If you only ever listened to the nightly news on the major networks in this country, you might think the good ol’ USA was quickly on its way to the netherworld. Seriously, I simply can’t stand to watch the news anymore because it’s downright depressing, maddening and frustrating. Thank goodness for alternative media sources.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., – Smith & Wesson Corp. today announced that it has presented Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) with a donation of $30,000 to help fund HAVA-sanctioned hunting and shooting activities for disabled veterans and injured active military personnel.

Dear Media Professional and Friend of Ruger:

At our recent Annual Meeting of the Ruger Stockholders, a shareholder’s activist proposal -  a thinly disguised call for gun control – was passed despite a recommendation against passage from the Ruger Board of Directors.  Below is Ruger’s formal response to the resolution. Please share this response with your readers.  Please help us counter the mainstream media’s spin that this is somehow a win for foes of the Second Amendment. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Like all good relationships, trust is a crucial component. In the firearms industry, we call that "Wholesale Trust" and it represents that two-way partnership between firearms manufacturers and firearms wholesalers. Our NASGW wholesaler and manufacturer members work together in a variety of aspects to help each other grow. Trust is a crucial component of that working relationship, and a lot of decisions are based on this trust. Check out the comments from a few of our manufacturing members about "Wholesale Trust" and how working with a NASGW wholesale member impacts their business. 

This week marks another important week in the Shooting Sports Industry, the 2018 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibit in Dallas, Texas. This show is a bit different from the other big events like Shot Show and NASGW’s Expo, as it is a consumer show. It is still a great opportunity to connect with others within the industry and talk about what is going on with each of our businesses. These relationships that we have all formed are what makes our industry so strong, and we appreciate organizations like the NRA, NSSF, and NASGW that bring us together as well as fight for our way of life.

On April 18, the House Natural Resources Committee marked up and passed H.R. 788, the Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act on a voice vote. This bipartisan piece of legislation was introduced by Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Member Congressman Duncan Hunter (CA) on February 1, 2017.

As you know, the Obama-appointed National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) several years ago promulgated a new rule designed to shorten the time between a union’s successful organizing campaign and the resulting certification election.  This rule, called the “Ambush Rule” or “Quickie Election Rule” by opponents because, as a result of the rule, an employer could face a successful organizing campaign of which he/she was not even aware, and the abbreviated time between the notice and the election made it very difficult for the employer to adequately prepare for the election, or to communicate with employees on the impact of unionization.

During first quarter of 2018 several new pieces of legislation were adopted that impact firearm distribution. However, April marks a slight downturn in the pace of bills introduced, though new bills are proposed daily. 

I suppose it might be too much to hope for, but I hope I never have to hear another anti-gun champion suggest “we really don’t want to take your guns.” The problem with not telling the truth is that you can’t be trusted. Ever. About anything.

 I wouldn’t like it, but at least I could respect a person’s opinion if they were just honest about what they really wanted. When you understand what someone really wants, it can help to facilitate an actual conversation. But when they start out by lying, it pretty much ruins that possibility right out of the gate.