the loss of any vendor through 'merger' (which means a buyout to eliminate a competitor)
Not necessarily. Who said B & P are "lost"?
How is it a loss of choice if Fiocchi retains the B & P line, and the prices aren't jacked up? I haven't seen any negative fallout since Beretta bought Benelli, Franchi, Stoeger, Uberti, Sako, and Tikka. Was that not mergers? All the lines are still in place, quality has not suffered, and prices have not escalated as a result. I strongly disagree with your premise, as a blanket statement. If there are only two companies producing something and one buys the other it's a problem. But, in a healthy industry like ammunition, not necessarily.
Free enterprise works, and beats the h--- out of socialism. Buying competitors is just a part of that capitalism that we value so much .......... well, many of us anyway.
JMO, SRH
