Gun Guys--twisting the story . . . again

The latest bleating from the Gun Guys refers to the fact that the U.S. is the world's biggest supplier of weapons. I have no reason to doubt that particular assertion, and whether or not that is a bad thing is beyond the scope of this blog. What is worthy of comment here is the fact that the Gun Guys are trying to paint a story of the U.S. selling handguns and rifles in enormous quantities all over the world:

A full half of the guns in the world, including all the weapons used in countries in conflict, came directly from the gun industry’s playground: the United States of America.

"All the weapons in countries in conflict" come from the U.S.? Bull--that's not only a lie, it's a stupid lie. Anyway, they go on to say that this is because the firearms industry has such a hold over the U.S. legislature that they force these foreign policy decisions. However, if one actually looks at the article to which the Gun Guys refer, it becomes apparent that the article is mostly about high tech weapons--fighter jets, missiles, helicopters, etc.--not firearms, which are decidedly low-tech, and made all over the world.
For example:

The United States, for instance, also signed an estimated $6.2 billion worth of new deals last year to sell attack helicopters, missiles, and other armaments . . .

The article mentions F-16's, warships, and the other weapons systems mentioned above, but never once mentions personal firearms.

The article does contend that economic concerns are part of what drives the U.S. to approve these deals, but not because of the "gun lobby's influence." The concern is that lawmakers whose districts are the homes of various high-tech weapons companies don't want the negative economic impact of major industries folding, and people losing their jobs. My guess is that their constituents don't want that either.

If the Gun Guys want to argue with U.S. foreign policy, that's fine--there are no doubt some good arguments to be made. Just don't go blaming our foreign policy on Colt, Ruger, or Smith & Wesson (and all the rest)--foreign policy ain't their gig.