Board) and Keith Wood (Spent Cases).{{cite news|title = Guns & Ammo magazine|publisher = Outdoor Sportsman Group|date = August 2021}}
The magazine was involved in controversy over the dismissal of one of its writers, Dick Metcalf, in 2014. According to The New York Times, an article by Metcalf took a stance on gun laws that prompted two major gun manufacturers to state that they would no longer do business with Guns & Ammo if Metcalf continued to work there. Among other things, Metcalf's article stated: "The fact is, all constitutional rights are regulated, always have been, and need to be." Metcalf was terminated soon after.{{cite news |last1=Somaiya |first1=Ravi |title=Banished for Questioning the Gospel of Guns |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/05/business/media/banished-for-questioning-the-gospel-of-guns.html |access-date=6 September 2023 |publisher=The New York Times |date=January 4, 2014}}
In 2012 Richard Venola, the magazine's editor from 2007 to 2009, was arrested for shooting and killing a friend who was reportedly visiting his home. The weapon was said to be a "high-caliber rifle."{{cite news |last1=Hawkins |first1=Dave |title=Former Guns & Ammo editor arrested in Arizona shooting |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/courts/former-guns-ammo-editor-arrested-in-arizona-shooting-death/ |access-date=6 September 2023 |publisher=Las Vegas Review-Journal |date=May 3, 2012}}{{cite web |last1=Morales |first1=Laurel |title=Former Guns & Ammo Editor Shoots, Kills Friend |url=https://www.kpbs.org/news/2012/05/03/former-guns-ammo-editor-shoots-kills-friend |website=KPBS Morning Edition, San Diego CA |access-date=6 September 2023}} Venola was charged with second degree murder, but two separate trials resulted in deadlocked juries. Venola died in 2021.{{cite web |last1=Hendley |first1=Matthew |title=Former Guns & Ammo Magazine Editor's Murder Trial Ends With Hung Jury |url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/former-guns-and-ammo-magazine-editors-murder-trial-ends-with-hung-jury-6636389 |website=Phoenix New Times}}{{cite web |last1=Poole, Eric and Miller, Payton |title=Richard Venola: September 18, 1958 - February 6, 2021 |url=https://www.gunsandammo.com/editorial/richard-venola-september-1958-february-2021/ |website=Guns & Ammo |access-date=6 September 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Kroenke Sports & Entertainment}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guns and Ammo}}
Category:1958 establishments in the United States
Category:Monthly magazines published in the United States
Category:Sports magazines published in the United States
Category:Hunting and fishing magazines