started in 1997
- GunsAmerica is an online platform that connects people with guns, the gun industry, new products, and gun dealers
- a classifieds site, not an auction site
North Miami Beach, FL
13059488855
About GunsAmerica
GunsAmerica is one of the oldest firearms websites in the United States. According to the company, it was founded in 1997 as the first dedicated online firearms marketplace in the country and grew from a simple listing service into a nationwide platform over the following decades. Paul Helinski, who came to the business from information technology and entered the online firearms world in the mid-1990s, led the company as president and CEO.
GunsAmerica was part of the first wave of internet businesses that changed how gun owners connect with one another. Because federal law generally requires interstate firearm transfers to go through a licensed dealer, the site has long maintained a directory of FFL holders, an example of how online firearms commerce adapted to existing law. For collectors and researchers, its decades of listings have also made it a long-running reference for firearm values. The company remains active as of 2026, nearly three decades after its founding.
Key Facts
- 1997: Founded as an online firearms listing service
- Mid-1990s: Paul Helinski enters the online firearms business; later serves as president and CEO
- 2008: Helinski discusses the shooting industry as GunsAmerica’s president in a GunNuts podcast
- 2026: Still operating, nearly three decades after its founding
Sources
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