Chairman's Message: 

Political Chaos

What is happening in our country today is, at the very least, unprecedented. The failed assassination attempt of former President Trump followed by the withdraw of President Biden from this November's ballot, are all adding to the plot of an uncertain fall election cycle.  Last week, we watched as protestors defaced our Capitol with graffiti and messages in opposition to our country. It sure seems like the political arena just keeps getting more chaotic.  There are many questions surrounding this Fall's election and how it will impact our businesses over the next four years. Currently, it appears that we could have an ally in the Oval Office, which should help stabilize the negative political influences and attacks on our industry, but the impact of sales is still a mystery.  Many of us have been around the industry long enough to have endured the constant ups and downs and I'm confident that despite the challenges ahead, we will band together and navigate the unknowns no matter the outcome.

FEATURED ARTICLES

There is a lot going on in the political world. Stay current on all bills impacting our industry at the state and federal level. 

The NASGW Bill Tracker monitors pending legislation that directly affects the firearms industry, at the Federal and State level. The bills are reflective of the current legislative sessions based on jurisdiction and include defeated, passed and pending bills until the current legislative session ends. Sort bills by their current progress, category, state or region and bill year. Stay informed about current legislation in the works before it impacts your business. 

Click below to view the latest bills of interest. 

In recent years, Big Tech has expanded its control over public discourse with platforms like YouTube and Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram), imposing draconian restrictions on firearm-related content. This isn’t just about policy – it’s a blatant affront to our First and Second Amendment rights. A glaring example is McKenna Geer, a Paralympic shooter poised to represent Team USA in Paris.

Hotel blocks for the 2024 NASGW Expo are filling up fast! The Marriott Downtown KC is currently sold out. However, we have secured a special rate for Expo attendees at the Hotel Phillips, a Hilton property located just a half block from the Marriott.

Book now to secure a convenient place to stay for the Expo! 

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 July Supply Chain Report with updates and details on issues impacting truckload, less than truckload, parcel, international and more.

The 2024 Q2 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. The Detail Report will also be included when scheduling a demo with the SCOPE team.

Firearms Shipments

Ammunition Shipments

Optics Shipments

Attention SCOPE subscribers, the SCOPE API is now available. If you are looking to leverage SCOPE by integrating the data into your business intelligence platform, the wait is over. To access the API your business must be a current SCOPE subscriber in good standing. To get started click below to follow the instructions to create a SCOPE API account, generate an API key, and enter your parameters. The SCOPE API is the next step in a continued effort to enhance the flexibility and capabilities of the shooting sports industry's top data platform. 

U.S. Firearms Industry Today

Here in 2024, there is still uncertainty in the marketplace — but a different kind. After so many once-in-a-generation events, “crisis fatigue” seems to be impacting sales across the firearms industry. Yes, the threat of federal action against firearms owners and the industry exists — but anti-gun efforts haven’t been as successful federally as they have at the state level. 

The “Election Year Boon” of the previous election cycles appears absent — so far.

“If the election cycle is impacting our sales, it’s been slight,” shared Jacquelyn Clark, co-owner of Bristlecone Shooting, Training & Retail Center in Lakewood, Colo. “I do think things will eventually ramp up, like they always do in an election year, we’re just not seeing big effects yet.”

ARTICLES OF INTEREST

• Possible Collusion Between White House & Gun Control Activists
• Consumer Confidence on the Rise in July
• Hottest Job Market in a Generation is Over
• Recreational Shooting is an Unsung Hero of our Shooting Traditions
• Federal Judge Strikes Down AR-15 Ban, Upholds Magazine Restrictions
• How Leveraging Data Creates a More Resilient Supply Chain
• Harris is a Threat to the Second Amendment

UPCOMING EVENTS

September 25-27, 2024

NAW Innovators Summit

Austin, TX

October  15-18, 2024

NASGW Expo

Kansas City, MO

October 30, 2024

American Suppressor Association Foundation Banquet

Austin, TX

January 21-24, 2025

SHOT Show

Las Vegas, NV