The last couple of years have been pretty rough for the firearm industry, and let’s be honest, 2019 may not be a whole lot better.

While a Democrat-controlled House may spur gun sales, that’s hardly a sure thing. Couple that with the undeclared war between them and the financial industry and the next year may end up being tough for everyone.

The last thing anyone needs is a fire at their facility.

A business was moderately damaged from a fire shortly after midnight Friday, with multiple fire departments responding to the scene. According to Madison Township fire chief Ron Luttrell, reports came in just after midnight Friday of a blaze at Hi-Point Firearms, 1015 Springmill St. Fire crews found the middle portion of the one-story structure to be engulfed in flames. Chief Luttrell said it took approximately 30 minutes to bring the blaze under control, and he estimated the damage to the business to be in the range of $40,000 to $50,000. Luttrell said the cause of the fire is unknown at this time, and the state fire marshal is investigating. The fire was contained to the “machine area” of the building, according to Luttrell, and no live ammunition was affected by the fire.

Now, let’s be fair here. Hi-Point isn’t exactly the top of the line when it comes to firearms. There are a lot of jokes about Hi-Points out there. I know, I’ve told a few of them.

However, this also represents people’s livelihoods; not just the owners, either.

Oddly enough, about two years ago, the offices at this same building caught fire. That time, only smoke got into the machine area.

So what will this mean for Hi-Point? That’s hard to tell from this initial report. We know there was some damage and that it’s likely some of the equipment was impacted as well. What we don’t know is whether the estimate for damage accounts for how much the machinery will cost to replace.

Either way, while I won’t recommend a Hi-Point to much to anyone who can afford better, I still hate to see this happen to a business that not only sells firearms but also stands behind the Second Amendment completely.

Further, Hi-Point fills a niche that Glock, Smith & Wesson, and others don’t seem interested in filling (though it’s understandable). There are a lot of people who don’t have the means to pony up a few hundred dollars to buy a new semi-auto pistol. Hi-Point markets to those folks and gives them a gun that might not be ideal for long days at the range but tends to go bang when you need it.

As such, I do hope Hi-Point can get past this quickly and get back to the business of making guns.

You or I might not like its products, but it builds things that have helped a lot of people stay alive. That’s more than enough reason for me to want them to get back on its feet quick, fast, and in a hurry.

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