Many products have seen a squeeze on margins just look at white goods market.
People will still pay a premium on quality products if their income allows.
Gunshops are just another retail specialist business. A retail shop has to compete against the competition which the internet is just one. The additional costs of running a shop and the inefficiencies of a shop add to their difficulties. Shop retail has never been easy. When so many gun related products have such poor margins and plenty of competition from bulk buyers then its one tough trade to be in. Success is what added value is brought to the business, or specialisation that others don't provide. The bulk buyers have to sell quantity and spend more on advertising. Depends on the business model.

What value a retail shop? My view not a lot. Client base really isn't loyal enough and competition too fierce. Its a vocation with at best a moderate salary if and only if you can make it work.
Added risk is just like a pub and drinking licence, a gunshop has to have a RFD; lose that even for a few months and its going to be tricky if not terminal.

Do support the gunshops you like because otherwise they will be gone.
Lastly they have to deal with some of the most forthright and tight fisted bunch of shoppers going. I'm one