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. As is my habit in running a business, I spend time looking at history to perhaps see the future, or at least review my lessons learned. In doing so I came across the letters written to you about the problems of last year and how the manufacturers were letting us, the real sales force for firearms, hang out there to get the blunt of their problems. I would like to say that things have changed, but I can’t. I expected to hear more from each of the firearms manufacturers about their improved relationships with distributors and retailers, since it was such an important election year. I have not. It must be because my store is in California that I/we get snubbed by everyone as a lost cause. I talked with a number of other retailers and they have felt the same thing — disconnected from the manufacturers. I am asking, in the upcoming year, that the manufacturers make a real upper management (namely, CEOs) commitment to Where’s The Change? us, the retailers, and to the ultimate retail customers to only advertise what they have as products. To only advertise what they can deliver, and should they not be able to deliver it, say when it will become available in large bold print right in the ad. Tell the consumer that the small retailers are your partners in getting the firearm of their choice as quickly as possible. Quality and service is goal number one for both of us in this partnership. I have lumped all firearm manufacturers into this group and feel that there are exceptions in this, just like in any general statement. I have two firearm manufacturers — Wilson Combat and Sig Sauer — who do a very good job with their specific line, but two out of the industry does not make for an “industry-wide partnership” and commitment from the shooting industry. I hope that when I look back next year at this time, I am not once again disappointed with this industry. Gregg L. Bouslog On-Target Indoor Shooting Range Laguna Niguel, Calif. Mr. Bouslog, thanks for sharing your end-of-year thoughts. I’d like to hear from other dealers, concerning the issues you’ve raised. In addition, we once again open the floor for discussion — and, hopefully, solutions — on the availability of products that are being advertised. Manufacturers and distributors, here’s your opportunity to address this ongoing and sensitive area of the industry. The discussion for and against colored firearms continues. I was a firearms enthusiast long before I entered law enforcement. I also have the privilege of working as a part-time firearms instructor for my department. I am very happy to see the firearms industry has found a new “widget” to increase sales to those who might not otherwise avail themselves to their Second Amendment rights. However, I share Mr. Kiehl’s opinion that colored guns will create a moment of doubt in the law enforcement officer’s mind when that fateful decision regarding the use of deadly force has to be made. This creates a no-win situation for the officer/deputy. If the officer fails to utilize force and is wrong about the legitimacy of the firearm, he or she will be placed in actual peril. If the officer utilizes force based on the fact that it looked like a real weapon (distinguishing toys from real guns is no longer an easy task and this is only made more difficult with the cutesy finishes) and they are wrong, they will spend the rest of their life second-guessing themselves for unnecessarily utilizing force on someone they swore on oath to protect. I am hesitant to advocate against anything that strengthens the firearms industry or attracts new shooters, but these new finishes only further blur the line between real firearms and fake ones. While you should never assume that a weapon is fake, if you saw a pink Lady S&W in a child’s hand, you would want to believe it was not a real weapon. I wish the firearms industry and new shooters the best, but I have to advocate against making self-protection tools • SHOT SHOW EXTRA SUPER ISSUE 2009 More On Colored Guns Blur The Lines oting t sho n. e g r ta io petit ot, ction an a bal com e to shost. — o g n l e n u g b a g r r e Ai unding a as a ith th e ction o th A heart p door ar ompete w ield is i w t f s in a c te te ying eate 'x16' es to step ltimanet to cr se any 8 at it tak e pla ility to and u h t e o b h h u r s re, to t ew nte kit ur a enge kills zes the i ses of Fi you hav gun . and yo he chall s r i r A u r o if u ili tion skills. ccept t Put y that ut d the Co s to see com e Ac n A t e grad your ow ndle it? irgun. o spor downloa our scor r p t a an h s the u bu iona Just upload y r use limits yo nk you c y at act o n t i e t h i e t g p Th it toda nts. othin k y com Ever level. N en it cou official r h % u 0 w o 0 y 1 r up orde 8 Circle No. 205 on Inquiry Card Read SI DIGITAL www.shootingindustry.com