I’m not a workout fanatic. Not even close. But around 2-years ago I made it a point to spend a little more time on a stationary bike. And believe it or not, I’ve been faithful to the pledge, and the results over time have been decent. Not great, decent.
I’ve had a number of people in the past few months tell me they thought I looked healthier. Well, it’s true. And I feel healthier, so it’s a good thing. Plus, the thing isn’t just a giant dust receptacle in the corner of the bedroom anymore. Nor is it a place where I hang clothes (Pro tip… it’s exceptional for hanging clothes.)
It’s one of these fancier bikes with an online connection to fitness programs and trainers. I need and appreciate the extra motivation from a trainer because I’m just not that good at getting to the gym to work out on a regular basis.
The trainer I follow most frequently reminds me often that I will not achieve anything by wishing it was so… but rather, I need to put in the work. Working, not wishing, leads to results.
What’s clearly true for fitness goals is obviously true for all things in life. If you aren’t willing to put in the effort, you’re probably going to be disappointed with the lack of results.
As an industry, we’ve been busier than at any time in our history. Sales continue to shatter record after record. Honestly, it hasn’t been very difficult to sell things in our industry right now, especially ammunition.
So our greatest challenge, at least as I see it, is not in sales, it’s in politics. We are in the fight of all fights in the public policy arena right now. There’s some promise the Supreme Court will hand down a ruling in our benefit in the coming year, but in the meantime, cities, counties, states and even the federal government are coming up almost daily with new and greater restrictions on our 2nd Amendment rights.
Our friends at the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), American Suppressor Association (ASA), Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), Second Amendment Foundation (SAF), United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation (CSF), and many others at the state and national levels, are working hard to try and protect our rights and avoid having more stripped away. Unfortunately, right now the National Rifle Association (NRA) is trying to work through some challenges, so they’ve not been as effective as we’re used to. I pray they’ll put in the necessary work to correct and fix things soon. We need that organization to get back in the game.
In the meantime, it’s important to point out – we can’t simply “wish” our problems away. No fairy dust and snap of your fingers is going to save the day. It’s imperative we continue “working” hard to support the efforts of these organizations that are making a difference. So get out your pocketbook, be ready to roll up your sleeves, because the only person coming to the rescue of our industry right now, is you!
We’ve added links at the end of this article to all the organizations I’ve mentioned. If you can do so, please dig deep and help them out by sending along a check. I know they’ll appreciate it; the entire industry will appreciate it.
As always, NASGW will stay focused on the business issues and policies impacting the industry. We’ll keep working hard at finding solutions to make doing business easier and more efficient. And we’ll continue to work hard to support these industry partners – so I hope you will too.
If we want it, then wishing it were so won’t get it done – we’ve got to put in the work.
Until next time,
Kenyon Gleason
NASGW President
Links:
- National Shooting Sports Foundation – www.nssf.org
- American Suppressor Association – www.americansuppressorassociation.com
- Firearms Policy Coalition – www.firearmspolicy.org
- Second Amendment Foundation – www.saf.org
- United States Concealed Carry Association – www.usconcealedcarry.com
- Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation - www.congressionalsportsmen.org