I’m just back in the office after nearly two weeks on the road for a short vacation over the 4^th of July and then a very lengthy drive for NASGW related events in Washington, Idaho and Montana. After spending a collective 48 hours in the vehicle, I’m ready to experience some different seating accommodations.

But I very much enjoyed the company as my wife joined me on the trip. And the scenery was incredible, at times breathtaking. We are so fortunate in this country to be able to enjoy those landscapes and vistas. Some of us live there, some of us visit. All of us are blessed.

There’s a lot happening in the shooting sports industry today. Some good, some not so good.

If you’ve been watching the headlines, you’ve noticed that one of our industry’s largest distributors, United Sporting  Companies, has fallen on hard times and the path forward is still uncertain. You’ve likely seen that one of our largest manufacturers, Remington, has, unfortunately, had to lay off hundreds of employees, at least for the next couple months. And I know you’re all keeping up on the many challenges facing the National Rifle Association.

On any given day, NASGW distributors, collectively, are extending millions of dollars in credit to retail partners across the country. The extension of credit is probably one of the greatest benefits a distributor partner can offer to retailers, but possibly one of the most underrated.

If you're like me, you probably don't spend all your time with a gun in your hands. On occasion, I've been known to pick up a fishing rod. As a kid, it was not uncommon for me to bring a fishing rod with me to the field and take a "long lunch" to fish in the river.

Hogue Inc. stands with its industry partners and has removed Dick’s Sporting Goods and their subsidiary Field & Stream as an authorized dealer of Hogue Inc. products. Dick’s Sporting Goods recently made the decision to halt sales of and destroy their inventory of modern sporting rifles. They no longer offer standard capacity magazines, and now restrict the minimum age of rifle buyers to 21, contradicting the Federal law age of 18. Additionally, they’ve hired lobbyists to argue further gun law restrictions which will directly impact law abiding citizens’ 2nd Amendment rights. 

I hope you all had a great Memorial Day and got out to enjoy the unofficial kickoff to summer. I also hope you took a moment to reflect on the real meaning of this holiday. The BBQs and sunburns are great, but we wouldn't be able to enjoy them without the sacrifice of many.

NEWINGTON, N.H., SIG SAUER Electro-Optics is pleased to announce a $40,000 donation to the Honored American Veterans Afield (HAVA) organization that was presented at the NRA Annual Meeting in Dallas, Texas.

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.