Chairman's Message: 

That Time of Year

Summer has undoubtedly hit early for our industry.  Conversation with many of you over the past few weeks has confirmed that orders are easing off, and foot traffic seems to be a bit sluggish in retail. Spring is in full swing, schools in most places are winding down, and vacations are likely on the minds of many of our consumers.  No need to worry; it's part of our normal pre-pandemic cycle for those who haven’t yet weathered these historical ups and downs.  It seems like we’re finally returning to normal, or some would say, “new normal.”

It’s hard to believe we are already booking hotel rooms and registering for the 2024 NASGW Expo in Kansas City. It seems like just the other day, we were dealing with the Expo power outage at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. My, how time flies! This year’s Expo will come at a crucial time for our industry, at the start of Q4 and right before the November elections. This year’s event also marks the 50th NASGW Expo, and the staff is working on fun ways to commemorate the milestone.

FEATURED ARTICLES

Registration is now open for the 2024 NASGW Expo being held October 15 - 18th at the Kansas City Convention Center. It’s time to take advantage of early bird pricing on badges and purchase tickets for the annual Appreciation Dinner. The appreciation dinner will be held on Tuesday evening, October 14th at the Downtown Kansas City Marriott.

Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are now available as well. Inquire with Meg Pawelski to learn about the great options to showcase your company and enjoy some VIP benefits while supporting the NASGW Expo.

In breaking news, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear SAF’s case challenging the ATF’s Frame and Receiver Final Rule. The case is known as Garland v. Vanderstok.  

In April 2022, the ATF published its Final Rule changing the regulatory definition of the term “firearm” to encompass objects which are not firearms, to include some firearms parts kits. This Rule impermissibly expands Congress’ definition of “firearm” as found in the Gun Control Act of 1968. 

In December 2022, SAF filed an intervenor’s complaint in an existing lawsuit in the Northern District of Texas. Since then, the Fifth Circuit Court has ruled in SAF’s favor striking down the Final Rule, but President Biden – through the ATF – has dug in his heels and continues to enforce the law while the appeal to the Supreme Court is ongoing. 

The Expo may seem like a long way away, but the room block is already filling up. If you are planning on attending the 2024 NASGW Expo, we encourage you to make your room reservations as soon as possible at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown, this year's headquarters hotel. 

Avoid 3rd Party Hotel Solicitations

Please be aware that any 3rd party contacting you to book hotel reservations is not affiliated with NASGW or the NASGW Expo. Beware of these organizations. To ensure you are getting the negotiated room rates associated with the Expo, use the link on the NASGW Expo website for the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. 

The 2024 Q1 SCOPE Report is now available. The Overview Report is included in your NASGW membership and can be downloaded by just clicking the button below. The enhanced Detail Report goes deeper and provides an additional level of information for those looking to understand regional distribution and product segmentation. The Detail Report is available at no cost for current SCOPE subscribers, by logging into your SCOPE portal, and available for purchase by NASGW members who are not currently subscribed to SCOPE. 

Firearms Shipments

Ammunition Shipments

Optics Shipments

Jarrett Releases April Supply Chain Report

As logistics continue to impact the national supply chain, our partners at Jarrett have been working to stay on top of the changing landscape. Below you will find their April Supply Chain Report with updates and details on issues impacting truckload, less than truckload, parcel, international and more.

This NSSF report details the significant economic impact the firearm and ammunition industry has on our economy, both nationally and at the state level. The economic growth America’s firearm and ammunition industry has experienced in recent years has been nothing short of remarkable and has been driven by an unprecedented number of Americans choosing to exercise their fundamental right to keep and bear arms. This includes an estimated 4.3 million new gun owners in 2023.

The report also highlights the significant impact the firearm and ammunition industry has on wildlife conservation funding in America through its growing Pittman-Robertson excise tax contributions to the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund which exceeded $944 million in 2023.

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

• NSSF Deeply Critical of Commerce Department Plan to Permanently Throttle Firearm Exports
• Firearms, Accessories Create Sales Opportunities in Precision Culture
• Warehouse Worker Protection Act Threatens Small Businesses and Supply Chain Stability
• Supreme Court Takes Up Biden Administration’s Attempt to Reinterpret Meaning of “Firearm”
• Fifth Circuit Upholds ‘Enhanced’ Gun Background Checks for Young Adults
• Agility, transparency among keys to supply chain resilience
• How Data Is Changing the Sales Channel

UPCOMING EVENTS

May 7, 2024

NSSF Marketing & Leadership Summit

Ponte Vedra, FL

May 14, 2024

Congressional Clays Competition

Glenn Dale, MD

May 17-19, 2024

NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

Dallas, TX

July 30, 2024

NSSF Annual Import/Export Conference

Washington, D.C.

October  15-18, 2024

NASGW Expo

Kansas City, MO