Click here to download the catalog as a PDF file. To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. Industry’s Future: Your Help Is Needed! — page 40 Industry Wary About New Administration, Congress By Russ Thurman he industry is casting a wary eye at the Obama administration and a Democratic-controlled Congress, even as firearms are selling at record levels. Firearms sales, even before the Nov. 4 election, were robust, especially those in the black-rifle category. Following the election of Sen. Barack Obama to be the next president, sales accelerated at an impressive pace. “We have set new records for firearms sold,” said Gregg Bouslog, owner of OnTarget Indoor Shooting Range in Laguna Niguel, Calif. “I hear that across the U.S., we are setting records in response to the new president coming in. Customers are voting with their feet and pocketbooks.” Dealers throughout the United States report similar sales, with many scurrying to acquire inventory. Many manufacturers are experiencing significant backorders. Driving the sales is a concern that the new administration, supported by a sympathetic Congress, will enact laws banning certain firearms and will heavily restrict gun ownership. “Women have come into the range to take pistol classes and buy a gun the same day,” Bouslog said. “Women tell me, ‘I don’t trust this new government and what they will do to our civil rights. I have not shot a gun in over 30-plus years, and feel I need to do this now.’” National firearms sales in November 2008 resulted in a record-setting month for background checks, according to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). During November, NICS conducted 1,529,635 background checks, the most conducted in any month since the system began operation in 1998. The number of background checks in November was a 42-percent increase over November 2007, when 1,079,923 checks were conducted. T Reaction to the incoming Obama administration by company leaders is mixed. “I think there’s an unwarranted amount of fear,” said Steve Hornady, president of Hornady. “Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not an Obama supporter. I know he’s not on our side, but I don’t believe they ran on that campaign and I don’t believe all the fear is warranted. Now, if we hear comments coming out of the new administration that they want to do things to the gun industry, it’s ‘Katie, bar the door.’ If they don’t, then maybe things will settle down and we’ll look at a good, solid year.” At Remington, Scott Blackwell, compa- Mixed Reaction going to bust right through it. We think ’09 is going to be a real big year for us. We’re going to promote, sell and advertise in that manner,” Lumsden said. While there is much debate as to what anti-gun actions the new administration will take or encourage, industry organizations and leaders are preparing for any anti-gun assaults. In a statement released to the media on Nov. 5, 2008, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) said it was ready to work with the new administration and Congress “on our issues and concerns,” while noting it was prepared to challenge anti-gun efforts. “NSSF will continue to be there to oppose hostile, anti-gun legislation and regulations that would harm our members’ businesses and that threaten the Second Amendment and our nation’s hunting and shooting sports heritage,” the statement read. Steve Sanetti, NSSF Hornady president and CEO, said the November elections forecast major changes. “A Democratic president, Democratic House and Democratic Senate, Democratic appointees to various administration positions, such as the Attorney General, the head of the BATF, committee assignments, Supreme Court nominees, and even positions many may not realize affect the firearms industry, such as people in the State Department and Commerce Department — those positions govern how we can manufacture and sell firearms. So, big change is coming,” Sanetti said. Fortunately, Sanetti said, the industry is well-prepared to confront anti-industry and anti-gun issues. “We’ve learned a lot in fighting these battles in the past, and as an industry, we understand the importance of joining and fighting together,” Sanetti said. Battling Anti-Gun Efforts “If we hear comments coming out of the new administration that they want to do things to the gun industry, it’s ‘Katie, bar the door.’” Steve ny president, said he doesn’t see the Democrats doing anything for the first 90 days. “There’s a lot of anti-gun people within the new administration, but they have more pressing issues. I think we’re going to get six to nine months before we see anything. When it happens, then it can get scary,” Blackwell said. “Overall, I think the first quarter is going to see an up-tick because of orders placed now. I think the economy and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is going to take up a lot of time for the new administration, which may make it a soft second quarter.” At Legacy Sports, Gene Lumsden, president and CEO, is optimistic about 2009. “Even before Barack Obama was elected to be president, we took a very aggressive stance for 2009. We’ve come out with a lot of new products and, despite what the media has to say about the economy, we’re Academy Of Excellence Entry Deadline: Feb. 16, 2009. See page 14 10 Read SI DIGITAL www.shootingindustry.com • SHOT SHOW EXTRA SUPER ISSUE 2009