Phoenix Arms pistols are some of the best selling handguns on the market, mainly due to the cost effective design of their product lines. Taking their name from the history of Raven Arms, which Raven went out of business after a fire, Phoenix Arms is considered to have risen from the ashes of Raven. Phoenix Arms went as far as to purchase Raven’s pistol designs. Despite the popularity of the Phoenix Arms handguns, there are still a lot of shooters who believe that a firearm is only as good as its price tag. Phoenix only makes two types of pistols; both are semi-automatic and they vary in barrel lengths and calibers. These two firearms are chambered in twenty two long rifle, and twenty five auto. Since the trend of concealed carry has hit the majority of American states, the Phoenix Arms twenty five auto, or better known as the HP25 has been a must have for frugal concealed carry enthusiast.

Regardless of the opinions of each shooter, Phoenix Arms has done exactly what they set out to: make affordable firearms for working-class Americans. Many of the critics claim these firearms to be “Saturday Night Specials”, a term coined by an anti-gun article written in the New York Times meaning that these firearms are built Monday and ready to commit crimes by Saturday. This is, of course, despite the fact that most firearms used in crimes are obtained illegally in the first place. At the time of this writing, the most commonly used firearms in murder cases are larger caliber revolvers.

Aside from popular misconceptions from both sides of the political spectrum, these firearms are here to stay and are sure to hold their market. With many other firearms manufacturers now producing similar weapons specifically for concealed carry owners, the now infamous 1970’s New York Times article has little or no relevance in the point it was trying to make. For many pro-firearms enthusiasts, it’s a clear case of the media demonizing weapons manufacturers to promote their own agenda.

No matter what side of the argument you happen to fall on, the firearms themselves are just as responsible for criminal activity as car manufacturers, who have people drink and drive using their products. Many have used this argument with fanatical dedication, from both the pro- and anti-firearms political spectrums, to hold the gun industry accountable for the actions of the dealer. This ideal is neglecting the fact that background checks are all federally regulated, thus putting the blame on those who regulate the transfers of firearms, which has been ignored in the majority of high-profile firearms violations.

In my opinion, the Phoenix Arms pistols are great for what they were designed for, which is cost-effective firearms for personal protection and recreational shooting. Aside from the bad reputation, these firearms are sure to stand their ground in the firearms industry for the foreseeable future. The Phoenix Arms handguns are serving a market that is as American as apple pie. The rights of American citizens are not for those who can afford it, but rather every citizen, thus making me believe there is a relevant purpose for Phoenix firearms.